California’s universities are among the most sought-after in the nation for applicants, but growing popularity, coupled with the devastating impacts of wildfires, is exacerbating the affordable housing crisis as university communities struggle to provide accommodations for students and faculty.
According to recent data, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment exceeds $2,000 in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Delivering more affordable housing options should not fall on these institutions alone, and requires collaboration from government officials, local developers and construction firms to produce efficient housing solutions to support our schools, communities and local economies.
The most applied-to school for the class of 2027 was the University of California, Los Angeles; for the eighth year in a row, UCLA was ranked the number one public university by U.S. News & World Report. But Westwood, the neighborhood in which UCLA is located, is one of the costliest in Los Angeles, with rents well above the city’s already high average.
For years, student housing supply failed to keep pace with enrollment, forcing students to cram into overcrowded dorms and apartments or commute from distant, more affordable areas. As a result, local communities feel the squeeze from increased competition for limited housing, more traffic, higher rent and potential displacement for families in surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, the lack of housing can result in qualified students getting waitlisted or even denied, potentially missing out on attending their dream school. This is a problem with a clear solution that benefits all involved: the community, the school, and most importantly, the students.
As a construction executive, I have seen countless housing projects with clear benefits for the community stall in approvals for months or years. As a Southern California resident and a graduate of San Diego State University we cannot wait to address this crisis. Every year we delay, more students and residents are forced into unaffordable, overcrowded or unstable living situations.
We need creative, collaborative solutions – now. Universities must invest proportionally in housing as they do new educational facilities. There are signs of hope, with the UC system’s controversial approach to building more densely on campus to lessen the impact on surrounding communities. We need to do more. Here’s a path forward that includes collaborative solutions and proven strategies to mitigate California’s student housing crisis:
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Universities can collaborate with private developers to offset the full financial burden of housing solutions. PPPs allow institutions to leverage private sector expertise, accelerating project timelines and ensuring high-quality construction backed by experienced teams.
- Better Coordination with City and State Officials: Universities do not operate in a bubble – housing shortages directly impact local communities, and everyone must work to ensure new housing fits within broader housing goals. This means streamlining approvals for projects while balancing the needs of students and longtime residents.
- Master Planning Services: These services help universities take a holistic approach to enrollment trends and housing needs to avoid overbuilding or underbuilding. Master planning helps ensure that institutions can meet both current and future housing demands effectively.
- Creative Housing Solutions with Minimal Disruption: Building more student housing doesn’t have to lessen quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods. Repurposing underutilized buildings or converting empty commercial spaces into student living are sustainable ways to expand housing without straining residential areas.
- Community Support: This is where you come in. Support from Angelenos and residents of other California cities helps ensure projects get the funding and approval to advance in a timely manner. We need our government officials to lead the charge, but support for housing remains a grassroots effort at every stage.
California’s student housing crisis extends far beyond the surface – it is an educational and economic imperative.
The goal isn’t just to build more student housing, it is to create smart, sustainable solutions that work for everyone.
By leveraging strategic partnerships and forward-thinking building solutions, we can ensure that every student has access to safe, affordable housing, reinforcing the reputation of Los Angeles and California as premier academic destinations.
Jim Stanley is the executive vice president, division manager of Los Angeles at Suffolk, one of the largest real estate and construction enterprises in the country. Stanley has more than two decades of experience in construction. He has worked on several higher education student housing projects in Los Angeles, including the Icon Plaza at USC & the UCLA Boulevard Apartments.