High Point University: What Every Homebuyer, Investor, and Renter Near Campus Should Know
Neighborhood Spotlight
High Point University: What Every Homebuyer, Investor, and Renter Near Campus Should Know
Majors, cost of attendance, and where students actually live, explained by a local girl who happens to sell houses a few minutes down the road from one of the fastest growing universities in North Carolina.
By Joy Watson, Realtor® | Joy Watson Real Estate | Updated July 2026
If you have driven through High Point lately, you have felt it. Fountains, new construction, a steady flow of moving trucks, and thousands of students who need somewhere to live besides a dorm room. High Point University is not a quiet campus tucked away from the neighborhoods around it. It is a growth engine for this whole corner of the Triad.
I am not a corporate agent working out of some glass tower downtown. I am a local, front-porch, know-your-neighbors kind of Realtor, and I put this guide together because my clients keep asking the same questions over coffee: What do students study there? What does it actually cost? Where do freshmen and upperclassmen live? And, most importantly, why does any of this matter if you are looking at a sweet little house just a few minutes from campus?
Grab a mug of something warm and let's walk through it together.
HPU Fast Facts
|
6,550
Total enrollment, fall 2025, a record for the university
|
73
Undergraduate majors, plus 70 minors
|
1924
Year founded as High Point College
|
99%
Of graduates employed or in graduate school within 180 days
|
Watch: A Tour of the Campus
For anyone who wants to see the fountains and new construction for themselves before driving over, I love sharing this one with clients:
“High Point University, Full Episode” from The College Tour is a lovely, unhurried look at campus life that tells you more about the neighborhood energy here than any brochure ever could.
Majors and Academic Programs
High Point University brands itself as the Premier Life Skills University, and it has built its academic catalog to match. Students choose from 73 undergraduate majors across schools of business, communication, education, health sciences, humanities, and the arts, with graduate and doctoral programs layered on top for students who stay through advanced degrees.
| Most Popular Undergraduate Fields |
|---|
| Business, management, and marketing (the largest program area on campus) |
| Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology |
| Communication and journalism |
| Visual and performing arts |
| Biological and biomedical sciences, a common path toward health professions |
| Education |
| Psychology |
| Homeland security, law enforcement, and protective services |
| Social sciences |
| Computer and information sciences |
Beyond the undergraduate catalog, HPU holds the highest tier of regional accreditation and confers six doctoral degrees on campus: a Doctor of Dental Medicine, a Doctor of Educational Leadership, a Doctor of Medical Science, a Doctor of Pharmacy, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a Juris Doctor through its law school. Each professional program carries its own national accreditation, which matters for graduate and professional students weighing where to live during multi-year programs, not just a four-year undergraduate stay.
A little neighborly insight here: a campus with pharmacy, dental medicine, physical therapy, and law students is not a campus that empties out for the summer. Graduate and professional programs keep rental demand steady well beyond a typical August to May school year, which is good news if you are dreaming of a cozy rental property near campus.
What College Costs at HPU
High Point University is a private university, and the sticker price reflects that. Families researching cost should look at both the published rate and the average amount families actually pay after aid, since the two numbers tell very different stories.
| Cost Category | Approximate Figure |
|---|---|
| Total cost of attendance, 2026 to 2027 (tuition, fees, Tier 1 housing, food, dining tax) | $71,429 |
| Estimated tuition and fees only, 2026 | Around $46,000 |
| Students receiving grants or scholarships | 88 percent |
| Average financial aid award | Roughly $21,000 to $26,000 |
| Typical net price after aid | Roughly $40,000 to $47,000 |
Tuition, fees, and aid figures change every academic year and vary by program, and graduate programs such as the Physician Assistant track run considerably higher. These numbers are provided as a general guide only. Families should always confirm current costs directly with HPU's Office of Student Financial Planning or its official net price calculator before making decisions.
