August 26, 2021

SVSU earns "best dorms" ranking again

No. 1 in the nation among public universities

Saginaw Valley State University has once again earned the title of “best dorms” in the nation among public universities. SVSU has earned this recognition each of the past three years from Niche, a higher education website that uses data analytics and student satisfaction surveys to determine its rankings.

In the 2022 rankings, SVSU’s residential facilities rank fourth overall among colleges and universities in the U.S., including both private and public institutions.

Courtney Vanest, an occupational therapy major at SVSU, is one of the many students who has enjoyed the benefits of SVSU’s award-winning dorms and campus. She has lived on campus for four years and is going into her second year of supporting other students as a resident assistant.

Even though her hometown of Reese is close to campus, she chose to join the other 70% of first-year students who live on campus at SVSU.

“I chose to live on campus because I wanted to get connected with a wider array of students and wanted the ease of accessing campus resources,” Vanest said. “My home is only 20 minutes away from campus, but I know that I would not be as involved or have made as many connections had I not been an on-campus resident.”

Vanest feels at home at SVSU and loves all the amenities she is able to enjoy as a residential student. The welcoming environment and community atmosphere made her feel comfortable as she transitioned to being a college student.

“SVSU dorms are truly top-notch quality,” she said. “All dorms are air-conditioned; provide free amenities such as microwaves, full refrigerators, desks, storage space, and tables and chairs for comfort; and offer secure and safe access through requiring student ID in the living centers and personal keys in the townhomes.

“I often forget that I am living on a college campus because of how homey and comfortable the dorms are — it really is like a miniature village.”

“My favorite part about living on campus has been the convenience of involvement. There are always activities happening on campus, and living in the residence halls makes it so easy to become involved and find my place in my new home,” Vanest said. “Similarly, the more that I am able to get involved through on-campus programs, the more I am able to build meaningful relationships with other students and staff.”

Living on-campus has been one of the best parts of Vanest’s college experience, and the opportunities she has gained have helped her develop personally and professionally.

“It is from living on campus that I met my best friends, joined clubs that I am truly interested in, found the mark I wanted to make at college, and grew as a student and future professional. I am so grateful for the relationships I built and opportunities SVSU offers that make residential living amazing.”

SVSU earned several other high rankings from Niche as well, most notably the No. 1 best college campus in the state of Michigan.