School can leave you high and dry when it comes to recreation. Unless, of course, your school offers the largest jacuzzi on the West Coast.

In January 2001, Washington State University opened its Student Recreation Center — which includes seven courts for basketball, volleyball, badminton, a sport court for in-line skating, roller hockey, indoor soccer, a leisure pool for water basketball and water volleyball; and a jacuzzi that holds up to 53 people.

At the cost of high debt and rising tuition, public universities around the country have followed the trend of adding luxurious recreational facilities to their campuses.

Pennsylvania State University’s student center now features a 500-gallon salt-water aquarium with a live coral reef; and the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh pampers its students with manicures, pedicures and massages.

Northwestern administrators said prospective students who visit NU shouldn’t expect to find a tropical ecosystem on their tour. NU attracts students because of its academic opportunities, officials said.

“I think it’s a silly use of money,” said Carol Lunkenheimer, dean of undergraduate admissions. “You don’t come to school to sit in a hot tub, you come for the academic experience. … Students put more emphasis on what they can study, internships, advising and research — that’s what our students are more interested in.”

Though the amenities might seem excessive, some universities said they need them in order to attract top-notch students and faculty.

“I think the (center) plays a significant role in student recruitment to campus and I know our admissions and campus recruiters would agree with me,” said Sharae Randall, assistant director of university recreation marketing, memberships and research at Washington State. “Students are looking for additional activities to participate in while in college and this is a great one.”

Randall said the school’s spa also has a practical purpose.

“The spa was included as one of the amenities needed and wanted in this facility,” Randall said. “Yes, a jacuzzi can be seen as a luxury, but we view it as an important element in muscle relaxation and rehabilitation.”

But prospective students at NU said they value high-caliber academics over fancy recreational facilities.

“I’d rather come to a school that could give me a quality education than one with extravagant attractions,” said Kelly Nealson, a high school student who recently visited NU for a tour. She does, however, place importance on the quality of dorm rooms and dining halls.

Even though a spa is not in the works at NU, administrators said they want to provide students with good recreational facilities, especially at Norris University Center. But recent fund-raising efforts for Norris renovations have fallen short, as other projects such as the Center for Nanofabrication and Molecular Self-Assembly and new residence halls took priority.

“There is an expansion program for Norris that has been on the books for seven years,” said William Johnston, director of Norris. “We didn’t have waterfalls or jacuzzis planned, but we did have two black box theaters, a new ballroom, increased student organization office space and expanded seating in the dining area.”