Where Students Live
HPU's residence halls have been recognized by both the Princeton Review and Niche as among the best in the country, and the university has built an entire ecosystem of housing types to match different class years and living preferences.
| First Year and Underclassmen Housing |
|---|
| Belk Residence Hall: suite style, double occupancy rooms with a shared common area and bathroom |
| Blessing Residence Hall: apartment style suites with single occupancy bedrooms and a shared kitchen |
| Millis Residence Hall: traditional double occupancy rooms with hall style bathrooms |
| Panther Commons: double occupancy rooms with a bathroom in suite |
| R.G. Wanek Center and University Center 2: suite style rooms with kitchenettes |
| Wilson Hall Apartments: apartment style, double occupancy with a shared kitchen |
| The Women's Complex: McEwen, North, Wesley, and Yadkin halls, traditional double occupancy with hall style bathrooms |
Beyond first-year housing, upperclassmen move into communities such as Finch and Caffey halls, York Hall suites, and off-campus style options including Centennial Square, The Springs, Aldridge Village, and North College Terrace, several of which sit just outside the core campus boundary. The university is also mid-construction on the John and Lorraine Charman Library, a 150,000 square foot flagship library funded by a $35 million lead gift, expected to open in 2027, one more sign of how much continued investment is headed toward this campus in the years ahead.
Why This Matters If You Are Buying or Renting Near HPU
Here is the part I care about most, as your Realtor and as your neighbor. A university with record enrollment, a growing graduate and doctoral population, and a national reputation for its residential experience does not just fill its own dorms. It creates spillover demand for everything around it: furnished room rentals for upperclassmen who want off-campus independence, housing for graduate students in multi-year programs, and homes for faculty, staff, and visiting parents who want to be close by.
| Why Buyers, Renters & Investors Are Watching HPU |
|---|
| Record enrollment (6,550 in fall 2025) means steady demand for off-campus housing |
| Graduate and doctoral programs keep rental demand strong year-round, not just August to May |
| National housing recognition draws families who want to stay close during multi-year stints |
| Continued campus investment (like the new Charman Library) signals long-term growth |
That is exactly the opportunity we are excited about with a property we have coming soon in High Point. It sits just minutes from campus, which puts it within easy reach for students, staff, or house hackers who want a short commute to one of the fastest growing universities in the state. As HPU continues to add students, majors, and graduate programs, properties within a few minutes of campus are positioned to stay in steady demand.
A Cottage-Core Aside 🌿
Between you and me, some of my favorite parts of the neighborhoods around HPU are the quiet, tree-lined streets just a few blocks off the main drag, the kind with wraparound porches, garden beds, and neighbors who still bring over banana bread. If you love the idea of an old-soul home with real character, walking distance to a thriving university energy, this pocket of High Point has a lot of heart to offer.
Curious about our upcoming listing near HPU? Reach out and be the first to know when it hits the market.
Contact Joy About This Property
Frequently Asked Questions
How many majors does High Point University offer?
HPU offers 73 undergraduate majors and 70 undergraduate minors, along with graduate and doctoral programs including law, pharmacy, dental medicine, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies.
How much does it cost to attend High Point University?
For the 2026 and 2027 academic year, HPU's total cost including tuition, fees, Tier 1 housing, and food is estimated at $71,429 before scholarships and grants. About 88 percent of students receive some form of aid, which brings the typical net price down considerably. Always confirm current figures directly with HPU.
Where do High Point University freshmen live?
First year students are placed in communities such as Belk, Blessing, Millis, Panther Commons, the R.G. Wanek Center, University Center 2, Wilson Hall Apartments, or the Women's Complex, which includes McEwen, North, Wesley, and Yadkin halls.
Are there properties near High Point University worth watching?
Yes. Homes just a few minutes from campus make strong candidates for furnished student rental, house hacking, or faculty housing. Reach out to Joy for a heads up on upcoming listings near HPU before they hit the open market.
What is High Point University known for?
HPU markets itself as the Premier Life Skills University and has been ranked the number 1 Best Regional College in the South by U.S. News and World Report for 14 consecutive years. Its residence halls have also been recognized as among the best in the country.
Does High Point University's growth affect the local real estate market?
Yes. HPU's enrollment reached a record 6,550 students in fall 2025 and continues to grow, which increases demand for off-campus rentals, faculty and staff housing, and investment properties within a short drive of campus.
Verify Current Figures
Tuition, financial aid, and housing details change every academic year. For the most current numbers, visit highpoint.edu/admissions/tuition-fees and highpoint.edu/residencelife directly.
Joy Watson, Realtor® and Eric Hunsucker, Greensboro NC rental hosts
