As you consider living off campus, know that there are various types of housing options that provide different levels of support for residents. As the level of support decreases, residents see a related increase in independence. Let’s go through each type!
- On-campus housing: Living in the halls with Resident Advisors (RAs) to guide you, utilities are included, rooms are furnished, with communal amenities like laundry, bike storage, etc.
- Student housing: These apartments are typically nearest to campus. In this type of housing there are no RAs, but spaces are typically furnished and have most utility costs included. This typically includes private laundry and common amenities such as a gym, pool, etc.
- Conventional apartments: In this type of housing a renter will not have RAs, are generally expected to bring their own furniture, and need to set up and pay for utilities (contact internet service provider etc). Like student housing, these apartments often come with private laundry and common amenities. Apartments can be part of a complex (particularly in Midtown and West Midtown) or part of a house (more common in Home Park).
- Homeownership: If you decide to own a home, you’ll have the greatest amount of independence and responsibility. In this case, residents likely manage all maintenance and lawn care, utilities, taxes, and other care.
Be aware of these red flags when looking for an off-campus rental:
- Spaces that sound too good to be true usually are.
- Go to see the apartment in person if possible, at different times ideally.
- Be wary of spaces that are not yet built.
- The properties listed on the off-campus housing marketplace are vetted before showing up on the site.
Housing Apartment Types:
- Studio:
- A Studio apartment is an apartment consisting of a single large room serving as bedroom and living room, with a separate bathroom.
- Typically, less than 450 ft2
- No dividing wall between rooms
- Average rent: $1500-1800
- 1 Bedroom
- A 1-bedroom apartment is a separate bedroom space closed off from the living room and kitchen area and a separate bathroom.
- Average ranges 500-1000 ft2
- Average rent: $1500-2200
- 2 Bedroom
- A 2-bedroom apartment is two separate bedrooms space closed off from one another and the living room and kitchen area and a separate bathroom(s).
- Average ranges 700-1100 ft2
- Average rent: $1800-2500 (per person)
- Two Bedroom Types: (number of bedrooms x number of bathrooms)
- 2x1
- 2x1.5 (a half bathroom is a bathroom with no shower, typically used for guests. Uncommon in student apartments.)
- 2x2
- 3 Bedroom
- A 3-bedroom apartment is three separate bedrooms space closed off from one another and the living room and kitchen area and a separate bathroom(s)
- Average ranges 900-1400 ft2
- Average rent: $1500-2100 (per person)
- Three Bedroom Types: (number of bedrooms x number of bathrooms)
- 3x1
- 3x2
- 3x2.5 (a half bathroom is a bathroom with no shower, typically used for guests. Uncommon in student apartments.)
- 3x3
- 4 Bedroom
- A 4-bedroom apartment is fourseparate bedrooms space closed off from one another and the living room and kitchen area and a separate bathroom(s)
- Average ranges 1000-1500 ft2
- Average rent: $1300-2000 (per person)
- Three Bedroom Types: (number of bedrooms x number of bathrooms)
- 4x2
- 4x3
- 4x3.5 (a half bathroom is a bathroom with no shower, typically used for guests. Uncommon in student apartments.)
- 4x4
- There are 5- and 6-bedroom apartments available in some buildings in some of these configurations:
- 5x5
- 6x4
- 6x6