SeekingArrangement.com, a “Sugar Daddy/Mommy” dating website, gives college students an unorthodox way to pay for college by creating mutually beneficial arrangements between wealthy benefactors and students seeking financial assistance or companionship.

Rising tuition and living expenses have forced students to seek alternative methods of financial assistance. With the government tightening requirements on student loans, parents withholding financial support and employment becoming harder to obtain, students have discovered a more personal way to mitigate their financial burdens.

Founded in 2005 by Brandon Wade, SeekingArrangement.com claims to be the world’s largest Sugar Daddy dating website and resurfaces as its popularity increases.

Members are able to create a detailed profile, including a description of who they are, where they are from and what their lifestyle expectations are. These criterion helps Sugar Daddies and Mommies seek out their Sugar Baby by finding someone with similar characteristics and expectations.

Lifestyle expectations represent the member’s financial expectations from the Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy. This ranges from “Negotiable” to “High,” which is defined as more than $10,000 in monthly assistance.

According to SeekingArrangement.com, the average Sugar Baby receives approximately $3,000 per month.

Typically, college students sign up as Sugar Babies to meet rich men and women who are willing to help pay for expenses such as tuition, books or gas in exchange for friendship, companionship and/or romance.

Students are able to upgrade to a free Premium Membership by registering with their .edu email address. This membership, which designates each participant as a “College SugarBaby,” provides full access to the site’s features.

According to the website, college students make up 42 percent of its members.

Each year SeekingArrangement.com releases a list of the fastest growing Sugar Baby schools in the country. Texas State University makes the list at #10 with 189 new signups in 2013, a 92 percent increase from the previous year. The University of Texas ranks #30 totaling 88 new members in 2013.

Texas universities also on the list are the University of North Texas, ranked at #24; UT–Arlington, ranked at #55; and the University of Houston, ranked at #68.

The top Sugar Baby school in the country is the University of Central Florida, with 470 members.

While UTSA did not make the list of schools that commonly use SeekingArrangement.com, it may only be a matter of time before the school’s rising tuition rates prompt an interest among students.

Junior UTSA student Viktoria Zerda shared her opinion about the subject. “It’s totally understandable. Times are tough. I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it, so I’m not going to judge people who are. Your personal business is your personal business, and if you are responsible and mature and paying for school then no judging. As long as it’s at their discretion, then I don’t see any problem with it.

“As long as the Sugar Daddies and Sugar Mamas are not abusing their power like when it comes to sex or sexual things, then I see nothing wrong with this, but if there is a trend with people being taking advantage of then I can see where there’s a problem.”

According to the New York Times, controversy over the site has spread over the years and some people have claimed the site is a form of prostitution. However, Wade stated otherwise, “Money for sex is prostitution, but money exchanged within a context of a relationship is not prostitution.”

Wade also stated, “I think I’m empowering women.”

“While this lifestyle is not for everyone, the benefits of sugar are boundless,” according to the website’s blog.

A 37-year-old Sugar Daddy living in Houston stated on his profile, “I have met so many quality young women via this site. It has taken all of the games and drama out of the (Sugar Baby/Sugar Daddy) equation. The rules of ‘arrangement’ are almost universally understood. This system has produced amazing results for me.”

Melanie Berliet went undercover for Vanity Fair and shared her experience with RT News. “I met people who totally misrepresented themselves, as I’m sure, you know, happens on any Internet dating site, and I met total gentlemen who I count as friends to this day. I think each relationship depends upon the two parties involved. The site sort of encourages you to outline the terms on your own. I think it totally depends on each individual’s desire and how to manage the relationship.”