Living on Campus (2024)

FAQs

Why should you live on campus? ›

Living on campus can give you more opportunities to socialize with your peers. You'll also have greater access to a variety of campus activities and clubs, adding to your sense of community.

Aside from traditional dorms, on-campus housing often includes suites, apartments, Greek houses or living-learning communities. First-year college students often are expected or required to live in residence halls or dormitories.

Academic Support

While this doesn't necessarily guarantee you'll be on time each day, it can help since you won't have to navigate traffic or hunt down a parking spot. Resources like campus tutoring, the library, and the writing center are also more easily accessible when you live on campus.

If you live off-campus, your financial aid will cover all your school-related costs. If there are any costs remaining, you'll receive a check to pay for it. As an off-campus student, you can use these funds to pay for off-campus housing, transportation and other needs. Included in your housing costs.

Living off-campus means reduced police presence, making residents more vulnerable to theft.

Better Grades and Outcomes

By getting involved in college and making the effort to meet others and participate in college life, you are likely to open up new opportunities for yourself and have a more rewarding college experience.

Furthermore, it has been shown that students living on campus tend to earn better grades and have retention rates at their institutions which are higher than their off-campus peers. These students are timelier in their graduation and more often go on to graduate school and earn advanced degrees.

Many universities claim that living on campus improves the likelihood of academic success. For example, UNC-Wilmington claims that “research indicates students who live on-campus earn higher GPA's.” NC State simply claims that “living on campus is an essential part of the Wolfpack experience.”

Advantages of In-Person Classes

Distractions like the internet, TV, phones and even family members can make it hard to study. In-person classes can be a chance to step away from these distractions and focus solely on learning. The routine of attending a class at the same time each week can be a helpful way to learn.

What do you like most about living on campus? ›

Many colleges and universities no longer use the word "dormitory" and staff are now using the term residence hall (analogous to the United Kingdom "hall of residence") or simply "hall" instead. Outside academia however, the word "dorm" or "dormitory" is commonly used without negative connotations.

Commuting to school means that you'll have fewer opportunities to experience college life. You'll still be able to attend campus and college events, but you won't have the immersive connections to other students that living with them can lead to. When you commute, your need based FAFSA assistance plummets.

Living on campus can also allow you to make friends more easily, find resources, and participate in extracurricular activities. Students who live on campus often report feeling more strongly connected to the campus community than those who don't.

Communal living can be difficult if you're used to having your own private space. Common Bathrooms: Sharing a common bathroom/shower can be a con to living on campus, and it can be up to you to clean it in some cases. Laundry rooms are also shared so scheduling can be problematic.

The Bottom Line. If you are considering living outside of the college campus, the reasons for doing so are simple. You'll save money, have more room, be able to set your own rules, have access to cool amenities, and gain some valuable life experience.

Does FAFSA give me more money if I live off campus? No, selecting Off Campus does not give you more money if you decide to live off campus. For some colleges, a student's financial aid eligibility is determined by a standard room amount.

Every year, the federal government updates the maximum Federal Pell Grant award amount. For the 2024–25 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395.

For most students, there will not be enough financial aid to cover the full cost of tuition, unless the parents borrow a Federal Parent PLUS loan. The financial aid will be based on financial need, which is usually less than the cost of attendance.

It can help students: Learn from each other and develop new skills. Build relationships with each other and grow a sense of community. Boost their critical thinking capabilities and learn how to work in teams, which is an important element to succeed in the workplace.