As married-student numbers fall, campus life, housing and expectations shift.

Just one in five on-campus students is married, according to fall 2025 BYU–Idaho enrollment data, a notable shift for a campus long known for its young married population. University data shows the change has been gradual but consistent. 

Since the 2018–19 academic year, the percentage of married students has declined from nearly 30% to about 23%, while the share of single students has increased from roughly 70% to 76% of the student body. Over that period, the number of married students enrolled at BYUI decreased by more than 2,600, even though total enrollment has fluctuated. The data points to a steady change in campus demographics, reflected in housing patterns, wards and daily student life.

Brother Stewart, associate chair of the marriage department, believes that societal changes in dating culture could be a major factor. 

“I just don’t think society-wise we socialize and date as easily as we did in generations past,” said Stewart. “There’s just more isolation.”

Stewart questioned whether today’s dating culture allows enough time for couples to really get to know each other. 

“From a practical dating standpoint, we’ve got to do away with short courtships,” said Stewart. “True behavior doesn’t normally start to emerge until the three-month mark.”

Stewart also emphasizes that the more time you spend dating someone, the more time you can have to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. 

“This isn’t the most romantic notion of marriage, but when you’re choosing a spouse, you’re choosing a set of weaknesses,” said Stewart. “You just want to have enough time to clearly see what they are.”

Stewart explains that one way to combat the current decrease in married BYUI students is to prioritize your partner like you would your school or your relationship with Heavenly Father.

“If it is important, you just have to carve out the time,” said Stewart. 

While the numbers show a decline in married students, couples navigating campus life often notice both social perceptions and logistical gaps.

Squid Solis and Lyn Solis have been married since August 2023, about six semesters into their undergraduate studies. They met at Centre Square, an on-campus single-student living complex, where Squid frequently saw Lyn working at the front desk.

“I would see Lyn working at the desk often,” Squid said. “She is so cute and very easy to talk to. I made a joke about Molotov cocktails, and she laughed. I invited her to a game night, and she invited me to a movie, and the rest is history.”

Lyn described their first interactions slightly differently, saying their initial connection developed gradually. “We chatted a bit over the desk, then he tried to give me a book during a clean check. I found him on social media, and we started chatting more there,” she said.

While their relationship followed a familiar campus pattern, the couple said broader attitudes toward marriage among students have shifted. Squid said some students view marriage during college negatively.

“Some students think it’s ‘cringe’ or weird to want to get married in college. Maybe 30% of guys and 10% of women want to really badly, but nearly no one wants to,” he said.

He said he has not experienced mistreatment as a married student and believes marriage can influence how students are perceived. “As a married student, I’ve never been mistreated. Being married even seems to raise the manner in which I am treated by many, though overall, campus faculty and administrators often treat students like youth or children,” Squid said.

Lyn said campus culture surrounding marriage can feel inconsistent, particularly for newly married couples. “Students are either encouraged to get married — sometimes too aggressively — or once you’re married, you’re kind of pushed aside,” she said. “Most activities are either geared toward singles or married students with kids. Just-married couples often have no specific events to attend.”

When asked whether they have noticed fewer married students on campus, both said the issue is complex. Squid said marriage rates vary widely depending on academic major and class standing.

“I don’t think one way or another that there are more or fewer than when I first got here. The English major has a very different marriage rate than other majors, and senior-level classes naturally have more married students than freshmen classes,” he said.

Lyn said the perception of declining marriage rates may be tied to demographic shifts among students. “I think the perception that there are fewer married students comes from the fact that there are so many 18- and 19-year-old freshmen on campus now,” she said. “In my social circles, I’ve met plenty of married students from freshmen to seniors. It’s just harder to notice them when there are so many singles around.”

*Originally published in the Scroll January 2026 print edition.