Is Off-Campus Housing Right for You?

Living off-campus can be a great alternative to living in The Woods, especially for incoming seniors who may be fed up with that style of living and looking for something larger, more independent, and significantly cheaper. 

One of the most convenient and commonly sought after routes for off-campus living is Fairwood Student Housing, which has a number of 3-6 room houses located just outside of campus on W Wood St across from the DISC. With these houses being so close to campus, the walk to campus is equal to or shorter than the trek from The Woods depending on where you are going, it really doesn’t feel like you have left campus at all!

However, there are pros and cons to this situation which students should consider before deciding if off-campus is right for them. One of the major things to understand about off-campus housing is that it is still student housing. The properties typically change hands every year, and they are already significantly older than the apartment complexes at The Woods, so creaks, groans, strange floorplans, and because these houses are also significantly larger, they take much longer to heat up in the Winter and cool down in the Summer. There is also the question of furniture; although these houses come fully furnished, if you need more couch space, a better desk for your room, a bookshelf, a nightstand, or any other associated amenity, acquiring those can be an expensive undertaking. Obviously there is also risk associated with renting from a student housing business, and you should expect dealing with a single landlord to be different from the more bureaucratized structure of the Woods. Of course, you will also lose access to things like the Woods pool and club house, though you can get around that pretty easily as long as you still know someone living there. 

There are significant benefits to this type of housing as well, most obviously, money. At least through Fairwood, the rent is significantly cheaper than The Woods—typically under $500 a month, and water is paid for by the landlord. However, as the security deposit through Ameren is much higher here than at The Woods, you should expect your electric bill to be significantly more expensive the first couple months you’re living there. Other benefits are more subtle: parking is significantly more convenient, no more late night treks back to a Woods apartment after you couldn’t find a good spot. And, although you have to cross busier roads to make it to campus, you’ll never have to worry about being cut off by the train on your way to class again (and life without the train horn going off several times a day is much more peaceful).

There are other things that might complicate your choice. For instance, Millikin requires non-seniors to live on-campus, though there are some work arounds, especially if you would also qualify as a commuter. You also need an established group of people ready to sign for a year-long lease because there’s no system to fill those rooms like what might happen in The Woods. However, you don’t necessarily need to fill all 6 rooms in a house, but be prepared for your rent to go up a bit if your group is on the smaller side. There are also extra costs if you are a pet owner, or hoping to become one while living in these houses.

Overall, there is much to take into account before you decide where you’re going to spend your senior year. However, if you have a group of people you’re comfortable getting into a lease with, and aren’t too attached to your Woods apartment, getting off campus can be a great way to save some money and get some experience with the renting process before you’re off to figure it out post-graduation.