Fresno State Opens First New Student Housing in 50 Years, Including Units for Families

Fresno State celebrated the opening of an 80,000-square-foot student housing building at Shaw and Cedar avenues this week — the university’s first new student housing development since 1968.

The four-story building includes 228 apartment-style beds across one- to four-bedroom units. Six of those units are designated for students with children, the first housing of its kind at Fresno State. Students and families are scheduled to move in beginning August 20.

“If we want every student to have an opportunity to learn at Fresno State, we must create an environment that recognizes the reality of their life,” said Phong Yang, Fresno State vice president of student affairs.

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The project is funded by a $33.7 million state affordable student housing grant and about $20 million in California State University systemwide revenue bonds. The CSU Board of Trustees approved the schematic design in July 2023 and approved financing in November 2023. The debt service on the bonds will be the responsibility of the California State University, Fresno Association, Inc. (Student Housing) to repay over the life of the bonds.

Each apartment includes a full kitchen, in-building laundry access, and Wi-Fi, utilities and cable at no additional cost. The complex also features a gym, recreation room, conference space, an outdoor play structure, a basketball court, and an outdoor fire pit area.

“All of the resources that we have for our regular students will also be available to our parents for support when they’re trying to balance both going to school and having a family,” said Erin Boele, Fresno State’s director of student housing.

Fresno State President Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval pointed to research showing students who live on campus tend to stay enrolled and graduate sooner. “All of these are proven statistics: when students live on campus, they are able to stay on campus more connected, they are able to retain on campus, and they are able to graduate sooner as well,” he said.

With the new building, Student Housing now houses 1,598 students across 10 buildings.

The Breakdown

• The new building adds 228 apartment-style beds, including six units specifically for students with children — the first family housing Fresno State has offered.
• The project cost $53.7 million total: $33.7 million from a state affordable student housing grant, and about $20 million from CSU systemwide revenue bonds that Student Housing will repay.
• The CSU Board of Trustees approved the design in July 2023 and approved financing in November 2023.
• Construction started last fall; the building opened this month after 50 years with no new student housing.

What This Means for You

The CSU Board of Trustees — the governing body that oversees Fresno State and the entire CSU system — approved this project and its financing. The six family units acknowledge that some students are raising children while earning a degree.

What to Watch

The public is contributing $33.7 million in state grant funding to this project, and Student Housing will carry $20 million in debt to be repaid over the life of the bonds. That’s roughly $235,000 per bed in total project cost.

The university notes there’s no waitlist this year where there used to be one of up to 400 students.