2026 — New Research Report
Transforming
Student Housing
into a Retention Engine
Beyond Heads in Beds:
This report helps housing leaders make the case for modernizing housing operations without sacrificing stability, compliance, or staff capacity.
500+
Students
Surveyed
40
in-depth interviews
with housing professionals
Actionable
recommendations included
Housing.Cloud © 2026
24
Provide Better Roommate Matching for Better Student Outcomes
Roommate matching is frequently one of the most frustrating parts of the housing experience for students.
One student respondent noted the challenges of roommate assignments at their school:
“You take a quiz to match even for random roommates and even then the system does not accurately reflect the quiz.”
of students report that “roommate matching doesn’t work well” is the most frustrating part of their school’s housing system, according to the 2025 National Student Housing Experience Survey.
38%
Year
Social Preferences
Extrovert
Morning or Night
Morning
Study Habits
Studies with music
215-A
4.8
East Wing, Floor 2
Current
Roommates
I would make it so that there's a core page with a compendium of resources you might like to use.
Respondent
2025 National Student Housing Experience Survey
Of students gave their housing system 5 stars
20%
5.0
This means that campuses have to differentiate themselves through superior experiences and support to remain competitive.
Based on insights from 500+ students and 40 in-depth interviews with housing professionals, this comprehensive report reveals the five critical shifts institutions must make to turn housing from a logistics function into a strategic retention driver—with practical, actionable recommendations you can implement immediately.
Five Critical Findings Every Housing Leader Should Know
Plus practical steps to address them—backed by research and real-world implementation experience
Student Expectations Are Outpacing Housing Technology
Students compare your housing tech to every other app they use—not just other universities. Discover the 8 features that define a 'modern' housing portal and get implementation recommendations.
Of students gave their housing system 5 stars
20%
5.0
Limited housing flexibility forces staff into manual workarounds that increase workload and reduce consistency.
Roommate Matching Remains the #1 Student Frustration
Poor roommate matches don't just frustrate students—they impact retention and academic performance. Learn how tagging, flexible rule logic, and AI are transforming matching outcomes.
38%
Of students cite poor roommate matching as a frustration
Poor roommate matching increases student complaints and drives avoidable staff escalations throughout the academic year.
Housing Staff Are Overwhelmed—But Strategic Tech Can Help
Staff need tools that improve both efficiency AND student support. See which technology applications and AI use cases housing professionals are prioritizing to reduce workloads while enhancing care.
Operational blind spots limit a department's ability to respond proactively to student needs and leadership expectations.
51%
Of housing staff report
working overtime regularly
Self-Service Tools Reduce Burden on Staff AND Students
Dynamic forms, mobile-friendly portals, and clear action lists create better experiences for everyone. Get the implementation blueprint with step-by-step recommendations.
26%
Of students frustrated by manual process steps
Housing Is a Retention Strategy—Not Just a Logistics Function
First-year and second-year students who live on campus show measurably higher retention rates. Learn how to position housing as a strategic retention investment to campus leadership.
2+%
Higher retention for on-campus residents
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We didn't have to tell the students anything—they just did it. That's when I knew the system worked.
Teddi Walker
University of Alaska Fairbanks
You take a quiz to match even for random roommates and even then the system does not accurately reflect the quiz.
Student
2025 National Student Housing Experience Survey
What You'll Learn
Inside this report:
1
How to leverage flexible platforms that keep pace with changing student expectations without expensive custom builds
2
The 8 features students expect in modern housing portals (benchmark your current system)
3
Proven roommate matching strategies that reduce conflicts and improve retention
4
AI applications housing teams are using to manage workloads without adding headcount
5
Staff workflows that reduce manual work by 40% while improving student support
Plus: Implementation checklists and budget justification templates
Each section includes:
Research-backed insights and data
Practical recommendations
for campus teams
Implementation guidance
you can use immediately
Real examples from peer institutions
All bonus materials are included free with your report download. Use them immediately to build your business case for housing technology investment.
Bonus Materials
Budget justification template for leadership presentations
Vendor evaluation scorecard and evaluation frameworks
Student satisfaction survey questions
