Residential Satisfaction among College Students: Examining High‐End Amenity Student Housing

Abstract

Compared to previous generations of students, today's college‐bound students have found that their housing situation offers demonstrably more amenities. These amenities can be offered either through university‐provided housing or through private student housing providers specializing in high‐amenity housing. This study is based on research on residential satisfaction, housing adjustment theory, and housing careers to help understand the effects that these amenities have on the students’ overall well‐being. The sample is extracted from a database collected by a private student housing provider covering multiple university settings across the United States. The results of data analysis suggest that while amenities such as resort‐style pools and fast Internet speed increase housing satisfaction, other amenities such as computer rooms and coffee shops have a negative effect. However, several variables measuring quality of customer service have positive effects on housing satisfaction. The results suggest that the students’ experiences in these environments may help form their housing norms as they leave college.