Student housing trends demand flexibility and balance

There is a growing trend of solo living among college students over the typical shared spaces of the past, driven by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, housing is in short supply on many campuses as students increasingly prefer single rooms (StarRez 2025).

As universities look closely at their investments in student housing, we recognize the crucial balance needed between accommodating student preferences for privacy and supporting socialization and its positive impact on academic success, graduation rates, and mental wellbeing. 

That’s where responsive campus housing comes in. Responsive campus housing solutions should include:

• Program analysis: We drill down on understanding housing demand both on and off-campus, occupancy by housing type, waitlists, and student preferences.
• Flexibility: Many existing residence halls are high-occupancy, low-privacy. Flexible furniture—think lofted beds, moveable partitions, and screens with built-in nightstands—allow students to arrange spaces to create more privacy.
• Balance: Universities and designers must strike a balance between students’ desire for privacy and the understanding that social spaces and interaction enhance the overall learning experience. While universities may feel the pressure to add all private rooms, we encourage solutions that deliver a middle-ground of affordability and lifestyle.

Our student housing designers can tell you about our approach and how we’re helping schools adapt today for the future.