University Student Living

What University Student Living does

University Student Living operates the student housing segment of The Michaels Organization, a Marlton, New Jersey-based privately held real estate development and management company. The company develops, designs, constructs, manages, and operates purpose-built student housing, including on-campus developments and P3 (public-private partnership) arrangements with universities, as well as off-campus communities engineered for affordability through value-driven cost models. Featured properties include The Residences at LSU (a 473-unit, 10-story building in New Orleans opened in 2023), Sagebrush (72 units in Fort Lupton, CO), and The Celeste (225 units in Davis, CA).

The business is structured around enterprise-level, relationship-driven sales targeting universities and educational institutions. Its primary customer segment is university students seeking affordable, purpose-built housing near campus, with institutional university partners serving as contracted counterparties in P3 deals. Revenue is generated through rental income from student housing units and integrated development, design, construction, management, and operations services; the parent organization is described as the nation's largest private sector owner of affordable housing, one of the country's most active affordable housing developers and managers.

University Student Living shares corporate infrastructure, capital, and an integrated professional team with The Michaels Organization's broader five-segment portfolio (Affordable, Attainable, Market-Rate/Active Adult, Student, and Military housing). The organization has continuous operating history dating to at least 1991, when the Michaels Organization Educational Foundation was established to provide academic scholarships to residents. Marketing is conducted primarily through the parent's digital ecosystem (michaelscommunities.com property search, newsletters, and corporate social channels), and distribution occurs via direct property management and the company-owned leasing platform.

Name

University Student Living

Legal name

The Michaels Organization

Website

https://universitystudentliving.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

University Student Living develops, owns, and operates purpose-built student housing under The Michaels Organization, serving university students through P3 partnerships, on-campus developments, and affordably priced off-campus communities across multiple US regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Housing Real Estate

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Housing Property Management (BPAJAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Campus University Housing Management (BPAJAJAA), Off-Campus Student Rentals (Scattered-Site/Single-Family) Management (BPAJAJAC)

Keywords

• Student housing development
• Student housing management
• Campus housing partnerships
• Off-campus housing rentals
• Residential property management

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Student Housing Rental and Management: Revenue is generated through rental income from student housing units. The company develops, constructs, and manages student housing properties, with a focus on value-driven concepts and cost models to ensure affordability for students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

University Student Living is described in the source as operating as Michaels Student Living within The Michaels Organization, providing student housing real estate services. It develops, designs, constructs, manages, and operates student housing through P3 partnerships, on-campus projects, and purpose-built off-campus communities, with rental and property-discovery channels for student residents.

Product overview

University Student Living operates as part of The Michaels Organization, a diversified real estate development and management company offering multiple housing segments. The company's product portfolio encompasses five distinct housing categories: Affordable Housing (the nation's largest private sector owner), Attainable Housing (for essential workers), Market-Rate/Active Adult Housing (multifamily rentals), Michaels Student Living (student housing with P3 and off-campus options), and Military Housing. Featured properties include The Residences at LSU (473 units, New Orleans), Sagebrush (72 units, Fort Lupton), and The Celeste (225 units, Davis). The company provides integrated services across development, design, construction, management, and operations for each property type.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Michaels Student Living
• P3 Student Housing Partnerships
• Student Housing Community Leasing
• The Residences at LSU

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University Partners (P3 arrangements)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichaels Student Living engages in public-private partnerships (P3) with universities to develop, design, construct, and manage student housing. These partnerships allow universities to provide housing without bearing full development costs, while Michaels provides integrated development and operational expertise.
• Municipal and Corporate EntitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichaels Organization partners with municipal and corporate entities to create attainable housing. While primarily focused on affordable/attainable housing, this partnership model extends to student housing developments where local governments and institutions collaborate on housing solutions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Greystar Real Estate Partners: Greystar is the largest operator of student housing in the United States, managing purpose-built student housing communities and offering development, investment, and management services. Directly comparable to University Student Living given overlapping student housing development, P3 partnerships with universities, and national multi-segment platform.
• American Campus Communities: American Campus Communities (acquired by Blackstone in 2022) is the largest publicly-traded student housing REIT and a leading developer and manager of on-campus and off-campus student housing. Closely comparable business model with on-campus P3 arrangements and purpose-built communities serving similar university clients.
• Capstone On-Campus Management: Capstone is a national student housing management and development firm specializing in on-campus university housing partnerships and off-campus communities. Directly comparable P3 model with universities and similar integrated management and development services for student housing.
• Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions: Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions develops, finances, and manages student housing and university-anchored real estate via P3 structures. Highly comparable model with university partnerships, integrated development, and operations expertise focused on student housing.
• Campus Apartments: Campus Apartments is a real estate company specializing in the development, management, and investment in student housing near colleges and universities. Comparable scale and focus on off-campus and on-campus purpose-built student housing with university clients.
• Core Spaces: Core Spaces is a vertically integrated student housing developer and operator focused on purpose-built communities in university markets. Directly comparable as a purpose-built student housing developer targeting similar off-campus student renter segments.
• Scion Student Living: Scion Student Living is a student housing development and management company focused on off-campus and on-campus purpose-built student communities. Comparable business model serving similar university partners with P3-style development expertise.
• CA Student Living (CA Ventures): CA Student Living is the student housing division of CA Ventures, focused on purpose-built student housing development and management near major universities. Directly comparable scale and purpose-built student housing development model.

Broad incumbents

• Asset Living: Asset Living is a large national multifamily and student housing property management firm. Comparable as a third-party student housing operator with national scale, though it operates as a broader multifamily platform rather than specializing in student P3 development.

Emerging players

• The Annex Group: The Annex Group develops affordable and student housing communities using LIHTC and other financing structures. Comparable affordable housing / student housing developer with similar financing and partnership approach to university-driven developments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/universitystudentliving
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-student-living
• Instagraminstagram.com/themichaelsorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University Student Living