October 6, 2022
SVSU earns “best dorm” ranking in Niche’s 2023 ratings; Fourth consecutive year as No. 1 among all public universities in the U.S.
Saginaw Valley State University has ranked No. 1 among all 4-year public universities on the 2023 Niche list of best dorms in America. This is the fourth consecutive year SVSU residence halls have claimed the top spot among all public institutions.
Vivian Messerschmidt is a fifth-year health science major from Sand Creek, near Grand Rapids. She is the vice president of public relations for SVSU’s Residential Housing Association, and she has lived on campus for all five years.
“My first impression of the dorms is that I was shocked,” she said. “I attended another university for my first semester of college then transferred, but while I was there, we were in the traditional tiny, cement-walled dorm rooms with one bathroom per floor. I didn’t know that it was realistic to be a freshman and not have to share a bathroom with 30 other people.”
SVSU’s residence halls rank 6th overall among colleges and universities in the U.S., including both private and public institutions.
Messerschmidt was able to witness firsthand some of the investments SVSU continues to make.
“I have seen the major renovations made to Living Center South and part of University Village West. I think they made them more modern and they look great,” she said.
Messerschmidt said SVSU’s Housing and Residential Life staff, and her fellow students, have made living on campus an irreplaceable experience.
“I love all of the opportunities that I have available to me because I live on campus,” she said. “I believe there is nothing quite like living on a college campus and SVSU makes that experience even better.”
She also likes the amenities the campus has to offer.
“My favorite part of the dorms would be all of the amenities located in the building,” she said. “I can walk down the hall and find laundry, different board games and activities, as well as cleaning supplies and tools.”
Messerschmidt recommends living on campus to everyone who can.
“I would 100% recommend living on campus to others. You get to live with people your age, attend all kinds of events, and have various campus resources within a ten-minute walk from your house,” she said.
Messerschmidt added that she joined the Residential Housing Association to be a part of the award-winning residential experience.
“RHA is an amazing opportunity for students to get involved and meet new people,” she said. “I have never considered living off campus because of the amazing experience I have had here and my involvement in RHA.”
Student satisfaction is the most significant factor in Niche’s 2023 Best College Dorms ranking. The following factors are considered for ratings: student surveys about campus housing (70%), average housing cost (10%), housing capacity (10%) and housing crime rate (10%). (https://www.niche.com/about/methodology/best-college-dorms/)