‘They want to live on campus’: Fresno State to add new affordable student housing

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Fresno State will soon break ground on its first new housing project in 56 years.

The university is building an 80,000-square-foot apartment-style facility with 228 beds.

“Unfortunately we just haven’t had enough room in our housing to accommodate all those students. And so that’s why this new build is amazing and it’s something that we’re looking forward to,” Director of Housing Erin Boele said.

There are currently nine dorm buildings on campus, but as student populations grow, some double rooms have had to be converted to accommodate three people.

“I know I have a friend that has already stated that it’s already really packed in the dorms, so I think it is a good investment for them to make another one so they have more room,” student Isaac Sanchez said.

Fresno State surveyed students, finding a major need for students with children who want to live on campus.

The apartments will be affordable because of government grants and they will have a playground for kids.

“They want to live on campus. They want to live closer. They want to have a safe option, though, too. And so this is going to solve all of those issues for them,” Boele said.

Boele says only about 6% of Fresno State students live in the dorms, but some students say they think more would live on campus if they had more options.

“I think we both come about 30 minutes a day, so, you know, having the students be able to have more room to, you know, stay on campus would be awesome,” Student Naomi Ruiz said.

“As you grow from freshman to senior, I think your activities here in Fresno increase and it probably would be more worth it to be a student here in the dorms,” student Ever Loya said.

While most students commute, Boele says it would be to their benefit to live on campus.

“It gets them commuted or gets up on the campus. It gets them engaged in the university. It just gets them off to the right start, and our students who live on campus tend to graduate faster and have a higher GPA than those students that are living off campus,” Boele said.

The university expects to have the new building finished in 2026 and for it to be move-in ready that fall.

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