The University Group
The University Group is a privately-held student housing property management company operating over 3,000 apartments in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, primarily serving University of Illinois students with rentals, roommate matching, virtual tours, and resident services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersChampaign, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The University Group does
The University Group is a privately-held student housing property management and rental company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, operating over 3,000 apartments across multiple campus-adjacent locations in the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area. The company serves primarily University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) undergraduate and graduate students, with a secondary audience of parents and guardians involved in the leasing process. Its portfolio spans studios through 10-bedroom units at price points from approximately $850 to $1,995+ per person per month, with newly constructed and renovated inventory added in the 2025–2026 leasing cycle (notably 409 S 3rd St and 305 E Daniel). Beyond base rentals, the company sells ancillary services including roommate matching with individual leases, virtual tours, an AppFolio-powered online resident portal for rent payment and maintenance requests, a utility package program that charges a 15% administration fee on power and water, subleasing coordination ($125–$150 per sublessee), early move-in addenda, parking, and 24-hour emergency maintenance.
The technology stack is composed entirely of third-party platforms: AppFolio for property management and the resident portal, OpenStreetMap with the Leaflet JavaScript library for the interactive property map, YouTube for embedded virtual tour videos, and Google Translate for website localization. The company's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, combining a self-serve website (ugroupcu.com) with weekday group showings, Saturday individual showings at its 309 S. First St leasing office and headquarters at 212 E. Springfield Ave, organic search and social channels (Instagram, Facebook), building signage, and word-of-mouth referrals. Revenue is predominantly subscription-recurring monthly rent on 12-installment academic-year-aligned leases, supplemented by transaction fees (subleasing), managed services (utilities), and ancillary parking and key/lockout charges.
The business model carries a structural customer concentration in a single institutional demand source (UIUC), balanced by a deeply distributed tenant base and a mature digital and operational infrastructure that supports year-round leasing. Ownership is private with no disclosed parent company, venture capital backing, or institutional investor; no funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership changes are documented in the source material.
The University Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The University Group
- Legal name
- The University Group
- Website
- https://ugroupcu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The University Group is a privately-held student housing property management company operating over 3,000 apartments in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, primarily serving University of Illinois students with rentals, roommate matching, virtual tours, and resident services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The University Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Housing Rental Services
- SIC
- Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Housing Property Management (BPAJAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Off-Campus Student Rentals (Scattered-Site/Single-Family) Management (BPAJAJAC), Student Housing Roommate Matching, Assignments & Occupancy Management (BPAJAJAJ)
Keywords
Where The University Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Champaign
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The University Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Apartment Rental Income: Monthly rent payments from residential tenants. Rent is divided into 12 equal monthly installments. First payment due at key pickup, final payment due July 1. Leases typically run August to August covering the academic year.
- Subleasing Fees: Nonrefundable fee of $125-$150 per sublessee charged to original lessees for sublease agreements
- Utility Package Program: 15% administration fee on utility costs when residents enroll in the utility package program where the company manages power and water billing
- Parking Rent: Monthly parking space rental fees paid along with apartment rent on specified dates
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Budget-friendly options starting at $850/person |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard 2-bedroom units at $995-$1995/person |
| Subscription | Monthly | Luxury new construction starting at $1245/person |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium units with full amenities at $1045-$2090 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Rent includes internet, water, trash, sewer, recycling |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Lockout fee $50 cash only |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Key replacement costs $25-$140 |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Utility Package with 15% administration fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The University Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The University Group owns, operates, and leases a portfolio of more than 3,000 apartments in Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, primarily catering to University of Illinois students. It offers studios through 10-bedroom units in furnished and unfurnished configurations across prime UIUC campus submarkets (engineering, south, north, downtown Champaign, downtown Urbana, east/west campus, senior land), with monthly rent on per-person leases. Supporting services include roommate matching, virtual tours, online applications, a resident portal for rent payment and maintenance requests, a utility package billing program, subleasing services, early move-in, and 24-hour emergency maintenance.
Product overview
The University Group is a student apartment rental company operating over 3000 apartments in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, primarily serving University of Illinois students. The core offering consists of student apartment rentals with various unit types (studio through 10-bedroom), supported by a suite of services including roommate matching, virtual tours, an AppFolio-powered resident portal for online rent payments and maintenance requests, utility package management, subleasing services, online rental applications, early move-in programs, and 24-hour emergency maintenance. The company uses OpenStreetMap/Leaflet for property mapping and YouTube for virtual tour content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Student Apartment Rentals Rental of furnished and unfurnished apartments (studios through 10-bedroom units) on per-person, individual-lease terms to UIUC students across multiple Champaign-Urbana campus submarkets. Includes access to in-unit laundry, fiber internet, and various property amenities.
- Roommate Matching Service Matches prospective tenants with roommates in multi-bedroom units and assigns individual bedrooms with separate, individual leases, eliminating joint liability. Designed for students who do not have an existing roommate group.
