Deciding Whether to Live Off-Campus
College life is usually the first time students live away from their families and begin the process of becoming an adult and good citizen. There are many advantages of living on campus and studies have found that students who live on campus are more engaged and more likely to be successful students. Each individual must evaluate the pros and cons of living on or off campus and decide which are more important to them.
Living on Campus
Pros:
- Proximity to classes and libraries
- Easier to develop relationships with other students for social and academic purposes
- Increases sense of community and engagement with the university
- Easy access to everyday living amenities such as housing, meal plans, utilities, transportation, laundry facilities, faculty, university resources, etc.
- Better access to social events on campus
- University Housing video library can provide details about residential life
Cons:
- Living with a large group of strangers
- Lack of privacy, cramped space, and all issues that come with group living
- High cost of living
- Possibility of getting too distracted from social activities
- Having to move in and out depending on the university’s calendar
Living off Campus
Pros:
- Independence—you can set your own schedule and do what you want to do
- More space
- Maybe no roommate (at least not in the same bedroom or bathroom)
- Becoming more connected to a neighborhood or city rather than the university
Cons:
- Independence—now you are responsible for every facet of your living amenities
- Higher costs due to more expenses such as utilities, phone service, internet access, renters insurance, car insurance, gas, etc.
- May have to sacrifice proximity in order to afford living expenses, generally the further from campus the less expensive the rent
- More time consuming tasks such as grocery shopping, paying bills, transportation, etc.
- Parking near campus can be both costly and near impossible to find
- Apartment complexes may not have the same amenities that can be found in most residence halls such as computer labs, laundry rooms, exercise rooms, safety may be more of an issue, etc.
- Most likely will need furniture, cleaning equipment/supplies, and moving costs
- Legal obligations of signing a lease and dealing with a landlord or apartment manager when there are issues with the housing
- Noisy neighbors or unsafe neighborhood particularly if you are new to the city
- Harder to develop relationships because you spend less time on campus
- Isolation if you don’t have a roommate
Combining Possibilities
- You can live off campus and have an on-campus meal plan
- Can live on campus and spend more time in the community through volunteer opportunities
- Can live on campus and participate in Study Abroad opportunities
- Can live in university apartments such as Orchard Downs, Goodwin-Green, or Ashton Woods