Written by Ella Freda

Penn State Students are the main believers in more affordable on-campus housing, but it would end up benefiting the University and greater State College area if implemented. The statistics on student homelessness are alarming, and as mentioned, the University is directly affected. The reputation of the town impacts the school, including their future application rates and the satisfaction of their alumni who would like to see their degree stay in a good light.

Currently, it costs anywhere from $2,850 to $6,400 per semester to live on campus at Penn State University, according to their website. Living on campus gives students the advantage of being closer to their classes and also building relationships with the students who live in their room or building. Unlike off-campus living, students are restricted by the presence of the University. Alcohol and other substances are strictly prohibited inside on-campus housing complexes, students are subject to comply with ‘quiet hours,’ and are oftentimes also forced to share their space with 1-3 students.

The main obstacle to reducing on-campus housing costs is the lack of awareness. Whether or not the University recognizes the housing crisis is just guesswork right now because no conscious announcements have been made. If students and parents were to raise awareness about this issue and push back against the University’s current budget, we might see some real change. Likewise, the University should also be able to recognize the issue on their own and create alternatives for students facing financial troubles, such as subsidized housing either on-campus or near it.

The potential negative consequences of reduced on-campus housing are that the State College market is affected. If students find the restrictions of living on-campus worth the financial benefit, many landlords may be faced to find other means of income. Reducing the number of consumers causes the number of producers to fall as well, only making the market more competitive for future students. With fewer landlords competing, prices could increase, quality of housing and services could decrease, and overall the experience of renting in State College could rapidly deteriorate past what is currently seen as an issue.