Looking Back to Move Forward: What 2025 Taught Us About Student Housing and How to Prepare for 2026

As the student housing industry turns the page on 2025, one thing is clear: this was not a year of status quo. It was a year of recalibration.

Insights from the 2025 State of the Student Housing Industry Report, informed by responses from 418 institutions globally, reveal a sector navigating rising student expectations, sustained staffing pressure, and a housing footprint that increasingly extends beyond campus walls. While many of the challenges facing housing teams aren’t new, 2025 marked a turning point in how institutions are responding and where they’re headed next.

As housing leaders begin planning for 2026, the lessons from 2025 offer a powerful roadmap. Here’s what defined the past year and how institutions can translate those insights into smarter, more resilient operations in the year ahead.

I. Student Expectations: From Satisfaction Scores to Lived Experience

What 2025 Data Revealed

In 2025, student expectations didn’t simply increase; they became more defined.

While 73.3% of institutions reported high resident satisfaction, this represents a nearly seven-point decline from 2024. This dip does not indicate dissatisfaction, but rather a rising standard. Students are evaluating housing through a more nuanced lens, prioritizing how well their living environment supports privacy, mental health, identity, and belonging.

Key signals from the 2025 data include:

• Apartment-style housing is now the most requested option, cited by 70% of institutions

• 51% of institutions report that more than half of applicants prefer single rooms

• The strongest drivers of satisfaction are room conditions, sense of community, and amenities

• The most common frustrations remain cost, facilities issues, roommate compatibility, and food or meal plans

At the same time, retention trends tell a more optimistic story. The number of institutions reporting very high resident retention (91–100%) more than doubled year over year. This suggests that targeted investments — such as Living Learning Communities (LLCs), improved residential fit, and wellness-focused programming — are delivering results, even as overall expectations rise.

What This Means for 2026

As institutions move into 2026, housing strategies must shift from standardized delivery to designed choice.

Students increasingly expect housing experiences that adapt to their needs rather than force conformity. Preparing for 2026 means:

• Expanding preference-driven room and roommate selection to reduce friction before move-in

• Reimagining LLCs to align with academic goals, identity-based connection, and wellness

• Treating privacy as a core wellness feature, not a premium option

In 2026, housing models that feel one-size-fits-all will increasingly feel out of step. Institutions that prioritize flexibility and intentional design will be better positioned to meet student expectations and retain residents over time.

II. Housing Operations: Operational Maturity as a Differentiator

What 2025 Data Revealed

If previous years highlighted the need for efficiency, 2025 confirmed that operational maturity drives outcomes.

Institutions that invested in automation, paperless workflows, and connected systems consistently reported stronger staff satisfaction and improved student experiences. Across the industry:

• 69% of institutions have automated reporting and analytics

• 66% have automated email communications

• 58% have automated room allocations

• 36% are now fully paperless, with another 61% operating in hybrid digital environments

The impact is measurable. Institutions using automated roommate matching tools reported significantly fewer room change requests, reducing both staff workload and student disruption. Digital-first processes for billing, room changes, and communication are no longer differentiators — they are baseline expectations.

What This Means for 2026

In 2026, the conversation will move beyond whether systems are digital to how well those systems are aligned.

Housing leaders should focus on:

• Closing partial-automation gaps that still require manual reconciliation

• Ensuring systems connect across assignments, billing, communications, and engagement

• Using data proactively to plan capacity, timelines, and student support, not just to report on outcomes

Operational maturity does not mean adding more tools. It means getting more value from the systems already in place to reduce friction and increase clarity across the housing lifecycle.

III. Staff Productivity & Sustainability: From Burnout Risk to Stability Signals

What 2025 Data Revealed

Behind every housing operation is a team managing increasing complexity with limited bandwidth. In 2025, staff pressure remained a defining challenge, but there were also clear signs of stabilization.

• Nearly 80% of professional staff report being satisfied or very satisfied, up from 70.6% in 2024

• Institutions reporting 91–100% staff retention increased from 34% to 46%

• Lean staffing models remain common, with over half of institutions operating with 1–10 professional staff

The strongest predictor of staff satisfaction and retention was operational support. Teams with clear processes, automation, and role alignment reported higher morale and stability. Conversely, understaffing, workload pressure, and compensation continue to be top sources of frustration.

What This Means for 2026

As demand stabilizes but complexity persists, 2026 planning must prioritize protecting staff capacity.

That includes:

• Using automation to shield staff from repetitive administrative work, not to replace human connection

• Reassessing staffing models to ensure workloads align with expectations and peak periods

• Tracking staff satisfaction intentionally through surveys and data, not anecdotal feedback

Healthy housing operations in 2026 will be built on sustainable teams supported by clear systems, not on heroic effort or burnout.

IV. Strategic Planning Beyond the Residence Hall

What 2025 Data Revealed

One of the most defining shifts of 2025 is this: student housing no longer begins and ends at the residence hall.

On average, 78% of students live off campus, making off-campus living the norm rather than the exception. The report shows:

• 60% of institutions say off-campus transitions have a moderate to significant impact on the student experience

• 72% believe improving the off-campus transition would positively affect student wellness and success

• Yet only 17% of institutions currently offer formal off-campus housing support or solutions

At the same time, housing demand has stabilized after years of volatility:

• Institutions reporting “very high” demand dropped from 52% to 33%

• Moderate and high demand categories increased, signaling normalization rather than decline

• Occupancy remains strong, with 15% of institutions reporting 99%+ occupancy

Together, these trends create both urgency and opportunity; space to plan intentionally while expanding the housing strategy beyond campus boundaries.

What This Means for 2026

Forward-looking institutions will enter 2026 with a broader definition of housing strategy.

Key priorities include:

• Treating off-campus living as a continuation of the student housing journey, not a handoff

• Supporting students with verified listings, renter education, and community resources

• Using stabilized demand to invest in scenario-based forecasting, market-aligned pricing, and non-academic year revenue opportunities

In 2026, housing success will be measured not only by occupancy, but by reach, continuity, and strategic alignment.

Looking Ahead: Turning Insight into Action

The story of 2025 is not one of disruption, but of direction.

Student housing leaders now have clearer signals about what works: student-centered design, operational maturity, sustainable staffing, and housing strategies that extend beyond campus walls. The institutions best positioned for 2026 will be those that act on these insights, not simply react to them.

Because when housing works, students thrive, staff stay, and the entire campus community moves forward with confidence.

Discover more insights in the 2025 State of the Student Housing Industry Report.