CADEN HAYNOR / NEWS EDITOR

EMMA PHILLIPS / CONTRIBUTOR

Before each school year, students must take a look at the costs and benefits of living in school-sanctioned housing or living elsewhere.  Housing  rates are continually on  the   rise  in  San Diego, causing   USD   upperclassmen     students  to  reassess their options   in comparison to the options that USD offers.

This academic year, housing rates increased for all living areas on campus. In a statement, the University explained why housing rates are increasing.

“Each year we evaluate our housing rates in comparison to local market values to help stay competitive,”   the    University   stated.  “Our  on-campus  traditional-style housing options consistently come in below the average rental rates in San Diego, even as the city’s cost of living continues to rise. San  Diego is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Rate adjustments help us maintain safe, high-quality, well-managed residential   spaces   for   students   while keeping  affordability  top of mind.”

This market research is conducted  to analyze the rising costs in San Diego’s rental market, as  well  as  with operational costs and demand. These increases in spending have worried some students looking to pay for housing next year. 

USD junior Sam Cotter, who lives in the Manchester Village Apartments on campus, reacted to these increased prices.

“For  me  personally,  considering the  amount that it’s increasing, I don’t think it makes sense,” Cotter said. “We don’t even have air conditioning. We’re still paying for laundry.”

At USD, the cost of on-campus housing can differ from some off-campus options, but it depends on factors such as the  location, amenities and lease terms. For example, the  Alcalá  Vista Apartments cost $6,975 per semester,  per  student  for  a  unit   with four  people  living  in it.  This is a $300 increase from last academic year.

If four students  split the cost of a 2-bedroom,  2-bathroom  apartment in  Linda Vista,  the  rent, costs per  person   from   $750 to $850 per month. This depends on the apartment, which would range from $3,000 to $3,400 per semester,  per  student  not  including other costly  factors  such   as utilities.

Some students, however, have worries about the availability of housing in the future. 

USD    junior    Eva    Mae   Ross   lives in  the Pacific   Ridge    apartments  off    campus  and  through  a    private  lease    not  through  the  University.  Ross  explained why she is worried that housing might not be   available  in the future. 

“Oh,  100%,  I  am worried about [housing availability],” Ross said. “I think  it  was  kind of ridiculous to build the Wellness Center when we have so many students without housing.  I  had a  lot  of  trouble with housing last semester… and then I’ve  heard multiple  complaints  from freshmen and sophomores, how they’ve transformed every triple in Maher, and they’re  transforming doubles to triples, so I definitely am worried.”

If a student wants to live in the Pacific Ridge apartments next to campus, they have the option of purchasing housing through a USD master lease or an independent lease. A single bedroom apartment under the USD master lease includes dorm furniture and utilities, costs $8,255 per semester. An independent lease for the same size apartment costs about $10,800 per semester, not including the costs of furniture and utilities.

USD junior Elaina Phiel lives in the Pacific Ridge  Apartments through  a  private   lease. Phiel explained how this housing situation suits her.

“I actually applied for on-campus housing for my junior year last year and did not get it. So I was kind of scrambling to find housing by the time that decision came out last year,” Phiel said. “I ended up in Pacific Ridge with someone else who was kind of in the same boat. I did try to get housing through USD and by the time I was denied that housing, there was not really an option for me to get a lease with the school through Pacific Ridge. And then additionally, I would rather have more of my own space. And it helps my academics and socializing better, in my opinion.”

Over this year, there have been some issues with housing areas, including appliance malfunction, mold and flooding. Students can submit a request to maintenance to come and fix these issues. In some cases, the issues cause students to leave their room for a period of time and live  elsewhere  while  it  gets  fixed. Cotter described how maintenance responded to one of these requests.

“I had to work request in for [an appliance] for a month and no one came to fix it,” Cotter said. “This has happened a few times. I do see where they’re coming from, but when it comes to maintenance and stuff, if it’s not being done in an effective and efficient time frame, then it’s like, is it really worth it? Is it the increase [of students]? Like, my neighbor down the hall, their room flooded. And they were in temporary housing for a month.”

The housing application for the next  academic year should open for USD current students around Feb. 9, according to the Residential Life website. This  will give housing options to  USD  students for where they can live around campus and the prices for those  housing spaces.

USD first-years and sophomores that are required to live on campus have multiple living options. Hailey Howell/The USD Vista