Purdue has opened its 2025-26 housing waitlist, allowing students who were not selected in the housing lottery a chance to secure on-campus accommodations. However, the housing shortage, compounded by record enrollment numbers, leaves many students frustrated and uncertain about their living situations. The demand for on-campus housing has once again outstripped supply, with hundreds of students now left waiting for a potential spot.

A Housing System That Can't Keep Up

Purdue’s rapid enrollment growth continues to strain its housing system. This comes after President Mung Chiang addressed the university's Faculty Senate, stating that the upcoming fall semester could see another record enrollment year. Applications for Fall 2024 had already reached 78,526, with 39,096 admitted and 11,388 choosing Purdue—the largest freshman class to date. Early action applications for Fall 2025 showed a 14.7% increase over the previous year, signaling yet another surge in enrollment [1].

The university’s housing crunch became especially evident in the summer of 2024 when Purdue overadmitted 1,600 students, forcing the institution to offer alternative housing assignments at discounted rates. While Chiang noted in August 2024 that Purdue planned to reduce future admission rates, the current trajectory suggests that demand for housing will remain a critical issue.

Limited University Response

Purdue has announced plans to build additional residence halls, including an eight-story building south of Hillenbrand Hall set to open in 2026. However, this does little to help students facing housing insecurity in the immediate future. President Chiang has acknowledged that the city of West Lafayette and the campus infrastructure are not equipped to handle the university’s record-breaking enrollment numbers. Efforts to address the issue include deferring more students, though this approach has faced criticism for leaving prospective students in limbo [2].

A Purdue student, who asked to remain anonymous, shared their frustration: “I applied for housing early, but I wasn’t selected. Now I’m stuck checking my email every day hoping for an opening while trying to figure out if I need to find an apartment.”

Off-Campus Housing: A Pricey Alternative

With on-campus housing unavailable for many, students are turning to off-campus options. However, the cost of rent in West Lafayette continues to climb. According to recent data from Apartments.com, one-bedroom apartments near campus average $1,421 per month, significantly higher than in previous years [3]. Additionally, the increasing demand has left many apartment complexes fully leased months in advance.

Some students are choosing to commute from Lafayette or further out to save money, but that presents its own challenges, including transportation costs and longer travel times.

What’s Next?

For now, students on the waitlist have little choice but to wait and hope for an opening. Purdue Housing has not provided specific numbers on how many waitlisted students can expect to receive rooms. Meanwhile, deferrals and delayed admissions decisions may further complicate housing logistics as the university grapples with managing its growing enrollment.

Students looking for off-campus options can check local rental listings or join social media groups dedicated to subleases. However, as Purdue continues to admit record-breaking numbers of students each year, the housing crisis is unlikely to resolve itself anytime soon. Until more housing is built, many students will continue to face uncertainty and rising costs.

Sources

[1] “Purdue President Mung Chiang: University braces for another record enrollment year,” Lafayette Journal & Courier, January 2025.
[2] “Purdue University to Build New Residence Hall to Meet Student Demand,” Purdue Board of Trustees, July 14, 2023.
[3] Apartments.com rental data for West Lafayette, accessed January 2025.