Living Off Campus: Pros and Cons

The first thing a student should to do before deciding to live off campus is to consider how they live and study. Apartment or house living will involve some trade-offs. For example, the money saved by sharing an apartment might be balanced out by the extra money spent commuting to campus. Here are some things to consider:

Pros
Living off campus can be cheaper than university housing.
Students might gain independence, freedom, privacy and space.
Private apartments are usually quieter and have fewer distractions, and therefore are better for studying.
Having a rental history will make it easier to get a place after graduation. Plus, students will have real world experience.
Students can make their own meals.
No more shared bathrooms (or at least not shared by as many).

Cons
Living off campus can actually be more expensive. Students get the security deposit, first and last month’s rent, utilities, furniture, furnishings, appliances, cleaning supplies, groceries and