While ASU is under pressure for its high rent prices, its peer institutions aren’t immune either. Michigan State University has recently made headlines for a surge in student housing insecurity among many students. According to a survey carried out in the spring of 2025 by MSU assistant professors Stephen Przybylinski and John Kuk under the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR), more than 37% of MSU students reported experiencing at least one type of housing insecurity, and 8.5% of students reported experiencing homelessness in the previous year.The inability to pay utilities or rent, unexpected rent spikes, and relocation due to financial hardship are among the most common causes.

 

Jacob Freese, a junior at Michigan State living in an off-campus house with four other roommates, said finding a job in the area is challenging, telling me he drives an hour to work  everyday. He described the financial pressure of covering rent on his own. “Saving up for rent is difficult if you’re not taking out loans or under a guarantor,” Freese said. He recalled receiving an eviction notice at his home last year because his rent was late, highlighting the serious difficulties students face in affording off-campus housing.

 

MSU recently announced the closing of its Spartan Village Apartments, an older on-campus complex with about 1,500 units. The decision was based on maintenance problems, including plumbing and heating issues, which administrators said are “no longer cost-effective to fix.” 

 

The cost of housing in the Midwest is also on the rise. According to the Board of Trustees, in the 2025-2026 school year, on-campus housing rates are expected to increase 2.9% while apartments will rise 5%. The university says the jump in cost is due to rising labor costs, infrastructure upgrades and the financial burden of older dorm buildings. In order to handle short-term demand, MSU is also depending on transitory housing.

 

During periods of high move-in, their "Live On" program temporarily overassigns rooms utilizing what they refer to as transitory housing until cancellations free up permanent slots. Live On provides a roof for students, but it's only a temporary solution for many.However, MSU is developing long-term policy solutions rather than simply responding.

 

A 2024 National Extension Diversity Award was given to the MSU Extension Housing Policy Team, in part for educating legislators about equality and housing policy.Their work is influencing more general discussions about how to assist low-income students and better address Michigan's structural housing issues.