A recent study of university students in Toronto found a connection between academic performance and where students live. Kiana Basiri (Toronto Metropolitan University), Cynthia Holmes (TMU), Shelagh McCartney (TMU), and Ximena Rosenvasser (TMU) found that commutes were linked with lower grades. Additionally, living close to campus does not bring all the benefits of living directly on campus, which the authors say appears to come from on-campus institutional and social infrastructure. The study also found that though students living with parents reported similar levels of satisfaction to those living in residence, their grades were still connected to their commute time. “If governments that fund universities are serious about student outcomes, on-campus housing must be funded and built at scale, as core academic infrastructure,” conclude the authors.
