University of Mary Announces New Residence Hall to Meet Enrollment

Proactive $20-Million Investment Responds to Record Enrollment, Expands Faith-Centered Campus Life, and Advances Vision for Authentic Catholic Education

BISMARCK, N.D. - Even as higher education across the nation faces declining enrollment, institutional uncertainty, and campus closures, the University of Mary continues to grow - and is now taking a bold, proactive step to meet unprecedented demand for on-campus housing rooted in faith, vocation, and community, a need anticipated through the university's long-range Vision 2030 campus planning as enrollment surpassed 4,000 students.

The University of Mary today announced plans to construct Saint Joseph's Residence Hall, a new 58,000-square-foot, $20-million residence hall that will provide 232 beds, with a special wing dedicated to service the university's Saint Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers. The project is a direct response to record-breaking enrollment for three consecutive years and the university's trajectory toward another record enrollment in fall 2026.

With an anticipated groundbreaking yet this year and completion in summer 2028, Saint Joseph's Residence Hall represents a strategic investment in campus life and student formation - one that reflects both the university's sustained growth and its unwavering commitment to a faithfully Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine education.

"Students from across the country and around the world are choosing the University of Mary because they are seeking more than a degree - they are seeking truth, purpose, and community," said Jerome Richter, executive vice president of the University of Mary and leader of the university's Vision 2030 Capital Campaign. "Saint Joseph's Residence Hall allows us to meet that demand with intention, dignity, and excellence, even at a time when many institutions are struggling simply to survive."

Meeting Record Demand in a Time of National Decline

Since 2010, the United States has seen more than one million fewer college students nationwide, a trend that has forced some colleges and universities to downsize, merge, or close altogether. Against that backdrop, the University of Mary stands apart.

Over the past three years, enrollment at Mary has reached historic highs, pushing on-campus housing to full capacity despite creative and careful use of existing spaces. University leaders say Saint Joseph's Residence Hall is not speculative growth - it is a necessary and timely response to sustained demand.

"Our current housing is operating at full capacity, a clear reflection of the growing demand and the vitality," said Dr. Reed Ruggles, vice president for Student Development. "This new residence hall ensures we can continue to welcome students who desire an authentic Christian community - while also providing the environment, support, and formation that help them thrive academically, spiritually, and personally."

Importantly, while Saint Joseph's Residence Hall is designed for women, university officials emphasize that the project will benefit the entire student population. The addition of new women's housing will allow the university to thoughtfully realign existing living spaces across campus, freeing capacity to meet the growing demand for male student housing as well.

"This is a holistic solution," Ruggles said. "It strengthens our residential system as a whole and allows us to better serve both women and men on campus at Mary."

A Residence Hall Rooted in Faith, Vocation, and Community

Saint Joseph's Residence Hall will be home to distinct residential communities, carefully designed to support students at different stages of life and discernment, while remaining united by a shared commitment to faith-centered living.

At the heart of the building will be a chapel, serving as a spiritual anchor for daily prayer, reflection, and worship. Surrounding it will be living, study, and community spaces intentionally designed to foster relationships, academic success, and spiritual growth.

One wing of the residence hall will house the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers, a nationally acclaimed, distinctive initiative that provides a dignified, supportive environment for single mothers pursuing their degrees. The community will include private living spaces for mothers and their children, along with a state-of-the-art daycare facility offering year-round childcare.

"This community is a concrete expression of the University of Mary's commitment to building a culture of life," Ruggles said. "It ensures that motherhood and higher education are not competing paths, but complementary vocations."

The precise campus location for Saint Joseph's Residence Hall will be announced at a later date.

Building for the Future of Catholic Higher Education

University leaders say the residence hall represents more than bricks and mortar. It is a response to a cultural moment - and a sign of confidence in the future of Catholic higher education.

As enrollment continues to climb and campus life expands at a record pace, the University of Mary remains committed to its mission: to form leaders in the service of Truth.

With Saint Joseph's Residence Hall, the university is not simply keeping up with growth. It is shaping it with intention, faith, and hope.