Graduate student housing is divided into two categories, similar to undergraduate housing: on-campus housing and off-campus housing. Living off campus entails renting or leasing an apartment or house and signing a lease. Living on campus for graduate student housing can be done in a variety of ways, including dorms or on-campus suites. While not all graduate students will require roommates, it is a common practice that can help the student save a significant amount of money on his or her likely limited budget. Certain types of graduate student housing may be eligible for financial aid.
Living in a dorm and working as a Residence Director, or RD, is one option for graduate student housing. An RD is in charge of managing Residence Assistants and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the undergraduate dormitory. Coordinating activities, dealing with medical emergencies and dorm resident issues and complaints, and holding meetings with Resident Assistants to ensure that all dormitory rules are properly enforced are just a few of the responsibilities. In exchange, a Residence Director is frequently given a decently-sized apartment within the dorm for free or at a reduced rate.
Another common graduate student housing option is living off campus. In this case, a graduate student may or may not be eligible for financial aid that can be used for housing, but living off campus can provide more housing options as well as the opportunity to find a better price on a larger home that can accommodate several roommates. Many graduate students choose to share a room with multiple roommates to save money on rent, but it’s important to remember that choosing roommates is a delicate process; a graduate student often requires a quiet and calm environment in which to study.
Some colleges and universities may offer reduced rent options off campus because they do not have enough on-campus graduate student housing. Alternatively, they may assist students in finding off-campus housing without offering reduced rents. When looking for off-campus housing, look into different options for transportation to and from campus, services in and around town, and other services that would be available on campus.