100,000 Beds and Climbing: Cardinal Group Hits Management Milestone Driven by Organic Growth

DENVER, Colo., July 8, 2025 — Cardinal Group Companies, a national leader in student housing innovation and experience, proudly announces a major milestone: 100,000 beds under management across the United States. This achievement solidifies Cardinal’s place as one of the fastest-growing and most trusted operators in the student housing industry, marking a significant point in its 17-year journey of strategic growth and unwavering commitment to performance.

What started in 2004 with a single property and a small, ambitious team has grown into one of the nation’s leading student housing operators. Today, Cardinal manages communities nationwide, driven by a fully integrated platform and a dedication to creating spaces where students love to live. This growth has been achieved without major acquisitions or mergers, a testament to the strength of its operating platform and deliberate expansion strategy.

“We never measured success on our bed count; we measured success on living out our Mission: being the best place to work so that we can create amazing experiences for our residents,” said Alex O’Brien, CEO of Cardinal Group. “But when you lead with values, invest in people, and never stop evolving, scale becomes a byproduct of doing things the right way.”

The 100,000-bed milestone represents:

• A nationwide community of over 100,000 students served annually, with approximately 65,000 new residents moving in each year
• Over 2,300 team members working to deliver exceptional living experiences
• A robust platform for innovation in leasing, operations, digital marketing, and facilities
• A launchpad for leadership, offering best-in-class training and development for onsite teams

At the heart of Cardinal’s growth is a commitment to reimagining what student living can be – blending operational excellence with purpose-driven design, community engagement, and the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies like AI and intelligent resident systems. This includes Cardinal’s CX3 centralization service model and AI-powered tools that enhance the leasing and move-in experience through streamlined processes and improved communication.

Cardinal has consistently ranked among the industry’s top performers, having been recognized in and climbed the ranks of the Student Housing Business Top 25 Managers list for over ten consecutive years. In 2024, seven student housing properties were featured on the J Turner Research ORA (Online Reputation Assessment) Top 100 Student Housing Properties, including the #1 ranking by OTTO in College Station.

“Reaching this milestone of 100,000 beds fuels our aspiration to create environments where future leaders not only reside but thrive, offering 100,000 daily chances to positively influence their journey,” said Jenn Cassidy, President, Property Operations and Experience. “It’s a reflection of the work our teams do every day to build community, drive results, and deliver value to our residents and partners. We’re building for what’s next.”

To mark this moment and inspire the industry to join in the mission, Cardinal Group is donating $100,000 to the Hi, How Are You Project via the College Student Mental Health Coalition. This national initiative supports accessible and inclusive mental health resources for college students across the country.

This impressive achievement reflects Cardinal’s commitment to redefining student living at scale through innovation, collaboration, and purposeful growth.

About Cardinal Group Companies

Cardinal Group Companies (“CGC”) is a fully integrated real estate management, investment, construction, consulting, and marketing firm focused on multifamily and student housing throughout the country. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, CGC affiliate companies are all firmly built atop the company’s “Cardinal Culture.” Since 2007, CGC has been operating successful partnerships, focused on creating efficiency and above-market performance via their commitment to challenging the status quo of the industry. To date, Cardinal Group Companies has developed several best-in-class initiatives, which have earned the company national recognition year after year. Cardinal Group Companies’ management platform oversees over 50,000 units nationwide including over 105,000 student housing beds and 13,000 conventional and affordable housing units and across the U.S., including Cardinal Group, Companies’ owned portfolio and third-party managed properties.

To learn more about Cardinal Group Companies, please visit www.CardinalGroup.com.

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Cardinal Group

Email: PR@CardinalGroup.com