Student housing statistics: Inventory, growth and university coverage

Last updated: June 2026

Student housing markets sit at the intersection of higher education and real estate. As a result, enrollment trends, campus expansion and renter preferences are the main factors shaping this sector.

This page provides a comprehensive look at student housing across the country. This means purpose-built, dedicated student housing inventory and the broader off-campus rental landscape surrounding major universities.

If you’re interested in the current state and dynamics of student housing or maybe you’re researching student housing stock by city, this resource brings together the data and context you need.

Notes on the methodology

For the purposes of this page, “student housing” is defined and calculated based on the number of beds, not apartments. This is the typical case as these properties offer the by-the-bed leasing option. All data from the first section related to privately owned student housing is from Yardi Matrix as of April 2026. For the second section, we used data from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

What is student housing? 

Student housing refers to residential accommodations specifically intended to serve the needs of students enrolled at colleges, universities and other higher education institutions. It encompasses two primary categories: purpose-built dedicated student housing and institutionally controlled housing.

• Purpose-built student housing (PBSH)

PBSH is privately developed and owned residential property that’s specifically designed to serve a student population. As such, it operates within the private rental market. This type of student housing is typically located close to a college or university campus.

These properties feature unit configurations and amenity packages tailored to student life, including by-the-bed leasing, shared common areas and academic-year lease terms.

PBSH operates independently of the university but is functionally integrated into the student housing market that it serves.

• Institutionally controlled housing

This type of housing is owned and operated directly by a college or university. This includes traditional dormitories, residence halls and on-campus apartment complexes, as well as housing managed by the institution, but located off-campus, such as university-owned apartment buildings; fraternity and sorority houses under institutional oversight; and graduate or family housing. Occupancy is typically restricted to enrolled students, and leases or licenses are tied directly to enrollment status.

Together, these two categories form the core of the dedicated student housing supply — inventory that is explicitly designed, operated and positioned for student occupancy. This niche is different from conventional multifamily housing that students might occupy but is not specifically built or managed for that purpose.

Section 1: Purpose-built student housing 

How much dedicated student housing is on the market? 

The U.S. privately owned student housing market now includes more than 1 million completed beds. Throughout the last decade, yearly construction has ranged between roughly 27,000 and 48,000 beds, depending on development activity. The slowdown in 2024 and 2025 likely reflects a return to a more stable pace following the post-pandemic construction peak of 2023.

How much does student housing represent of the total multifamily inventory?

The share of student housing from the total multifamily inventory delivered each year going back to 2016 ranges between 2.41% and 7.65%.

Which cities delivered the most student housing in 2025?

Knoxville, TN, leads the country in new student-dedicated rent options added to the private rental market with a total of 2,573 new beds delivered in 2025. Next are Minneapolis, MN, with 2,103 beds, and Tallahassee, FL, with 1,553 new beds.

Which cities have the largest inventory of privately owned student housing as of 2026?

Looking beyond 2025, the cities with the largest cumulative inventory of privately owned, dedicated student housing are Gainesville, FL (31,399 beds); Tallahassee, FL (31,242 beds); and College Station, TX (30,843 beds).

Which regions have the highest number of student-dedicated private housing?

In terms of regional distribution, the South leads the country with 596,175 student beds, followed by the Midwest with 211,385 and the West with 157,097. The smallest share is in the Northeast, with 81,880 beds.

Section 2: Institutionally controlled student housing  

How many universities offer institutionally controlled student housing?

Of the degree-granting universities with at least 3,000 enrolled students, 61% offer institutionally controlled student housing. This refers to any residence hall or housing facility that's on- or off-campus; owned and controlled by an institution; and used in support of the institution's educational purposes.

Which U.S. universities offer students the most access to dedicated housing?

Among public universities, the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia leads in housing coverage (the share of enrolled students with access to institutionally controlled housing) at 92.2%. It's followed by Christopher Newport University (85.72%) and SUNY Purchase College (83.26%).

The table below offers a comprehensive view of the top public universities ranked by coverage level. For a complete overview, we included information about total enrollment; housing capacity and coverage; as well as yearly housing costs for added context.

Which cities have the largest institutional student housing coverage?

Fargo, ND — home to the main campus of North Dakota State University — is the large city with the highest housing coverage level, at 46.54% (students who are enrolled and have access to institutionally controlled housing). Meanwhile, for mid-sized cities, Holland, MI — the home of Hope College — has the highest coverage level at 72.81%. For small cities, Northfield, MN, (home of St. Olaf College) takes the lead with 96.48% coverage.

In these cities, the college or university plays a major role in providing student housing and students rely less on the open rental market.