8 Benefits of Living Off-Campus

Whether you want to live on or off-campus is one of the major decisions you’ll have to make as a university student. Of course, on-campus housing has its own set of pros and cons. But for most university and college students, living off-campus is the best option.

Off-campus housing provides students with many facilities at affordable prices. Besides being cheaper, off-campus student apartments offer an array of benefits.

Here are eight benefits of living in an off-campus student housing property:

1. Roommate-Matching Services

When it comes to university dorms, you don’t always get the freedom to choose your own roommates. But many McMaster off-campus housing properties offer roommate matching services. You can use the service to choose who you want to live with.

Roommate-matching services allow students to choose their roommates based on shared interests, lifestyle, personal preferences, habits, and more. It helps prevent many problems and ensures students live in a friendly and harmonious environment.

2. More Space

Most dormitories and even on-campus university student housing properties are small and crowded. As such, you can’t live in comfort or get the freedom to live as you want.

On the other hand, student apartment buildings are designed to house many students, so space is not a problem in these facilities. Most of these buildings have suites or apartments with multiple bedrooms and a shared kitchen and living area. Not only is this great for anyone looking to have a social life, but it is also generally more affordable as many people share the rent.

3. Furnished Apartments

Most off-campus student apartments are fully furnished and luxurious. But you might also get the option to choose an unfurnished unit. Living in a fully furnished unit means you save the money you may otherwise spend on furnishing your bedroom and apartment.

Sure, unfurnished spaces allow you to get creative with your interior design, but it can be a hassle for most students. You can save time and money by choosing an already furnished student housing property.

4. More Storage Space

If you have a lot of belongings, you will require more storage space. On-campus rooms are pretty small, which makes storage a real issue. With off-campus housing, you can choose the size of your bedroom, depending on how much space you’ll need.

5. Ideally Located Near Campus

Contrary to popular belief, off-campus housing does not actually drastically increase commute time and create travel expenses. Most of the properties are within walking distance or a few minutes’ drive away from campus. Also, living a little distance away from campus can add more freedom to your life.

6. More Privacy

Off-campus student apartments offer more privacy because they don’t have resident assistants to watch your every move. Also, you get separate apartments, bedrooms, and living spaces. This makes sharing an apartment much easier for everyone because it allows everyone to find their own space.

7. Bring Your Pet

On-campus student housing facilities rarely ever allow students to bring in their pets. On the other hand, many off-campus student housing facilities allow you to keep your furry babies with you.

8. Long-Term Contracts

Unlike on-campus residences, you don’t have to move out of your off-campus apartment at the end of the school year. Off-campus residencies offer year-long housing contracts that are easily renewable. That means you can live in the same apartment until college ends, thereby eliminating the inconvenience of moving.

Final Thoughts

Sure, both on and off-campus housing facilities have their own set of pros and cons. But it is also true that off-campus student apartments offer many benefits that you may not find in on-campus residences.

Ultimately, an off-campus housing facility allows you to enjoy more freedom and facilities at a lower cost. The best part: most of these residences are located close to campus, so you don’t have to worry about commuting.