The pros and cons of dorming on college campuses

Feb. 25, 2026

By Alexa Marinuzzi

FARMINGDALE - The idea of dorming on college campuses has students struggling to decide whether it is a good fit for them and their college experience. This is a big topic of discussion when committing to colleges this spring.  

When selecting a college, dorming plays a key role for students. It is hard enough that students need to choose where they want to go to school for the next four years, but they also must determine whether they want to dorm on top of it. "An estimated 16 percent of all undergraduates live on campus, including 30 percent of those who attend four-year, public institutions and 43 percent of students at independent colleges,” according to an analysis from the American Association of Community Colleges.  

As stated in FSC Student Enrollment, “Entering the 2025-26 academic year, Farmingdale State College will have a record-breaking enrollment of over 10,150 students.” Farmingdale State College is considered a commuter school for students. “Five percent of students' dorm at Farmingdale State College” according to reports from Student Life at FSC. 

Farmingdale State College is trying to promote dorming to their students. They aim to highlight the benefits and how it can improve students' college experiences. “Recent research showed that students who live on campus earn higher GPAs, and are more likely to graduate within four years. Students who live in the residence halls can experience significant personal growth as a result of their new found independence” as reported by FSC Residence Life. 

Studies have shown that students throughout the United States have been positively influenced by dorming on college campuses. It can help with their social skills by encouraging them to branch out into new environments and meet new people as well as improve their academic performance. These skills can carry on to their adult lives. 

Another benefit to dorming is the advantage of campus involvement. Colleges provide their students with various events throughout the semester to help them get more involved. Students want to dorm at colleges that have a lot going on to enhance their time there. This provides them with different opportunities to fulfill their social and professional lives. As stated in Pros and Cons of First Year Dorming, “Being in the heart of campus life enables you to make the most of the college experience outside of the classroom.” 

There are three residence halls at Farmingdale State College. They are known as Alumni, Dewey, and Orchard Hall. Each hall is dedicated to specific students based on their seniority. According to FSC Residence Halls, Alumni Hall is designated for returning students, Dewey Hall is designated for first year students, and Orchard Hall is for First-Year and Upper Class students.” 

Although there are pros to dorming there are some cons. The main one being cost. Each university costs a different amount to dorm on campus, depending on the school. It costs between $4,021 to $5,260 each semester to dorm at Farmingdale State College. It is crucial for students to engage in extensive research to decide their options based on their individual situations.