University of Houston: "If You Build It, They Will Pay (A Lot)"

Oh, joy! The University of Houston's Board of Regents has given the green light to a spanking new residence hall. Because, you know, the students weren't already drowning in debt.

This shiny new dorm will cost a measly $179 million—chump change, right? It's going to be plopped on the west campus near Cullen Boulevard, right across from TDECU Stadium, squeezing in between the Fred J. Heyne building and Cougar Woods dining commons. Can't wait to see how they fit that in without busting out the Tetris skills.

With 1,000 new beds, the campus residential capacity will skyrocket to a whopping 10,000 students! Construction kicks off next summer and wraps up in the summer of 2027. Hope all those future freshmen are excited to live in a construction zone.

This is all part of UH's grand plan to shake off its "commuter school" rep and become "primarily residential," according to the Houston Chronicle. Because, you know, nothing says "cozy college experience" like mandatory on-campus living and exorbitant parking fees.

Meet Simrah Junani, a UH student who commutes a cool 40 miles from Richmond in Fort Bend County. She said, "I was even debating [living on campus], but we looked at the dorm options and they were pretty expensive per semester." Shocker, right? 🙄

UH Welcomes Record-Breaking Freshman Class (and Their Wallets)

Just in time for the new dorm, UH welcomed a record-breaking freshman class of over 6,200 students. That's 10% larger than any other class in previous years. Diane Z. Chase, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, couldn't contain her excitement:

"The size of this year's freshman class is a testament to the growing appeal of our programs," Chase said in a news release. "More students are choosing Houston this fall and we are committed to providing them with an exceptional educational experience."

And by "exceptional," she probably means "exceptionally expensive." In 2022, UH had about 46,700 students, with 82% living off-campus, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Currently, UH boasts three freshman residence halls, three halls for upperclassmen, three apartment complexes, and one loft-style building. Get ready for more renditions of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" echoing through the halls. 🎉