ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Students at Flagler College gathered Friday to protest a housing policy they say is leaving some upperclassmen struggling to secure affordable places to live.
The demonstration took place on campus in St. Augustine, where students chanted “no beds, no bucks” and called on college leaders to address what they describe as a growing housing crunch.
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At issue is a new policy requiring freshmen and sophomores to live on campus. Some juniors and seniors say that requirement has reduced availability for upperclassmen and pushed them into a competitive and costly off-campus rental market.
“I was planning on living on campus, and then my whole life changed in one day,” said Eva Derbyshire, a rising senior. “Now suddenly I have to get a job and find a way to make rent.”
Derbyshire said she is actively searching for housing but struggling to find something affordable. She estimated some off-campus options cost around $2,500 for shared housing, a price she says is out of reach.
Other students echoed similar concerns.
“I have been looking, but the rent over here … goes from about $1,000 to $2,000 just for one room, and that is not even possible for me,” said Alexandra Warren, also a rising senior.
Alyssa Jones, another student, said the cheapest option she found was about $1,400 a month.
“In order to do that, you’d have to make so much money, like working a job on top of doing school,” Jones said, adding that she may have to return home to South Carolina or transfer schools if she cannot secure housing.
Some upperclassmen who did get placed in on-campus housing say they are still concerned for their peers.
“I’m incredibly happy that I got housing, but I’m still extremely upset for all of my friends that did not get housing,” said Liz Jankowski, a rising senior.
College officials say all students who met the application and deposit deadlines have been accommodated.
In a statement, Vice President for Marketing and Communications Carol Branson said every student who applied and submitted a housing deposit by March 22 has been assigned on-campus housing. She said some students were temporarily waitlisted due to high demand but have since been placed, and the college is continuing to manage assignments as enrollment is finalized.
Branson also said the school is not over capacity and that housing deposits are applied to student accounts, with no risk of students losing money or being left without a room.
Despite those assurances, some students told News4Jax they are still dealing with uncertainty, including waitlists, temporary placements or difficulty securing long-term housing.
“Did you meet every deadline?” a reporter asked Derbyshire.
“Yes, I did,” she responded. “And it’s still an issue.”
For some, the uncertainty is forcing difficult decisions. Warren said moving back home with her parents is a possibility, but transportation would be a challenge. Others say they may have to leave the college altogether.
The protest underscores broader housing affordability challenges in St. Augustine, where rising rents and limited inventory are making it harder for students and other renters to find accessible options.
Students say they hope the demonstration will prompt changes to the policy or additional housing solutions to ensure all students have stable living arrangements.