search_icon support_icon globe_icon
Talk to sales

Yardi Matrix: Student housing preleasing rises ahead of school year

But new supply in some markets slows average rent growth at Yardi 200 schools

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2025 – A new national report from Yardi® Matrix shows that the 93.7% preleasing level recorded at the Yardi® 200 schools in August 2025 exceeded the August 2024 level by 200 basis points.

student housing building

Thirty-six markets were 99% preleased in August compared to 25 markets in August 2024, with only 21 schools being less than 85% preleased. While Yardi Matrix continues to tally occupancy for the current academic year to account for late-starting schools, 93.7% is slightly above the final occupancy figure recorded in September 2024.

The Yardi Matrix report, drawn from a dataset of more than 2,000 colleges and universities including the top 200 of every major athletic conference, also reveals that rent growth at the Yardi 200 schools has been slow lately. While average rents per bed rose by 1.1% year-over-year in August, they are down 1.7% from the peak rate in March.

“Rent growth has been harder to achieve this year as new supply has made leasing more challenging” in several university markets such as Tennessee, Arizona, Arkansas, Clemson and Central Florida, the report notes.

With regard to other key factors impacting student housing, Yardi Matrix continues to assess how limitations on university funding and restrictions on international students could impact enrollment this year.

Read more student housing preleasing, occupancy and investment sales in the National Student Housing Report for September 2025.

Yardi Matrix offers the industry’s most comprehensive market intelligence tool for investment professionals, equity investors, lenders and property managers who underwrite and manage investments in commercial real estate. Yardi Matrix covers multifamily, single-family rentals/ build to rent, affordable housing, student housing, self storage, office, industrial, retail and vacant land property types. Email [email protected], call (480) 663-1149 or visit yardimatrix.com to learn more.

About Yardi

Yardi® develops industry-leading software for all types and sizes of real estate companies across the world. With more than 10,000 employees, Yardi is working with our clients to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energized for Tomorrow, visit yardi.com.