Choosing a Home
Choosing between on- and off-campus housing is more than just about where you will live…it's a decision that will affect your entire college experience. Carefully consider the factors and costs associated with each option.
| On-Campus Living | Off-Campus Living | |
|---|---|---|
| A sense of belonging to the campus community and an opportunity for greater involvement in various campus activities, programs, and groups. | Students who live off campus may feel more isolated from campus and other students. | |
| Theme Housing options centered around a variety of academic, cultural, organizational, and personal interests are available in all campus housing facilities. There is also the option to create your own “neighborhood” by selecting adjacent residence hall rooms or apartments with friends. | There are a lot of neighborhoods and areas to choose from, but how can you really know which area is right for you? It can be difficult to get a feel for an area if you don’t already know other people in the neighborhood. | |
| Academic-year contracts that follow the school year. | Year-long leases, and the responsibility of finding someone to sublet your place during the summer. | |
| No first, last or deposit required. | First month’s rent plus a deposit of 1 1⁄2 - 2 month’s rent | |
| One bill includes everything: rent, meals, internet, cable, electricity, phone service, water, garbage—you name it, it’s covered. | Pay for everything separately… Collect monthly rent checks from each housemate, sign up for each utility service individually, divide up bills, collect money from each housemate, and don't forget to arrange to disconnect each service when you move-out. | |
| Time saved being in close proximity to classes, libraries, computer labs, faculty, and recreational facilities (and the option to sleep in late and still get to class on time!). | Time spent commuting to and from campus at least once or twice each day. Plan on spending at least 5 hours each week commuting. | |
| Campus shuttles and buses to get you around campus quickly and easily. | Waiting at crowded bus stops and hoping a full bus doesn’t pass you by. | |
| Fully furnished room or apartment. | Buying furniture: bed, dresser, desk, sofa, etc. AND having to get rid of furniture in the summer (No, you can’t just leave it or you may forfeit your security deposit). | |
| Hot meals prepared for you: dining halls and numerous restaurants located across campus. No shopping for groceries, no time spent preparing meals, and best of all…no dirty dishes to clean-up! | Spending an average of 9 hours per week shopping, cooking, cleaning up—that is if your roommate actually does clean up their dirty dishes…yuck! | |
| Well-maintained facilities in a comfortable, safe, healthy environment, and maintenance staff ready to respond when repairs are needed. | A landlord is legally required to maintain the property in a habitable condition, but the actual condition of rental properties can vary throughout the off-campus community. Plus, you’ll have to work with landlords or property managers to get repairs made. | |
| Campus police and fire departments, Community Safety Officers, and Residential Life & Housing staff available 24/7 to campus residents. | City police and fire departments who serve the entire off-campus community. | |
| Designated places to study: numerous libraries and study rooms. | Asking your roommates for quiet so you can study (or commuting to campus to study). | |