On December 8, the Purdue University Board of Trustees approved adjusted room rates for University Residences. The new rates will take effect at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year.

University Residences room rates remain well below the Big Ten average and university tuition continues to be frozen for the 2024-25 academic year. Since 2012, room rates at Big Ten peer institutions have increased by 47 percent. The average increase in room rates at Purdue for over 83% of rooms, including those with the highest demand, will be less than $29 per month.

Purdue partnered with a top consultant in higher education student life spaces to review all rooms in University Residences’ portfolio. After reviewing spaces, conducting a student survey and focus groups, assessing the local housing market and benchmarking against Big Ten peers, University Residences adopted a recommendation to simplify room rate structure.

This process resulted in University Residences condensing more than 100 existing room types into three tiers, making it easier for students to understand and choose rooms that fit their lifestyle and budget. Room rates are broken into three tiers based on amenities including the age of the facility, room size and degrees of privacy, such as bathroom types.

Adjusted room rates will provide more capital to reinvest in projects that support students living in residence halls. Examples of recent enhancements made to residence halls include upgraded Wi-Fi connectivity and modernized bathrooms. Purdue has committed to invest an additional $5 million annually in repairs and rehabilitation of existing spaces.

Since 2012, University Residences has constructed four new residence halls – Winifred Parker Hall, Frieda Parker Hall, Meredith South and Honors Colleges and Residences – and purchased Aspire. An additional residence hall project located at the corner of Third Street and McCormick Road will open in fall 2025, with an additional residence hall south of Hillenbrand Hall to follow in fall 2026. These two new facilities will add nearly 1,900 beds.

The new room rates structure supports University Residences mission to provide a quality, affordable housing experience for Purdue students while offering dynamic opportunities for growth through student employment, clubs, programs, learning communities and educational opportunities. More than just a place to sleep, University Residences continues to provide opportunities for students to build treasured relationships as well as leadership and professional skills that will last a lifetime.