The National Multi Housing Council launched a student housing initiative in 2004. A key element of that effort – to produce original research that helps apartment firms better understand the dynamics of this sector. This is the sixth in that series; it examines the costs of on-campus housing at 181 universities. These universities are from various locales across the country and range from big cities to small towns.

Summary

This report includes a profile of each of the 181 universities we researched. Each profile contains current enrollment, basic demographic data for the locality (from the 2000 Census) and baseline price data and billing practices.

In addition, we have included the university’s “housing” web site where more detailed information is available. These profiles can serve as a useful benchmark and reference guide for anyone seeking to build, buy, sell, or invest in either on- or off-campus housing in these markets.

The original goal for this research was to analyze rent growth trends in on-campus housing and examine their impact on private student housing. Operating under the assumption that university pricing for dormitories was straightforward, we planned to collect data on the least expensive and most expensive.

As we began our research, however, we discovered precisely how complex student housing and meal pricing has become. Gone are the days when students were simply assigned either a single or double, were billed by the year or the semester and couldchoose from just a few meal plans.

Here is what we found:

• Housing Options Are Much More Diverse.
• Pricing is More Complex.
• Billing Practices Vary.
• Meal Plan Requirements Vary.
• Pricing Policies Change.

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PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION

On-Campus Housing Costs: More than Meets the Eye

• $300 for NMHC/NAA members
• $500 for non-members. 
• To order the report, click here.
  • NAA Members: Online orders cannot be processed for NAA members.  Please click here for an order form.

• $1,700 for NMHC/NAA members
• $2,500 for non-members
• To order the package, click here.
  • NMHC Members: Be sure you are logged in to receive the member price.
  • NAA Members:  Online orders cannot be processed for NAA members.  Please click here for an order form.

ADDITIONAL NMHC STUDENT HOUSING RESEARCH

• Off-Campus Student Housing: 2011 Income and Expense Benchmarking Survey. Expands on NMHC's 2010 Off-Campus Student Housing: Income and Expense Benchmarking Survey, providing more in-depth state and regional data for operating and line-item expenses for 341 properties. (2011)

• NMHC Special Off-Campus Student Housing: Income and Expense Benchmarking Survey.  Provides information on total operating expenses as a percent of rent along with seven expense line items within operating expenses for 197 properties. (2010)

• NMHC Special Student Housing Report: Has the Recession Had an Impact? Seeks to determine whether the dramatic U.S. economic downturn has had an impact on enrollment and on-campus dormitory vacancy rates.
  
  
• What Do Students Want: Understanding Today’s Off-Campus Student Housing Market.  Explores explores what students look for when selecting an off-campus apartment based on in-depth focus groups at nine universities.
  
  
• Student Housing 201: 2004-2006 Rent Growth in 64 College Towns. Tracks rent growth in student housing properties over a two-year period. 
  
  
• Student Housing 103: A Survey of 184 University Housing Departments. Examines enrollment trends, existing on-campus housing stock and each school's own prediction of its need for future on-campus housing.
  
  
• Student Housing 102: An In-Depth Look at Properties Leased By-the-Bed.  Examines the smaller subset of properties that lease their apartments by the bed instead of by the unit.
  
  
• Student Housing 101: Where are the Opportunities?  Analyzes the demand for off-campus housing in 64 "college towns" across the country.