Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: News

The trends of students living on campus as opposed to off campus has been holding steady for the last few years because of the development of near-campus housing.

In the last 10 years, the need for freshmen housing has jumped from 48 percent to 61 percent. However, the overall number of students living on campus from 2003 to 2006 has stayed consistent at 16 percent, according to budget planning and resource analysis.

The numbers have also stayed consistent for each individual class with approximately 61 percent of freshmen, 18 percent of sophomores, 11 percent of juniors, 9 percent of seniors and 2 percent of graduate students.

Although there has been a plateau in the last few years, statistics show an increase in students who usually live on campus in their first few years.

"Wright State has seen an increase in the number of out-of-state and international students over the past five years, students who generally live in campus housing for the first several years," said David Jones, Survey Research Director, Center for Urban and Public Affairs. "At the same time, the percentage of students who live in the four adjacent counties and usually live at home for the first couple of years has roughly held steady."

"These facts, combined with the fact that the average age of a WSU student is decreasing and the percentage of full time students is increasing, point to the need for increased housing."

The numbers are staying steady despite what the statistics show because of the development of housing and apartments that are technically off campus but within walking distance; apartments such as Peppertree, Charter Woods, and Cimarron.
"Students are considering these choices because we still live in a very convenience driven society," said Dan Bertsos, Director of Residence Services. "It's just as convenient for them to live within walking distance as it is to live on campus."

The developers, such as Campus Village who own the apartments at Cimarron, see the need for housing near campus and build apartments geared specifically toward the student, giving them the same amenities that the students living on campus have.

The overwhelming reason students live on campus is convenience, according to surveys done at Wright State.
"I live on campus because I don't have a car and it's better than taking a bus to get here," said freshman Teaira Mitchell, a nursing major. Whitney Stallworth, a sophomore majoring in psychology, lives on campus for more than just convenience.

"I live on campus because I think you can meet more people and experience campus life better," she said. "You understand and know more about the campus than when you live off campus."

Students who lived on campus then moved off said they wanted more independence, also according to the surveys. Outside of the survey, a reason given by students was money.

"I live off campus because it isn't as expensive as living on campus," said junior Brad Stropes, an organizational leadership major.

The change that has occurred in the nature of the developers over the last two years, said Bertsos, is now giving the students the convenience of living on campus while maintaining the independence of living off campus.

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