Beyond Heads in Beds: Transforming Student Housing into a Retention Engine

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2026 — New Research Report

Transforming

Student Housing

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.

Request Your Free Copy

See What's Inside

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.

Request Your Free Copy

See What's Inside

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.

Request Your Free Copy

See What's Inside

500+

Students

Surveyed

Students

Surveyed

Students

Surveyed

Students

Surveyed

Students

Surveyed

in-depth interviews

with housing professionals

in-depth interviews

with housing professionals

in-depth interviews

with housing professionals

in-depth interviews

with housing professionals

in-depth interviews

with housing professionals

Actionable

recommendations included

Actionable

recommendations included

Actionable

recommendations included

Actionable

recommendations included

Actionable

recommendations included

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

20%

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

5.0

This means that campuses have to differentiate themselves through superior experiences and support to remain competitive.

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

20%

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

5.0

This means that campuses have to differentiate themselves through superior experiences and support to remain competitive.

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

20%

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

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.

Schedule a Demo

Five Critical Findings Every Housing Leader Should Know

Five Critical Findings Every

Housing Leader Should Know

Five Critical Findings Every Housing Leader Should Know

Plus practical steps to address them—backed by research

and real-world implementation experience

Plus practical steps to address them—backed by research

and real-world implementation experience

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.

Only 20%

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

Of students gave their

housing system 5 stars

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

5.0

Limited housing flexibility forces staff into manual workarounds that increase workload and reduce consistency.

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.

Only 20%

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

5.0

Limited housing flexibility forces staff into manual workarounds that increase workload and reduce consistency.

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.

Only 20%

Of students gave their housing system 5 stars

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.

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.

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

Of housing staff report

working overtime regularly

Of housing staff report

working overtime regularly

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

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

Of students frustrated

by manual process steps

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

Higher retention

for on-campus residents

Higher retention for on-campus residents

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

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

Get Your Free Copy

Request Your Free Copy

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

2025 National Student

Housing Experience Survey

Ready-to-use implementation guidance and campus-tested examples

Inside, you’ll find:

Research-backed insights and data from national surveys and peer-reviewed sources

Practical recommendations for campus housing and student affairs teams

Implementation guidance you can put to work immediately

Real examples and quotes from peer institutions

What You'll Learn

Inside this report:

How to leverage flexible platforms that keep pace with changing student expectations without expensive custom builds

The 8 features students expect in modern housing portals (benchmark your current system)

Proven roommate matching strategies that reduce conflicts and improve retention

AI applications housing teams are using to manage workloads without adding headcount

Staff workflows that reduce manual work by 40% while improving student support

Ready-to-use implementation guidance and campus-tested examples

Inside, you’ll find:

Research-backed insights and data from national surveys and peer-reviewed sources

Practical recommendations for campus housing and student affairs teams

Implementation guidance you can put to work immediately

Real examples and quotes from peer institutions

What You'll Learn

Inside this report:

How to leverage flexible platforms that keep pace with changing student expectations without expensive custom builds

The 8 features students expect in modern housing portals (benchmark your current system)

Proven roommate matching strategies that reduce conflicts and improve retention

AI applications housing teams are using to manage workloads without adding headcount

Staff workflows that reduce manual work by 40% while improving student support

Ready-to-use implementation guidance and campus-tested examples

Inside, you’ll find:

Research-backed insights and data from national surveys and peer-reviewed sources

Practical recommendations for campus housing and student affairs teams

Implementation guidance you can put to work immediately

Real examples and quotes from peer institutions

What You'll Learn

Inside this report:

How to leverage flexible platforms that keep pace with changing student expectations without expensive custom builds

The 8 features students expect in modern housing portals (benchmark your current system)

Proven roommate matching strategies that reduce conflicts and improve retention

AI applications housing teams are using to manage workloads without adding headcount

Staff workflows that reduce manual work by 40% while improving student support