Michigan State University will now require incoming freshmen to live on campus for two years instead of one. WKAR’s Scott Pohl reports on what that might mean for East Lansing landlords.
MSU says they hope a second year living on campus will improve student performance. The new rule takes effect next fall.
Nearly 12,000 MSU students live in rentals run by DTN Management Company. CEO Colin Cronin says the two-year on-campus rule has come up before. “Is it going to change something? Absolutely," Cronin states. "What’s it going to change? I’ll tell you in three years.”
The change goes into effect for incoming freshmen next year, so their second year on campus will begin in the fall of 2022.
With more sophomores living in university housing, some juniors and seniors will need to find a place to live off campus. Cronin says MSU plans to maintain total enrollment or even grow slightly. If that holds true, he thinks the shift may not hurt rental business in the East Lansing market.