Finding student housing in the U.S. is a top priority for international students.
This guide will help you get started in your search for adequate student housing and accommodation that is safe, comfortable, convenient and affordable. We’ll unpack the types of international student housing in the U.S., what factors to look out for and how to start your search.
Many different U.S. student accommodation and housing options are available for international students, with some situated on campus and others located away from the university grounds. While the various types and availabilities of student housing options vary from college to college across different states, here are some of the most common ones used by international students.
Students living on the grounds of their college enjoy the benefit of short commutes to classes, a unique university lifestyle and better access to college resources. However, on-campus student housing is often in high demand, and some on-campus housing options exclude international students.
Dormitories or ‘student halls’ are university-run student residences where dozens or even hundreds of students live together in high-density, apartment-like housing. Dorms can either be segregated by gender or be ‘co-ed’ with mixed configurations. Students share bathrooms, common areas and dining facilities while living in pre-assigned rooms, either sharing or by themselves. Dorms are often in high demand, can be expensive and securing placement may involve submitting applications and meeting qualifying requirements.
Some U.S. colleges manage their own housing facilities on campus or properties directly adjacent to the university grounds. These can be houses, residential villages or apartments. Each unit is self-contained, with a private kitchen, bathroom and living facilities, and students pay rental fees to the university.
Many U.S. colleges are famous for their men’s fraternities and female sororities. These college social clubs are often organized around shared values, interests and goals, and members frequently live together in a shared residence or ‘house.’ Many of these residences are on college campuses operating as university housing and are generally owned by the club organization. International students may find gaining membership - and residential access - to these clubs challenging and, in some cases, unappealing.
Living in housing off-campus is a popular option for housing for international students, even if just for a short time while you adjust or find attractive on-campus student housing prospects. Off-campus housing offers more freedom and independence and is often more accessible and affordable than on-campus accommodation. However, you may need to commute to classes and won’t get to enjoy a full-time campus experience.
Many U.S. towns and cities have established residential areas near university campuses specifically to cater to students. These suburbs may include affordable apartments, houses subdivided into shared student housing and separate cottages, flatlets or bungalows on private home properties. Private rentals are often a top choice for international students as they allow you to settle into your student life with more independence and privacy than many on-campus student housing options. Of course, leasing an apartment is a top choice and likely the most affordable and accessible option for U.S. student accommodation.
Some people rent out entire multi-bedroomed homes to students on a room-by-room basis. These renovated homes have been reconfigured with various rooms and spaces converted into bedrooms, usually with their own en-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes. Living spaces have also been converted into shared student areas with study areas, social rooms and even games and entertainment areas optimized for shared student life. A great option if you know of others looking for international student accommodation too.
Homestays are becoming increasingly popular options for international student housing in the U.S. choice. Homestays involve being placed with an American family who live close to the campus. Meals and transport are provided by the family, and the student will live in their own bedroom. Homestays offer more stability and security than other off-campus options and are a great way to settle into life in the U.S.
Before starting your international student housing search for U.S. student accommodation, you must know what to look for. As it is unlikely that you won’t be able to view the property before arriving in the U.S., you should consider these important factors before deciding.
One of the most important factors in student housing is your housing location. First, consider the proximity of your accommodation to your faculty facilities and how much time you will spend traveling between the two. Of course, if you opt for on-campus housing, this may not be a problem. But remember that many larger U.S. college campuses have faculties spread far apart, even in different parts of a town or city.
When reviewing location characteristics, consider access to public transport and other facilities like grocery stores and hospitals, how safe the area is, whether the location is ‘student-friendly’ and how far you’ll need to travel daily.
Be aware of different regulations, city ordinances, rules and laws that may affect your student housing. Rent control, local taxes, levies and bylaws can impact your search. These conditions vary between states, so spend some time reviewing them.
When signing your lease agreement or contract for student housing, carefully review the lease terms and conditions before agreeing to anything. Look at clauses relating to the lease or agreement cancellation, security deposits, renewal conditions, notice periods and the extra fees you’re liable to pay. If you spot anything suspicious or vague, ask for clarity or amendments.
Some options for international student housing in the U.S. mean you’ll get to live alone. However, many student housing options involve sharing your accommodation with roommates or other students. These people are often strangers who you’ll only meet once moved in, and living side-by-side with them can be a challenge.
Sharing your student accommodation, however, does come with benefits. From cheaper rental and utility costs to a richer social experience and often more student housing options to choose from, sharing your accommodation can be worthwhile.
Look at what is included in your student housing options and what isn’t. Most student housing in the U.S. comes with furniture and appliances included. These usually cover the basics - bed, closet, desk, refrigerator, stove, sitting room furniture, TV etc. However, some student housing accommodation offers are completely unfurnished, and you must supply your own.
It’s often best to opt for the fully furnished choices, saving you time and money buying or moving these bulky items in with you. Some inclusions go beyond your accommodation, with various student housing options including laundry facilities, gyms, swimming pools, parking and more.
Think about how much space you’re going to need during your time living in U.S. student accommodation. Aside from the necessary room to live and sleep, you’re also going to need space to study, room for storage and enough area to relax and live comfortably. Try to avoid compact loft apartment setups that force you to live in very close proximity to other people.
