The University of Wyoming is in the midst of constructing new dormitories, part of a $285.5 million initiative to modernize student housing. The narrative is a familiar one: out with the old, in with the new, this time, replacing outdated residence halls like White and Downey with sleek, modern living spaces meant to attract incoming students and improve campus life. But while this transformation might signal progress on the surface, it does little to address the real housing crisis faced by students, the city of Laramie, and the nation as a whole.
Let’s be clear: UW’s dorm overhaul is not a bad thing in itself. Students deserve safe, clean, and functional housing. But these new dorms, set to cost students even more than existing options, won’t solve the deeper issues of affordability, availability, and access; issues that extend well beyond campus boundaries.
In Laramie, as in many college towns, the housing crisis doesn’t stop at the edge of campus. Students, faculty, and residents alike compete for a limited number of rentals, many of which are aging, expensive, or both. As more students are priced out of on-campus housing, they look to off-campus alternatives— driving up demand and rent prices citywide.
New dorms won’t change that dynamic if they’re unaffordable for most students. And early indications suggest they might be just that: newer buildings tend to bring higher rents. The question isn’t whether the new dorms are nicer, they will be. The question is: who will be able to afford them?
This isn’t just a Laramie issue. Across the U.S., universities are caught in a cycle of building luxury dorms with premium amenities— think private bathrooms, fitness centers, and high-speed everything— all while housing insecurity among students quietly rises.
According to a 2023 report by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, over 40% of college students nationally experienced housing insecurity in the past year. And yet, many universities continue to build up rather than out, prioritizing architectural prestige over affordability. UW’s efforts mirror this trend.
If UW and the City of Laramie want to make a real dent in the housing crisis, they need to look beyond the campus bubble. That means investing in mixed-income developments, incentivizing landlords to maintain affordable units, supporting rent control policies, and working with local governments to expand public housing resources. It also means rethinking the role of the university as a housing provider, not just for freshmen, but for non-traditional students, graduate students, and students with families.
The university has land, influence, and resources that could be directed toward creative partnerships such as land trusts, cooperative housing models, or long-term affordability agreements. Instead of merely replacing old dorms with flashier ones, UW could lead the way in reshaping what student housing looks like in a more equitable future.
To be clear, new dorms might ease some immediate pressures. But they are a Band-Aid on a much larger wound. If they come at the cost of increased rents or reduced access for low-income students, they risk doing more harm than good.
The housing crisis in Laramie, like in many parts of the country, isn’t about a shortage of buildings, it’s about a shortage of affordable, accessible places to live. Until that becomes the focus, shiny new dorms will be little more than empty promises.
