By Rachel Richardson
513-556-5219

Photos by UC Creative Services

Aug. 10, 2017

As the University of Cincinnati anticipates another record-breaking enrollment this fall, more students than ever before want to live on campus.

UC will house more than 6,500 students in housing both on and near campus, an increase of more than 500 students from last year and the largest number in the university’s 198-year history, said Carl Dieso, director of Housing, Food & Retail Services.

The unprecedented demand for on-campus housing stems in part from both the university’s largest incoming freshman class, as well as upperclassmen wanting a richer and full college experience. Total enrollment this fall is projected to be 45,300 with an estimated 5,450 first-year students on the Uptown campus.

“People see the value of a UC education and with that, they want to experience all we have to offer, including living on campus,” said Dieso.  “It’s not just students coming from a distance. We see students from local markets who can easily choose to commute yet are investing in the on-campus experience.”

UC housing will be at full capacity when students move in Aug. 14-17, said Dieso. An extra move-in day was added this year to the traditionally two-day event to accommodate the boom in on-campus living.

A home-away-from-home

Most popular among students are apartment communities such as Scioto Hall, the $38 million glass-enclosed high-rise that opened last year.

In terms of numbers, Calhoun Hall tops the list this year with 816 students taking up residency, followed by Stratford Heights at 805 and Daniels Hall trailing close behind with 780 residents.

More than 1,580 students will make their college home-away-from-home in block housing — nearby off-campus housing reserved for UC students — including University Park Apartments, University Edge, 101 Corry, Stetson Square, Campus Park Cincy and USquare at the Loop.

“We’ve had to be creative,” Dieso explained. “We have a very short timeline to get everyone settled.”  

Dieso said UC’s housing boom isn’t surprising. Students who live on campus tend to have higher GPAs and report greater levels of satisfaction with their college experience.

“Students are really interested in the whole package,” he said. “They want to take advantage of everything UC has to offer and that includes housing and being engaged and part of it.”

Move-In Details

More than 6,500 students will converge on campus during the annual move-in event, set for Aug. 14-17. 

Want to help students move into their housing? Volunteer to lend a "helping hand."

A high-rise for high demand

Demand for on-campus housing has skyrocketed 54 percent since 2012, and officials expect the numbers to continue to climb. UC is seeking to stay ahead of the game with the construction of a mixed-use high-rise building on the former site of Sawyer Hall, which was torn down in 2005.

Like its neighbors, Morgen and Scioto halls, the soaring high-rise will feature a curtain wall glass exterior, but will also include brick to blend in with surrounding buildings. Features include:

• 275-seat dining center

• 330 beds of suite-style housing

• Office space for housing/residential development

• Bridge to/from Scioto Hall

The new building is slated to open in fall 2018.