Correction Appended: A previous version of this article stated that freshmen have had to live in 10 dorms that were previously for upperclassmen. A correction has been made to clarify those 10 residence halls were not exclusively for upperclassmen in the past. They have housed a mix of both first-year and upperclass students.
Ohio University’s student population has been increasing year by year, with 2025 having one of the largest freshman classes.
For the 2025-26 school year, OU’s student population is 30,682, according to a preliminary census from the university.
Students from all 50 states, all 88 Ohio counties, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and 100 countries worldwide have come to study at OU.
However, with a 3.6% average increase in students each year, the university has had to adapt to fit those students. One such adaptation has been the construction of Roderick J. McDavis Residence Hall, which will be on South Green. McDavis is a nearly 600-bed hall, making it the largest residence hall to date. The hall is set to open in Fall 2026.
“This hall will be the largest hall in our portfolio and not only align with enrollment and student needs but provide an elevated residential experience for students that helps meet their evolving needs and embraces community,” Jneanne Hacker, Director of Housing and Residence Life, wrote in an email.
In reference to the quickly-growing OU student population, Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger said the university’s cohesive planning strategies take into account student interest, program and housing capacities, as well as available resources, all aimed at enhancing the student experience.
While McDavis Hall will be a great addition to the university, it is not operational yet. The influx of freshmen this year, paired with the lack of a major hall, means that some freshmen have had to live where freshmen are not typically housed.
The typical freshman housing options include 4 University Terrace, Biddle, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Perkins, Shively, Tiffin and Washington Halls on East Green; Ryors, Sargent, Treudley and Wilson Halls on West Green; and Brown, Crawford, Pickering and Mackinnon Halls on South Green.
However, with such a large freshman class settling in at OU, some first-year students are living in 10 additional residence halls that have historically housed a mix of both upperclass and first-year students.
Alexis James, a freshman studying psychology and social work, lived on the back of South Green but recently moved into a hall on East Green due to issues with the dorm.
She said her experience living on South Green was a less-than-pleasant one, as her room had mold in the AC unit.
“It took nearly four weeks of back-and-forth before anything was done, and even then, they insisted it was 'just dirt' despite visible mold,” James wrote in an email. “Ultimately, I had to be relocated due to how sick I was becoming.”
James said since moving to East Green, her experience has been more positive. When she put in a maintenance request at her new dorm, they came quickly and fixed the issue. She said she liked the set-up of the mod-style dorms on South Green, but there were too many extraneous issues that made it difficult to stay.
McDavis Hall, when it opens, will be for both freshmen and upperclassmen.
“Housing and Residence Life stands committed to reviewing the housing master plan, investing into future improvements of the existing facilities to enhance the on-campus experience and aligning our residential portfolio to respond to enrollment targets,” Hacker wrote in an email.
With each new OU class being larger than the last, there is a chance that next year’s class will be even larger than the class of 2029. However, OU continues to adapt, add and improve to accommodate all students.
