Many students at Weber State University call Utah home, but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for people to stay housed. This year, homelessness increased by 18%, which is the biggest jump the state has seen in years, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services’ Homelessness Annual Report.
Behind that increase are thousands of Utah residents who are struggling to keep up with rising rent, higher living costs and stagnant wages. Students and young workers are being hit especially hard, with many saying the cost of living no longer matches what they can realistically earn while in school. For some, the numbers simply don’t add up.
“It’s been really hard being a full-time student and trying to pay my bills with groceries and gas and rent being now $1,300 a month,” said Jessica Zelaso, a Weber State dental student who works part time.
Some Weber State student-athletes receive monthly stipends as low as $125, which is less than the average monthly benefit from the Utah Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Other students juggle part-time jobs or rely on family support to cover rent, utilities and food.
Housing costs across Weber and Davis counties show the scale of the problem. In Ogden, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1,000 per month, according to Zillow rental data. Utilities, groceries and transportation costs have also climbed, placing more pressure on students who already have limited income.
According to the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice’s national survey, these local trends mirror national data showing that one in five college students experience housing insecurity each year. Increased use of campus resources like the Weber Cares Pantry also points to growing strain on students trying to afford basic needs.
The state’s minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour even though a Utah resident needs to earn more than $21 an hour to afford a modest one-bedroom without spending over 30% of their income on rent, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report. For many young people, the math simply does not work, and even a small setback can push them into housing instability.
State data also show that vacancy rates in northern Utah have remained between 2% and 3%, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Low vacancy rates drive rental prices higher and make affordable units difficult to find. Many students also point to the time demands of earning a degree as a major barrier to maintaining stable income. A full-time course load at Weber State is typically 12 to 15 credits, and each credit hour is expected to require around three hours of work per week, leaving students with very little time to take on additional hours at work.
“I’m on campus Monday through Friday. I have clinicals two days a week and I have classes Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. I’m also working a part-time job. I work three days a week,” Zelaso said.
Student-athletes carry additional obligations for their individual sports. Many have unpredictable schedules that must factor in training, competing and travel while maintaining their coursework. This presents a challenge for these students, further burdened by increased costs of living.
“It can definitely be difficult trying to balance both at the same time,” said Ty Anderson, a Weber State golfer who works part time. “It can limit my practice time, my ability to study.”
