So many students are expected to live on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s campus this fall that the state-owned college is turning some two-person suites into three-person suites, and four-person suites into six-person suites.
“We’ve seen an increased demand in students wanting to live on campus — that includes staying for their second, third and fourth years on campus,” said Michelle Fryling, IUP spokeswoman. “We’re in a really strong position right now in terms of housing.”
Students who opt for the tighter quarters will see cost reductions of $500 or $750 per semester, depending on the room arrangements.
Reduced rates took into account square footage of rooms and utilities, Fryling said.
Students in expanded capacity rooms will be charged a daily rate for the amount of time they are living in those spaces.
“We would anticipate by the spring semester, we’d see everyone in traditional two- or four-person living opportunities,” Fryling said.
As of Wednesday, 175 students have selected those housing options. Fryling said most of those students are first-year students.
IUP requires most first-time students to live on campus for one year. Fryling said that policy has been in place for at least a decade.
IUP has around 3,300 beds in on-campus housing.
A total of 3,008 students were in university housing at IUP and its Punxsutawney campus last fall, up from 2,842 students living in university housing in fall 2024. That includes a record percentage of students who lived on campus during the 2024-25 school year who returned to on-campus housing in 2025-26.
About 60% of students living on campus are new students.
IUP offers a $1,000 annual scholarship to students living in one of its eight suite-style residence halls their first year. Second-year students choosing to live in university housing receive a $1,500 annual scholarship and third and fourth-year students get a $2,000 annual scholarship.
On average, housing costs are about $7,950 for first-year residents, $7,450 for second-year residents and $6,950 for third and fourth-year residents, IUP reports.
It is too soon to tell if IUP would add more permanent housing facilities. Fryling said the university remains committed to its off-campus partners to keep the on-campus bed count at 3,300. The university would need to undergo more research before making a decision, she said.
IUP is not the only Western Pennsylvania university grappling with too many students and not enough rooms.
The University of Pittsburgh anticipates opening a new, 420-bed, first-year residence hall by fall 2028 because of student enrollment growth. Pitt’s also leasing three off-campus apartment buildings because of increased demand in student housing.
Starting this fall, incoming Pitt students will be guaranteed housing for two years, instead of the previous three.
Last fall, Point Park University placed up to 90 freshmen at the Wyndham Grand hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh because of a growing student body.
IUP’s situation is “a positive trend,” Fryling said. “It reflects students are pretty happy with our campus housing.”