Characteristics of success in college and university-affiliated cooperative housing in four-year institutions in the United States

he major purpose of this descriptive study was to characterize current institution-affiliated cooperative housing by identifying and describing characteristics that predict successful cooperatives. Two questionnaires were used to investigate the number of cooperatives currently in the United States; describe the characteristics of the cooperatives as well as the institutions with cooperatives; and predict success in cooperatives. The first post-card questionnaire was sent to 1469 four-year colleges and universities in the United States with housing programs. The questionnaire yielded 42 institutions with institution-affiliated cooperative housing and the second, primary, questionnaire was sent to these institutions. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the cooperatives and step-wise multiple regression analysis was used to predict success.;Most respondents indicated that their cooperatives were successful according to success variables defined by chief student affairs officers. These success variables were, perception of university community, satisfaction of residents, occupancy of cooperatives, and financial viability of cooperatives.;Several variables were found to predict success in the cooperatives. These predictors included: high college and high school grade point average; cooperatives located closer to campus than other housing options; lack of affordable housing in the surrounding community; operating costs covered by student contract fees; and residents not having total responsibility for administration of the cooperatives.;Descriptive statistics performed on the primary questionnaire found that the typical institution in the study was a private coeducational university with an enrollment of between 1000 and 5000 students and moderately difficult selection criteria. The average institution was found to have four cooperatives with 57 residents per facility. The typical cooperative in the study was single-sex and comprised of white undergraduate students. The room charge at the cooperative was over...