- Virtual Tours Remote, on-request video walkthroughs of apartments that allow prospective tenants who cannot attend in-person showings to evaluate units.
- University Group Resident Portal (AppFolio) Web-based portal for active residents to pay rent online, submit and track maintenance requests, manage lease documents, and sign addenda, accessible at theuniversitygroup.appfolio.com/connect.
- Utility Package Program An optional, add-on utility billing service under which the company retains power and water accounts and charges residents monthly with a 15% administration fee, removing the need for tenants to set up utility service on their own.
- Subleasing Services Allows current lessees to advertise their unit as a sublease on the company website, with sublease agreement processing handled through The University Group office for a nonrefundable per-sublessee fee.
- Online Rental Application Online application form that can be submitted once and used to apply for any University Group property, including credit check authorization, streamlining the leasing process.
- Early Move-In Program Enables residents to occupy their apartment before the lease start date by signing an Early Move-In Addendum in the AppFolio portal, subject to a 25-move-ins-per-day limit and weekday (non-weekend) scheduling.
- 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance Round-the-clock emergency maintenance response for residents, covering gas leaks, lack of heat, security threats, water leaks, and electrical problems; accessed by calling the leasing/maintenance line.
- Parking Rentals Monthly parking space rentals offered to residents of University Group apartments, billed along with rent on designated dates.
Quantifiable outcome
- Utilities included in rent at select properties (internet, water, trash, sewer, recycling)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The University Group
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The University Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
The University Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The University Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Greystar Real Estate Partners: Greystar is the largest multifamily and student housing property manager globally, with a significant student housing portfolio. It is a broad incumbent that competes with The University Group at the regional and national level in student housing management services.
- American Campus Communities (Blackstone): American Campus Communities, now owned by Blackstone, is the largest publicly-traded student housing REIT in the US. It operates purpose-built student housing communities near major universities and competes with The University Group for premium engineering and graduate student tenants near UIUC.
- Scion Group: Scion Group is a national student housing management and consulting firm managing a large portfolio of off-campus student apartments. It is a broad incumbent whose third-party management model parallels University Group's operational approach at a national scale.
Direct peers
- JSM Living: JSM Living is a Champaign-Urbana based student housing operator that manages off-campus apartments near UIUC. It is the closest direct competitor to The University Group, operating in the same micro-market with similar individual-lease and roommate-matching offerings.
- 9 East Group: 9 East Group is a real estate management and development company active in Illinois college markets, including student housing. It is a direct peer in the same geography and customer base.
- Campus Property Management: Campus Property Management is a Champaign-based off-campus student housing provider serving UIUC students with a portfolio of apartments in campus-adjacent locations. It competes head-to-head with The University Group for the same UIUC tenant base.
- GreenSlate Living: GreenSlate Living is a student housing operator serving the Champaign-Urbana market, offering furnished apartments and individual leases to UIUC students. It is a comparable direct peer in the same product category and customer segment.
Emerging players
- Landmark Properties: Landmark Properties is a national developer and operator of high-end student housing communities, including projects near Big Ten universities. It represents the new-entrant threat to The University Group's premium student segments.
- Homestead Studios: Homestead Studios is a regional student housing operator in the Midwest providing off-campus apartments and roommate matching services. It is a comparable emerging player with similar size, geography, and product offering.
- Core Spaces: Core Spaces is a vertically-integrated developer, owner, and operator of purpose-built student housing in college markets. It is a comparable emerging player that competes with University Group for premium student tenants in markets like UIUC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The University Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe University Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The University Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The University Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The University Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The University Group
What does The University Group do?
The University Group owns, operates, and leases a portfolio of more than 3,000 apartments in Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, primarily catering to University of Illinois students. It offers studios through 10-bedroom units in furnished and unfurnished configurations across prime UIUC campus submarkets (engineering, south, north, downtown Champaign, downtown Urbana, east/west campus, senior land), with monthly rent on per-person leases. Supporting services include roommate matching, virtual tours, online applications, a resident portal for rent payment and maintenance requests, a utility package billing program, subleasing services, early move-in, and 24-hour emergency maintenance.
Is The University Group a public or private company?
The University Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The University Group founded?
The University Group was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The University Group based?
The University Group is headquartered in Champaign, United States, in the North America region.
How does The University Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Apartment Rental Income is the primary driver. The others are subleasing Fees, utility Package Program and parking Rent.
Who are The University Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Greystar Real Estate Partners, American Campus Communities (Blackstone) and Scion Group. Direct peers are JSM Living, 9 East Group, Campus Property Management and GreenSlate Living. Emerging players are Landmark Properties, Homestead Studios and Core Spaces.
Does The University Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The University Group.
What industry is The University Group in?
The University Group's product category is Student Housing Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAGAH, Student Housing Property Management, with a secondary code of BPAJAJAC, Off-Campus Student Rentals (Scattered-Site/Single-Family) Management. Its SIC code is 6513.