“Where are we going to live after we’re married? Both of our programs are at the University of Utah, but it’s so expensive there.”
“Hey, check this out! There’s on-campus housing dedicated to student families — and it’s only $750/month for a 1 bedroom/1 bath! It’s perfect!” I exclaimed to my fiancé.
“No way! Dream come true!”
Sadly, this dream is no longer true. That experience was five years ago. Today, the University of Utah is phasing out its affordable family housing of 50+ years, with the last scheduled for demolition in July 2028. No longer can young families pursue their education while living off Pell grants, scholarships, part-time jobs and prayers. It is the end of an era.
The university is replacing this housing with new units marked up to “market price.” The problem is, “market price” is calculated to the third most expensive zip code in Utah. Here, the monthly stipend of a PhD student cannot even cover the monthly rent for a family requiring three bedrooms. For international students, this challenge is often insurmountable because their spouses cannot legally work in the USA. It is a sad end to the dreams of many young families.
Paul Cardon
Salt Lake City