Search for student housing options that offer decent living areas and enough room to move about with ease. The best way to estimate this is to look at the square footage of the student housing and compare it to an area of equivalent space wherever you are right now.
Don’t commit to student housing that you cannot afford. While moving into luxurious accommodation with all the amenities you desire may seem like a great idea, getting evicted for failure to pay can severely impact your studies and even your visa.
Budget accordingly and leave room for rental fee hikes or price increases in student housing costs. While some contracts include a ‘no-increase’ clause depending on state law, others can increase their asking rates annually and in line with inflation.
Unsure where to start in your student housing search? Here are some general steps to begin your search for quality housing for international students in the U.S.
The more research you do, the more options you will have. Start by looking at the on-campus student housing options offered by the university. Reach out to the college and ask if there are any special options for international student housing in the U.S. If the college has student housing options that suit your needs and fall within your budget, great! The university will likely have a well-defined application and registration process to follow.
However, if you’re looking to use private or off-campus student housing options, you’ll need to do a little more work. Look at all the housing options in the U.S. city you will be living in.
Consider which areas (both close to and far away from the campus) are considered affordable and safe. Try to establish the standard going rate for general rental and student housing options to get a good idea of how much you’ll need to budget.
Next, establish just how far away from campus you’ll be OK living before those commute times become difficult. Consider public transport options, typical traffic congestion and what mode of transport you’ll likely be using. Try to keep travel times to under 45 minutes each way.
Take a map of the city and outline which areas are too far from campus or inaccessible. Exclude them. Ignoring the outlying regions, focus only on the ones nearer to campus. Cross-reference your step 1 factors (affordability, safety etc.) with the areas within your commute range and mark these suburbs or city regions as your target areas.
Once you know which areas of the town or city you’re comfortable living in, it’s time to start searching. There are many real estate sites and platforms online that you can use to browse through listings.
Some platforms are designed specifically for students. Many are university-specific and localized to the city or town you’ll be moving to. Social media is also a great place to find student housing options, but be careful of scams and always do due diligence before signing a lease or paying any deposits.
Here is just one great resource to start your student housing search.
List all the U.S. student accommodation places you’d likely be happy to live in. Save them in a browser folder or create a spreadsheet with details and contact information. You can rank your shortlist from most to least appealing and compare them to each other to establish the pros and cons of each.
It may also help to categorize your shortlists. Arrange categories by housing type, affordability, proximity to campus, appeal, etc. and remove lower-ranking options that don’t tick those ‘non-negotiables’ boxes. This way, you can optimize the time and resources spent on your search.
Reach out to all the people who posted the listings. Some may be real estate agents or owners, while others may be current occupiers or third parties. Set up an email account dedicated to your international student housing in the U.S. search and check for responses every day. Consider time zone differences when trying to call, and avoid sharing too much private information until you know who you are engaging with.
Speed is key. Often, a new listing may be gone within 24 hours of publication, so if you delay, you may miss out on a perfect option. Have your information ready and draft a list of questions to ask the person on the other end.
While visiting the property before signing the lease may be physically impossible, that doesn’t mean you can’t view it. Consider asking the real estate agent or renter to send you a video tour of the accommodation or request a friend or acquaintance to do so for you. Some people may even offer this as a paid service on freelancing platforms.
Once you’re happy with your selection and comfortable with the idea of living there, go ahead and sign the lease or agreement to secure your accommodation. Ask a lawyer or knowledgeable person to read through the contract before signing it, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you may be unsure about. Double-check the terms and conditions and review your rights as an international student in the U.S.
You will likely need a down payment or security deposit to reserve your accommodation. Try to avoid paying more than one month’s worth of rental fees, and be careful to confirm the payment recipient’s details and status.
These simple tips will help you streamline and simplify your accommodation search for international student housing in the U.S.
Most student housing options in the U.S. involve sharing your accommodation with others. You may need to share with a roommate you’ve never met, so be prepared to adjust to living with somebody new. For many international students, this is part of the U.S. college experience and a great way to meet new people.
If you’re not confident in your house-hunting abilities, contact local real estate rental agents to assist you. These agents are often experts in helping you find the right listings, although they may charge a small fee or commission.
One of the biggest risks faced by international students looking for U.S. student accommodation is scams and schemes designed to defraud you of your money. Some students sign their leases and pay deposits, only to find somebody already occupying their residence upon arrival. Others get to their address and discover that their accommodation never even existed to begin with. Always conduct due diligence and make 100% certain you’re dealing with a legitimate accommodation option.
You can visit messaging boards and social media U.S. college international student accommodation groups or engage with the university regarding housing options. People are more than willing to offer advice and, in some cases, volunteer to assist you with your accommodation search.
Another way to ensure you can find acceptable housing for international students is to book an Airbnb or short-stay rental while you find the right student housing. Although it may cost you a little more, you will have more time to explore other student housing options yourself instead of online. There is a risk, though, that you may miss out on other great offers by not reserving your accommodation beforehand.
