The Real Cost of Outdated Campus Emergency Systems (and How to Save)

Imagine this: A student finds herself in danger late at night on campus. While she has her iPhone, the battery is dead. She’s running toward the nearest blue light tower for an emergency call, but finds that it’s not working. She’s stranded with no way to call for help on the campus she believed was safe.

Unfortunately, for many universities and colleges, this isn’t just a hypothetical situation. With the reliance on mobiles phones and our 24/7 connected culture, it can be easy to assume we’re always within reach of a 911 call.

But that’s far from the truth. And that’s where emergency blue light towers and technology like Knightscope come in.

As schools welcome students back each fall, our goal is to help education leaders identify any outdated emergency communication systems and ensure the campus population is ready for anything.

The Hidden Risks: More Than Just a Broken Device

Besides serving as communication stations, emergency towers are also a highly visible symbol of safety on campus. If word spreads that they aren’t working, or an incident arises that process that was true, the overall perception of safety plummets.

Students and parents expect a secure environment and that includes systems that function as expected. If an incident occurs and systems are proven inoperable, institutions could face lawsuits or costly settlements.

One of the biggest risks from the reputation of the university could arise from the wrong type of media attention. A single failure can quickly become a headline, and a reputational crisis waiting to happen.

Waiting to Make the Upgrade? That May Cost More Too Long-Term

With budgets tightening and the unpredictable educational support at the federal level, many campuses have adopted a “patch and pray” approach. They fix what’s obviously broken and hope the rest holds up. But waiting too long turns minor issues into major expenses, such as:

• Infrastructure breakdown: The longer you defer system checks, the more likely you’ll face cascading failures in both power and connectivity.

• Escalating repair costs: Outdated systems often require hard-to-source parts, specialized technicians, and longer install windows.

• Procurement delays: If you wait until fall to start the process, you may be stuck in a lengthy RFP loop, pushing your upgrades out another year.

Just like a regular oil change for your vehicle, preventative maintenance and updates are smart investments for the life of your technology.

Replacing Isn’t the Only Answer – Consider Blue Light Retrofit Kits

Let’s say a university decides to replace a handful of old towers. The initial quote may come in at $20k-25k per unit. And that’s just the hardware. Add in the trenching for power and data, labor, permits, delays, disruptions to campus activity, and suddenly you're looking at $50,000 to $60,000 per tower. Multiply that across dozens of units, and the true cost becomes staggering.

Now contrast that with retrofitting:

• Average retrofit cost: under $5,000 per tower

• Time required: 30–40 units upgraded in a week

• Impact: Zero trenching, no shutdowns, and faster project turnaround

From the perspective of smart and dependable campus security, failure to act isn’t just expensive. It’s irresponsible when safer, smarter options exist.

The Smarter Way Forward: Retrofit, Don’t Replace

Knightscope’s retrofit solutions are built for cost-conscious, safety-driven campuses. By upgrading the electronics and infrastructure inside existing towers, we help you:

• Save up to 60% compared to full replacement

• Eliminate the need for trenching and heavy construction

• Gain modern capabilities like solar power, cellular connectivity, and smart diagnostics

Not sure where to begin? Ask yourself 3 questions:

• Have your towers been tested this year?

• Are they visible, powered, and accessible 24/7?

• Are you confident they’ll work during a crisis?

If the answer to any of those is "I’m not sure," it’s time to take action.

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Don’t wait for an emergency to reveal your vulnerabilities. Get ahead of the problem this summer—before students return and the window for upgrades closes.

Outdated doesn’t just mean old. It means unsafe. Make this the year your emergency systems go from question marks to peace of mind. Your students and families deserve it.

Schedule a Free Call with our Security Pros or Request a Quote