USA

The history of student housing is as old as higher education itself. From its early versions at Oxford and Cambridge, campus housing has grown and changed according to the educational standpoint of each university. Student housing underwent several transformations throughout American history as summarized in Student Housing and Residential Life by Roger Winston Jr. and associates (1993).

The following table summarizes the major periods in campus housing history (with additional items added to reflect trends in off-campus housing and privatization).

• Collegiate ideal from England of a selected and relatively small body of students brought into fellowship through dormitories, becoming well known to their teachers, studying a classical curriculum
• Based on the models of Oxford and Cambridge
• Residential colleges committed to education and development of the total student
• Faculty and students share lodging

• The university ideal taken from German with its emphasis on intellectual training and graduate study, and its indifference to their students' moral or social development
• Based on instruction and research
• Students left to make their own living arrangements
• University’s purpose is to create fine centers for scholarship only

• Overcrowding of off campus housing and increased student interest in extracurricular activities gives rise to student housing popularity
• Birth of the Greek system

• Franklin D. Roosevelt signs executive order for the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works
• Housing division of the PWA promotes low-cost housing program
• Public colleges and universities qualify and increase student-housing facilities

• G.I. Bill of Rights gives way for increased student enrollment
• Married students enrollment increases, demanding a housing solutions revolution
• Congress passes Title IV of the Housing Act of 1950 allowing financial assistance to educational institutions in forms of loans

• End of in loco parentis era
• Off-campus (private apartment or house) housing becomes the norm for upperclass students.

• Idea of residence halls over dormitories blooms
• By the 1980's popularity of on-campus housing has a resurgence. Many campuses institute lottery system of on-campus housing allocation.
• The promotion of influencing the quality of student’s educational experiences and personal development ask for housing programs revision
• Nationwide studies create theory of residence hall’s positive influence on the educational experience on campus over the commuter experience

• Call for revision of student housing services and administration by students and parents
• Volunteer organizations founded to oversee housing standards in construction, maintenance, student services, and administration
• Beginnings of privatized, upscale student housing complexes off-campus.
• Beginnings of privatized on-campus housing developments.

• Begining of initial public offerings (IPOs) of student housing real estate investment trusts (REITs). Student housing makes its debut on the stock market.