5 Housing Options for Graduate Students

The college years are so exciting! And if you choose to go back for graduate school, one of the most important decisions you have to make is where you’re going to live. Today, there are multiple housing options available to students on and off-campus.

This article outlines the possible housing options available for grad students while they complete their programs.

Exploring On-Campus Options

Staying on campus can be a great experience for students. This helps students stay informed about activities and events on campus. It can also help with making friends.

Here is a list of options available on most college campuses:

Residential Halls

For most schools, students can live in residence halls. These spaces are usually shared and could include suit-styled bathrooms or communal facilities. Some may have kitchens but a vast majority of them don’t.

Some students choose to room with colleagues from their program. Graduate students aren’t monitored as closely as undergraduates which offers more in the way of independence. They also sometimes have access to certain amenities for a better price.

Living Co-Ops

These types of spaces can come in multiple forms depending on the school. The University of Nevada’s has living-learning communities that provide students with a specialized social and educational environment where they can gather and share similar interests.

At UC Davis, cooperatives are spaces that are self-sustained, governed by students, and designed to help them become more responsible.

Exploring Off-Campus Options

Staying off-campus can provide students with many benefits, including more independence, lower costs, and more space. Regardless of living preferences, students find it’s a great option to be able to leave campus each day.

Here are some of the available off-campus options:

Living with Your Family

Students who wish to attend an institution near their home can consider staying with their parents or other family members close by to save money on accommodations. While this may work for many people, there are still some factors to think about.

A family member or parents may charge you rent, and if you’re not able to pay it, this can cause friction in your relationship. There is also a chance that you won’t get the degree of privacy you want if you choose to live with family members.

Renting a Place

There are multiple options to choose from if you decide to rent a place close to the school. Here are the possible options:

Renting Alone:

Students who are fond of their studies or need their own space a can consider living alone. Because most students are living on a budget, this could also be a very expensive option. Renting a place alone means being responsible for everything like cleaning, paying utilities, buying groceries and so on.

Renting a Room:

For students who want to move away from campus but do not have the financial strength to live alone can choose to rent an empty room in a house. Usually, you have a bedroom to yourself and share spaces like the kitchen or living room with other students. This option has a lot of benefits since it can be similar to living alone but is more affordable.

Doing this can involve little interaction with your roommates which can give you privacy if you need it. If this option seems like something for you, it’s important that you choose a space where you feel comfortable. You’ll want to ensure as best as you can that you get along with your roommates.

Rent for Services:

This last category refers to those students who wish to save money by opting for accommodations where they can exchange a service for a place to stay. One way of doing this is looking for places that need a property manager.

However, it is important to note that if you want this option, you need to be very clear about the expectations. These expectations include the hours you are required to work and what is expected of you in return. If possible, opt for some sort of written agreement to ensure both sides uphold their end of the deal.

Resources that Schools Provide

Today, there are many schools that provide resources to students who want to move off campus. Universities do have resources to help students find housing options both on and off-campus. If you’re unsure where to go when starting a new graduate school program, you can research to see what options your school offers.