Demand for University Student Housing: An Empirical Analysis

We examine the relationship between the percentage of students living on campus and a number of factors, including campus setting, school characteristics, student composition and activities, campus security, off-campus living costs, and crime rates. The results indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between the percentage of students living on campus and campus activities, campus setting and size, campus security, and off-campus small apartment rental rates. We also find that a significant negative relation exists between the percentage of students living on campus and acceptance rate, enrollment, presence of a distance-learning program, population, and crime rates, and monthly off-campus large apartment rental rates. In addition, private schools with large campuses with lower acceptance rates and enrollment, in rural areas with lower crime rates are associated with a higher supply of student housing.