Housing by chance: The academic impacts of lottery-based access to student accommodation

The affordability and stability of housing are key determinants of economic well-being, but their effects on the academic success of University students remain underexplored. This paper investigates the causal effect of early access to affordable student housing on academic performance using a unique lottery-based allocation system in Sweden. The findings show that early access to student housing significantly improves students’ academic performance, with grades increasing by 28% of a standard deviation, and students being 33% more likely to rank in the top 5% of their class. The results suggest that housing stability allows students to focus more on their studies, reducing the need for employment and long commutes.