Enrollment boom pushes Augusta University housing to its limits

By Caelyn Dockal | Staff writer

Augusta University welcomed its largest freshman class in history this fall, continuing a three-year streak of record-breaking enrollment growth.

With nearly 12,500 students enrolled for Fall 2025, including 6,700 undergraduates and more than 6,000 graduate students, the university is on track toward its goal of 16,000 students by 2030.

However, this growth has a side effect: increased student-housing demand.

Housing is at full capacity. Every freshman who wanted to live on campus secured a spot this year, primarily in Oak and Elm Halls. However, the strain is evident for upperclassmen, some of whom were placed in nearby apartment complexes.

“We signed a master lease with Beacon Station and The Row this year, so roughly about 180 upper-class undergraduates are living there,” said Susie Davies, executive vice president for enrollment and student affairs. “Our plan is to put in a request to build a new residence hall. We have a demand study that shows we have the need for it; we just have to start that process.”

Karl Munchy, who works closely with student services, echoed this concern. 

“Freshman enrollment is up, and housing is full,” he said. “We’ve added Beacon Station and The Row, so students are living there, which works out really well, being minutes away from campus. But in my opinion, our enrollment is somewhat limited because of our lack of housing. We need more housing, no doubt about that. It is very likely we’ll also add a new cafeteria.”

With these past challenges, it adds to the urgency. Housing issues are not new for AU. In 2023, Oak Hall flooding and mold concerns displaced around 400 students, forcing many to move into hotels and apartments while repairs were made, according to a WRDW TV article. Those disruptions left some students frustrated and highlighted the university’s dependency on limited campus housing options.

This summer, uncertainty deepened when Corvias Campus Living-USG, the company that manages AU’s residence halls, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While the University System of Georgia assured that operations would continue without interruption, the move raised questions about long-term stability, according to WRDW.

Making room and looking ahead. For now, AU has been looking into solutions, partnering with Rent College Pads through its Jags Care program to connect students with off-campus housing, according to an Augusta University Jags Care article. 

Still, the need for permanent housing solutions looms large. As AU pushes toward 16,000 students by 2023, adding a new residence hall isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity.

“We want to create a great experience so students will stay and graduate here,” Davies said.

One thing is clear, with record enrollment and growing demand, expanding housing isn’t just a goal, it’s essential for Augusta University’s future.

Contact Caelyn Dockal at cadockal@augusta.edu.