You can get a basic Ender 3 printer for around $100 if you look for deals (Microcenter has a coupon if they have a store near you, or look for used). After that it's just purchasing filament which is $15-$30 per spool depending on the type and quality. Typically a 1kg spool has about 300 meters of filament. PLA filament is typically the cheapest and most beginner friendly. It works for most things but will sag/deform in hot environments (car interiors, direct sun, etc.).

Oh I'm sure the students will find another use for that drinking fountain.

It's the main reason I bought one. There are so many obscure plastic parts/hardware that are hard to find or stupidly expensive. Pretty easy to create replacements in your CAD program of choice or find a free design on printables or thingiverse.

I've been curious about those machines. I see them all the time in my local thrift stores. I normally just make bread in my Dutch oven but I don't always have the time or energy to dedicate to it. Are any brands better than others?

Yeah, then I try an reread the passage and do the same exact thing. I think it happens to me moreso when I'm disinterested or tired.