5 Benefits of Living Off-Campus

By Elise Nelson on July 21, 2017

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It’s a question that college students must answer every year: on-campus or off-campus housing? Living in a dorm means having a cleaning service, eating with friends in the dining hall, and being close to your classrooms. Living in an apartment means more space and more freedom, but more responsibility.

It’s understandable to become too scared to leave the safety of dorm life behind. If you’re on the fence about living off-campus this year, consider these five benefits.

1. You get to practice being an independent adult

“Adulting 101” isn’t a class you can find on your course schedule. It’s a way of life that you have to learn on your own. Being thrown into independence after college is definitely a scary thought, but what if you could ease into it during college?

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Living off-campus, whether it’s in an apartment or a house, with roommates or by yourself, allows you to practice independence while you prepare for your career. Your parents will no doubt be checking in on you to make sure your needs are met, but you are still on your own.

You’ll be responsible for paying bills, buying groceries, and keeping your living space clean. If you ever find yourself struggling, remember that you’re still practicing! Never be afraid to ask for help. You should learn as much about living on your own as you can by the time you finish college, but that won’t happen if you don’t ask questions.

2. The food is better

The quality of college dining hall food is usually terrible no matter what school you go to. Nothing will ever compare to a home-cooked meal. If you choose to live off-campus, you never have to eat in the dining hall again! You never have to worry about disliking what’s being served because you make your own menu.

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When you live off-campus, you can cook healthy and affordable meals. Alternatively, if you decide you want to splurge and bake a whole tray of chocolate chip cookies for yourself, you can do that too. The options are endless when you have your own kitchen.

Consult Pinterest to find some great recipes, or ask your family and friends. In the end you’ll save money by skipping the school’s meal plan. That brings us to number three …

3. The cost of living is cheaper

Let’s be real — college is already expensive enough with tuition and book costs. Then you have a meal plan and room/board costs, and it adds up to a number with way too many zeroes. If you live off-campus, you can skip the meal plan and put as much money as you’d like towards groceries. Create your own weekly meal budget and stick to it. The best part is that your budget can change when you need to cut costs.

A case study of average university systems found that, in 2012, the cost of living on campus had risen by more than $1,000 since 2008. Residential students paid an average of $2,238 more than commuter students. It might not seem like you’re saving much money when you choose to live off-campus because of utilities, gas, and groceries. But, keep in mind that you have the freedom to budget your expenses, while on-campus students are stuck paying fixed prices for dorms and meal plans.

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4. You won’t get sick as easily

When you live in a dorm, you’re likely to be a foot away from your neighbors. It’s a good way to make friends … and a good way to get sick. Communal living puts you in close contact with so many people, and that’s how the infamous cold/flu “plague” begins on college campuses every year. Germs are inescapable when you share a bathroom with 20 other people.

Living off-campus helps to keep you healthy. You might have a few roommates to pass germs around with, but at least you won’t be cramped into a series of small rooms where germs can spread faster. When plague season hits, you can travel to campus for classes and then retreat to the safety of your apartment. You can thoroughly clean your living space, too, as an extra precaution.

The decision to live off-campus might be best for your body if you get sick easily. As a college student, you might sometimes forget to think about your physical health amidst so much coursework. Remember that the healthier you are, the better you can do in your classes.

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5. You have your own space away from campus

When you live, eat, and work at your school, it seems like you’ll never leave the little bubble surrounding campus, especially if you don’t have a car. You can walk out for a little bit, but your legs will only take you so far and you have to go back to the bubble eventually.

It’s a very strange feeling when you step into the outside world for the first time in a few months. New buildings pop up in your hometown and you think, “How long have I been gone?” Maybe you feel a little bit relieved to be out of the bubble.

College is great — there’s no doubt about that. You’re constantly surrounded by friends and fun. Seeing the same things every day can make you a little sick of college life, though. When you live off-campus, you get to actually leave school every day.

Instead of studying in your tiny dorm room or in the busy library, you can study at home. You have your own personal space. Constant fun on campus seems nice at first, but it can be very distracting when you have finals to study for. Living off-campus will eliminate some of those distractions, and you can find some stress-relieving alone time.

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Living in a dorm is definitely important to getting the full college experience, and it comes with its own advantages. However, after a year or two of on-campus housing, check out off-campus housing for a whole new set of perks. Here is how you can decide you’re ready to move off-campus.

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

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