Film and development is costly too, and could easily eclipse a PS subscription in cost. Old digital cameras like the Nikon D700, Canon 5D or the not so old Sony A7 can be found cheaply these days, so film is likely the most costly alternative for students now. Lots of old lenses can be used on these cameras, and the stock Sony A7 will take anything but rangefinder wide angles, even lenses from before World War II.
Developing film has a negative environmental footprint, so I think of film cameras mostly as collectors items. If not they can be recycled and digital cameras can be re-used. APS-C/DX digital system cameras aren't that expensive in the used market.