College housing
Where do graduate students usually live?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Most graduate students live off campus, often in apartments or shared houses a little farther from the center of campus, where it's quieter and cheaper. Some universities offer graduate or family housing, which can be good value but often has a waitlist. Grad students tend to put quiet, commute time and privacy ahead of being close to undergraduate nightlife.
Many graduate programs run year-round, so a standard twelve-month lease often suits you better than it suits undergraduates. Apply early for any graduate housing your school offers, since units for couples and families in particular can have long waits.
Things grad students often weigh:
- The commute to your lab, office, clinic or hospital, not just to the main campus.
- Living with other grad students or young professionals rather than undergraduates.
- Whether a landlord will count your stipend or assistantship as income. Bring your offer or funding letter to show it.
- Room for a partner, children or pets if that applies to you.
Your department is a good source. Ask current students where they live and whether anyone is leaving a place. Program group chats and your school's housing group often have rooms offered by other grad students before they're advertised anywhere else.
Want the whole picture? Read Off-Campus Housing for Students: A Semester-by-Semester Timeline.