San Diego State University announced in September its plans to significantly expand student housing in the coming years. 

The project, subject to approval by the California State University’s Board of Trustees in mid-2025, includes constructing up to seven residential buildings with around 4,500 beds, along with an amenities building on campus.

The university has hosted two informational meetings open to students, faculty, staff, and the public, providing a project overview, explaining the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process and discussing potential environmental impacts.

Freshman Kaylee Ossman, who currently lives in an SDSU dorm, sees the necessity for the housing project.

“I feel like there is definitely a need for more housing,” she said. “A lot of freshman dorms are overcrowded because there is not enough space. Sophomore housing is also very competitive, making it hard to find a good place to live. I think more housing on or near campus would help a lot.”

Senior Mitchell Brandalise reflected on his time in SDSU dorms like Huaxyacac and Aztec Corner (pictured above), sharing concerns about SDSU’s rapid growth.

“There definitely is a need for more housing since SDSU keeps enrolling beyond capacity year after year,” said Brandalise. “SDSU could either stop over-enrolling, which is very worrying because at the same time they keep raising tuition and fees, or they can waive the current requirement that forces non-commuter students to live on campus for two years.”

Freshman Gabriel Castellanos offered a different perspective, suggesting the current setup is sufficient.

“I feel there is an adequate amount of housing opportunities for students. Keeping housing options limited allows students to have a sense of urgency when it comes to figuring out their living situations for future semesters.”

When considering their feelings on SDSU housing, as well as the pros and cons, students enjoy things like the convenience it offers and the community it provides, but also find its challenges.

Cindy Avila, a sophomore living in Granada, an on-campus apartment building, states, “I like the building I’m living in mostly because of its proximity to my classes.” but adds, “Granada can have up to six people in an apartment, usually made up with two residents having single rooms and two doubles. The double rooms are way too small, my roommate and I can’t fully fit all of our stuff in there.”

Castellanos explains, “My on-campus housing experience has been awesome so far. My roommate and I get along pretty well and being able to go back to my own safe space on campus is a great thing to have. The only thing I would say isn’t going well is the state of the communal bathrooms, they don’t stay clean for very long.”

With the potential for additional housing, students share their ideas on what they’d like the new facilities to include.

Ossman added, “Bigger rooms and easier access to laundry would be great. I’d also love to see features like a pool or courtyard in new housing, which is something I really enjoy in our current setup.”

Grant McQueen, a sophomore and current SDSU RA, expresses,“I would love for the school to implement more housing on campus, enabling less crowding within the freshman dorms.”

Students generally describe off-campus housing as more affordable and flexible compared to on-campus options.

“My friends who live off-campus don’t have trouble finding housing, and they have also found that living off campus is more affordable than the on-campus options.” Avila said, mentioning popular student housing centers The Rive.

Brandalise states, “Right now all my friends are finding space off campus in either houses or apartments in the College Area. That way they can stay close to get to classes but also not pay a huge amount like in some of the other neighborhoods in San Diego. Pricing is always an issue, since everything will be expensive everywhere. It’s just a matter of what amenities the property has and how convenient it is for school, work and other activities.”

Freshmen often highlight the limitations of on-campus housing, especially regarding room size and shared facilities.

McQueen explains, “Most freshmen’s primary complaint is the lack of personal space within the rooms. Communal bathrooms are also a frequent complaint; however, that is par for the course with on-campus housing.”

As SDSU students weigh in on their on-campus housing experience, the common sentiment has been a mix of appreciation for community and concern over issues like overcrowding and limited amenities. 

This feedback underscores the importance of the university’s upcoming housing expansion project, as it aims to address these challenges and better accommodate the growing student population.

Top photo credit: Angelica Tilton