(inquisitive music) - I'm Jay Martin, Jr. in the "Crosscut" KCTS 9 newsroom.

More Washington college students are opting for single-dorm rooms.

University officials have cited persisting COVID concerns and a general desire for personal space as factors driving these requests.

In fall 2022, about 15% of Western Washington University students were hoping for a single room compared to fall 2019 when just 8% requested a single, the school reported.

Across the board, more Washington-based college students are choosing single-occupancy dorm rooms, even though fewer students are living on campus than before the pandemic.

Living single has its pros and cons.

Officials at Washington State have identified an increased need for conflict resolution and have had to address more destructive acts like vandalism on campus.

For these reasons and others, some universities are trying to push back on the single-room trend.

I'm Jay Martin, Jr. Find nonprofit northwest news every day on "Crosscut Now."