Sign Up for NAHB's Student Chapter Membership, Save Big
Next month will be back-to-school time for many students across the country, and now is a great time to take advantage of the numerous benefits of NAHB's Student Chapter program. It's also a great time to explore creating a Student Chapter at a school in your area.
With a Student Chapter membership, secondary and post-secondary students have the opportunity to get real-world exposure to the building industry, receive insightful educational tools and network with some of the country's most experienced builders. Membership highlights include:
- Networking — Build relationships with industry professionals through your local HBA. Access a national network through our members-only community, NAHB Connect. Explore NAHB special interest groups like Young Professionals and Professional Women in Building (PWB).
- Knowledge — Stay up-to-date with the latest industry news, and receive a digital copy of Pro Builder magazine and monthly student chapter newsletters.
- Competition — By planning real-life construction projects, students compete in the NAHB Student Competition at the International Builders' Show as they display their problem-solving abilities while learning more about land development and custom home building from concept to closing. Learn more at: nahb.org/competition
- Career Development — NAHB's helpful guides for student members and young professionals developing careers in trades include common interview questions and tips for building a professional network
- International Builders' Show — Student members save big on registration to IBS, the largest residential construction trade show in the country. Every student chapter is eligible for travel scholarships. Learn more at: buildersshow.com.
To get started, reach out to your local HBA and find out of it has a student chapter. If your local HBA does not have a student chapter, you can help get one established by recruiting students who are studying or interested in the building trades, finding an instructor to serve as an advisor for your club, and partnering with your local HBA.
Learn more about how to start a new student chapter.
Latest from NAHBNow
May 05, 2026
Philadelphia BIA Member Shifts How Local Community Views the TradesFor Jordan Parisse-Ferrarini, a member of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, a career that began with his family’s small business and tools from a pawn shop has flourished into multiple companies, numerous advisory roles and a passion for developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
May 05, 2026
New Home Sales Rise, Supported by Limited Existing InventorySales of newly built single-family homes rose 7.4% in March, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 682,000, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales is up 3.3% from a year earlier.
Latest Economic News
May 04, 2026
Mortgage Rates Climb as Inflation Rebounds and Yields RiseMortgage rates continued to increase in April as ceasefire negotiations remain inconclusive. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.34% in April, 16 basis points (bps) higher than March. The average 15-year rate also increased by 13 bps to 5.69%. Despite the recent increase, both rates remain lower than a year ago by 39 bps and 21 bps, respectively.
May 01, 2026
Student Housing Construction Investment Holds Steady in the First Quarter of 2026Private fixed investment in student dormitories edged up 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026, holding at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.9 billion. This modest gain marked a third consecutive quarterly increase, despite continued pressures from elevated interest rates. However, on a year-over-year basis, investments in dorms remained almost unchanged.
Apr 30, 2026
Housing’s Share of GDP Dips Below 16% for First Time Since 2019Housing’s share of the economy was 15.9% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest estimates of GDP produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This share is down from 16.0% in the fourth quarter and is lower than 16.5% registered just one year ago.