Gen Z's Secret to College Friendships Staying Together? “Splitting Up”

New Venmo research reveals campus life s not-so-secret rule: splitting the bill isn t breaking up friend groups it s holding them together Summary: College students are adapting to tight budgets: 40% suggest a cheaper alternative, while 36% split costs. Splitting costs keeps plans inclusive for college friend groups: 68% say it helps friends with different budgets join in. Venmo is more than just a way to settle up, it s a love language: 39% of students who recently used Venmo use it to cover a friend s coffee, meal, or delivery order. Digital payments are powering campus life: 47% of students who recently used Venmo prefer it for splitting meals or delivery. For college students, staying social often comes with a price tag. But new research from Venmo¹ shows that Gen Z is using digital payments to make it easier to stay connected, even when budgets are tight. From dinners and tailgates to homecoming or fall break trips and late-night food runs, splitting costs has become part of how college students make plans more inclusive, and keep money from getting in the way of friendships. Here s what our survey uncovered among Gen-Z respondents: Splitting the Bill Is the New Group Chat Ritual More than half of college students (56%) surveyed have a shared system, spoken or unspoken, for splitting expenses, and 67% of respondents trust their friends to pay them back when someone fronts the cost of a larger purchase, such as a dinner or trip. That trust helps keep friends together: 68% surveyed believe splitting costs makes it easier for people with different budgets to join the same plans, while 63% are more likely to say yes to a group activity when they know the cost can be split digitally. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents agree that digital payment apps make shared expenses fast and easy to settle. Venmo helps students send and receive money in just a few taps, whether they re paying someone back for dinner, contributing to a group gift or covering a friend s coffee. Venmo Groups also gives friends and roommates one place to track shared expenses, see who paid and calculate who owes what, without the mental math. From Game Day to Late-Night Food Runs Shared spending is woven into everyday campus life. During a typical school week, 36% of college students eat out with friends at least twice, and 40% get late-night food or snacks with friends just as often. In a typical month, 88% spend money on late-night food or delivery, and 38% have ordered takeout, or delivery because their friends were participating or it felt like an important shared experience. Among students who used Venmo in the past 30 days, 47% prefer it for splitting the cost of a group dinner or delivery order. Game day brings another set of shared expenses. Students reported spending on groceries and supplies for watch parties or tailgates (71%), game tickets (68%), decorations (64%) and parking (64%). Venmo helps make it easy to settle up before, during or after the game. Students can also use their Venmo Debit Mastercard 2 anywhere Mastercard is accepted with free sign-up and select college-branded card designs available across the Big 12 and Big Ten. At checkout, they can also pay with their Venmo balance 3 across brands such as Instacart, DoorDash, Domino s and TikTok Shop. When Venmo is a Love Language For Gen Z, Venmo is also being used to show up for friends and family, not just split a bill. Among college students who used Venmo in the past 30 days, care took many forms over the past year: treating someone to coffee, a meal or delivery (39%), chipping in for a group gift (32%), sending birthday money (31%), helping with an unexpected expense (29%) or sending money just because (26%). For 59% of students, covering a friend s meal can feel as meaningful as giving a physical gift, while 63% view digital payments as a normal and genuine way to show someone they care. Making Every Student Dollar Count Nearly 60% of college students spend between $25 and $199 in a typical month of the school year on social outings, events or trips with friends, excluding food delivery and club-related costs, with $50 to $99 the most common range. When a plan doesn t fit their budget, students are finding ways to adjust: 40% suggest a cheaper or free alternative, 36% split the cost, 32% use a student discount or rewards program, and 31% join while setting a personal spending limit. Rewards can also help students manage shared expenses. Seventy percent say earning cash back or another reward would make them more likely to cover the group tab upfront. With Venmo Stash 4 , students can earn up to 5% cash back on eligible everyday purchases when they use the Venmo Debit Card or select Venmo at checkout, including purchases across food delivery, rideshares, pharmacies and retailers such as Target, TikTok Shop among others. 1 Survey Methodology: This survey was commissioned by Venmo and conducted by Morning Consult between July 29-31, 2026, among a sample of 5,000 US adults ages 18-22. College students refers to adults ages 18 22 who report they are currently enrolled in college. Interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of 1 percentage point. Venmo users or "users" refers to respondents who used Venmo in the past 30 days. 2 The Venmo Mastercard is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Card may be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. is user of the Card only and not responsible for the associated accounts or other products, services, or offers from Venmo. 3 Venmo Balance account is required to hold and use a balance (Effective 11/1/26). 4 Venmo Stash bundle terms and exclusions apply. Max $100 cash back per mo. Venmo checkout not available at all merchants. 5% requires $1,500 in qualifying monthly spend. Related Articles The Venmo Credit Card Now Pays Up to 4% Cash Back When You Split with Friends — Company newsroom — sourced from PayPal. Matter furnished by the company. Not a Notice Nearby paid placement. This page reprints matter furnished by the company from its official newsroom. Notice Nearby did not write this release. Read the original: https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2026-10-14-GenZs-Secret-to-College-Friendships-Staying-Together