RICHMOND, Va. --According to a new list, a growing number of VCU students are making a different kind of arrangement to get through school that has some parents concerned.
"Everyone is kind of desperate at this point," said VCU student, Jessi Fiermen.
While many students will apply for scholarships, or take out student loans to help pay for the high cost of college, there appears to be another option: turning to a "Sugar Daddy."
"It is pretty shocking," said one VCU student.
The websiteseekingarrangement.com recently released its annual "Top 20 Fastest Sugar Baby Schools."
Coming in at number 18 on the list is Virginia Commonwealth University. The site said it had 160 new sign ups from the school in 2014.
"It's definitely depressing, I think it kind of gives VCU not a good reputation," said Kaitlin Martin, a VCU Sophomore.
According to the site, one million students used seekingarrangement.com to help fund their education.
Brook Urick, a spokesperson for the site, said the site didn't start out for students, but in the last few years she said they have seen an increase in students signing up.
"What they're looking for is a relationship with someone who can not only pay for college but can potentially better their lives," said Urick.
CBS 6 spokes with several VCU students off camera who said they know of people who use the service because of the high costs of going to college.
However, not everyone agrees with this sort of arrangement.
"It's not really right, especially around here in the city it's not really safe," said Fierman.
CBS 6 reached out to VCU regarding the ranking, but a spokesperson declined to comment.
