End Mandatory Housing at Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State University (OSU) mandates that all freshmen who are unmarried, under 21, and without dependents must live in university housing unless they receive an exemption or pay the Freshman Noncompliance Fee of $5,030 for the 2024-2025 academic year. While the university claims this policy supports academic success, it has resulted in a cycle of overcrowding, forcing upperclassmen out of dorms and into unacceptable living conditions while driving up costs for all students.

For years, OSU has enrolled more freshmen than its dormitories can accommodate, leading to extreme overcrowding. When demand exceeds capacity, upperclassmen who were initially guaranteed housing are pushed out, often relocated to temporary spaces such as common areas or study lounges. This crisis has repeated itself year after year, with university officials scrambling to make space rather than addressing the root problem—mandated freshman housing. Instead of continuing to force upperclassmen into unstable living situations, OSU should allow freshmen to voluntarily opt out of dorms, alleviating overcrowding and making housing more accessible to those who truly need it.

The financial burden of on-campus housing is also unsustainable for many students. OSU’s cheapest on-campus housing option costs $5,030 per year, plus mandatory meal plans ranging from $4,120 to over $6,200 per year. This means students are forced to pay at least $9,150 annually just to comply with the housing requirement, with many students paying far more depending on their dorm assignment. Comparatively, off-campus housing in Stillwater is significantly more affordable. Apartments and rental homes within a reasonable distance from campus frequently offer leases as low as $400-$700 per month, translating to $4,800-$8,400 per year—including utilities. Unlike dorm living, off-campus housing allows students to share expenses, cook their own meals instead of paying for an overpriced meal plan, and build financial independence.

Additionally, OSU’s exemption process is needlessly restrictive and forces students into a bureaucratic struggle just to make reasonable financial decisions. Students who own homes in Stillwater or whose families live nearby are not automatically granted exemptions. Instead, they must go through a committee review process that meets only biweekly, often resulting in unnecessary delays and denials. Even when students receive exemptions, they are pressured to wait for an official decision before signing off-campus leases, limiting their ability to secure affordable housing before it fills up.

We, the undersigned, call on Oklahoma State University to immediately repeal the mandatory freshman housing requirement. The university must allow students to make their own housing choices without the threat of a financial penalty and end the practice of displacing upperclassmen due to freshman overcrowding. OSU must also increase transparency regarding the cost of living on campus versus off campus and allow students to make financially responsible decisions without interference.

A university should empower students—not dictate their living arrangements and penalize those who seek better alternatives. The time to end OSU’s outdated and exploitative housing mandate is now. Sign below to demand change.