With mounting costs of on-campus housing and an increasing problem of dorms not having the space to accommodate all undergraduates, many college students are turning to off-campus dorms for their college living experience. University students typically want the same social experience of a dorm, but with more space, luxuries, and amenities than on-campus dorms typically provide. Because of this, the demand for off-campus dorms near campus is incredibly high in college towns. Trimark Properties. a real estate development and property management company in Gainesville, Florida, specializes in UF off campus housing and understands why many undergraduates choose to live in off-campus apartments and dorms over those on campus. Due to their proximity to University of Florida classes, Trimark is often cited for having the best dorms and best apartments in Gainesville for UF students. Property managers and real estate development companies should take advantage of the high demand of students who seek the dorm experience in an off-campus setting and secure properties around campus to capitalize on this thriving market.
Below are the top 5 reasons why many college students are choosing off-campus dorms instead of living on campus:
1.) College dorms typically don’t have the capacity for all undergraduate students who want to live on campus
Although many colleges boast claims of “guaranteed housing”, many students have found themselves relying on these claims and ending up without a space in a dorm. According to Forbes, 61% of Universities on their Top 100 Colleges list assert that they have guaranteed on-campus housing, however 26% of them have dorm capacities that can accommodate fewer than 65% of their undergraduate population, while 12% can accommodate fewer than half of students. With private off-campus housing providers, housing is guaranteed once the lease is signed. Students do not have to wait to find out whether they secured a spot or worry about which dorm they will be randomly assigned to. Students frequently get assigned to the exact floorplan they request, without the frustrating and nerve-wracking wait to see if there even is a spot available for them.
2.) Off-campus dorms provide more space and luxury
Most student dorms are older, and were built along with the college itself decades ago. Off-campus dorms are typically newer, more spacious, and include more luxuries than on-campus dorms, which is extremely attractive to students who always want to choose the newest, nicest option. For example, at Windsor Hall, an off-campus dorm near the UF campus, the rooms are up to 60% larger than the on-campus UF dorms. The property itself was built less than two decades ago, as opposed to most of the dorms at UF which were built as early as the 1950s. Students enjoy the newness and comforting amenities of the off-campus dorm, including a pool and private bathrooms, which a regular on-campus dorm would not have.
3.) Off-campus dorms are typically cheaper than on-campus dorms
The cost of living on campus in a dorm is rising. For the 2012-2013 school year, the average cost of room and board for dorms ranged from $9,205 to $10,462, depending on whether the school was public or private. Off campus housing in general is typically much cheaper, and off-campus dorms boast some of the cheapest prices since the floorplans are generally smaller than apartments.
4.) Students want to avoid the inconvenience of communal bathrooms
The experience of sharing a communal bathroom with 40 other students on the same floor is a quintessential college occurrence that most students would rather do without. Students want the same social experience of typical dorm life, but with the luxuries of amenities such as private bathrooms. In most off-campus dorms, such as Windsor Hall, students have a private bathroom which they either share with one roommate or the adjoining room. Instead of having to schlep their wet items across their dorm floor while wrapped in a towel and wearing flip flops, students are able to enjoy a private bathroom in their own room.
5.) Many times, off-campus dorms are closer to classes
Although it sounds too good to be true, many times off-campus dorms near campus can be closer to classes than actual on-campus dorms. Dorms are generally placed around the outskirts of the campus while classroom buildings are in the center. College campuses can span for miles, and walking from one end to the other can end up being at least 20 minutes. With off-campus dorms positioned near campus, oftentimes the walk can be closer to classes than living in a campus dorm would be.
Because of their increasing popularity with students due to their cheaper rates, close proximity to campus, spaciousness, and amenities, off-campus dorms near campus are a great investment for real estate developers and property managers in college towns.
You May Also Like: How to Make Your Freshman Dorms Stand Out
