Living On or Off Campus: Pros and Cons

Torn Between Two Housings? THE Pros & Cons LIVING ON AND OFF CAMPUS Before your first day of class, you have to make big decisions that can greatly affect your entire college life. One crucial decision you have to make is the issue of residence. Pursuing a college degree may also mean you have to be far from your comfort zone for almost the entire year, so you have to settle in a second home that you should be equally comfortable in. A dormitory on-campus and other lodging options off-campus are available for students who need a second home near colleges or universities. If you are still torn between two housings, then we can help you decide by showing you the pros and cons of both. ON-CAMPUS OFF-CAMPUS COSTS ON LIVING SPACE Monthly Rent- $950 - $1,500 Monthly Rent - $850 - $1,700 Furniture - included Furniture - $300 - $1,000 Most off-campus lodgings are unfurnished, thus you may need a budget for it. Utilities (Water & Electricity) - included Utilities (Water & Electricity) - $75 Depending on your chosen lodging, this may or may not come free with your monthly rent. Cable TV and Internet - included Cable TV and Internet - $40 A GROCERIES Food Food - $200 Meal plans are included in the rent you pay. You can have healthier options when it comes to meals. Toiletries - $100 Toiletries - $100 Miscellaneous - $100 Miscellaneous - $100 SOCIAL LIFE More space out of school may Stronger sense of campus community since you're also mean a more varied network surrounded with students 24 x 7. of friends and acquaintances. Easy catch-up with campus goings-on. Can be more flexible in terms of curfew and other limitations (if landlord is not so strict). Living off-campus gives you a clearer picture of what it's like to live independently. PRIVACY You are more than likely to You can have all the space share a room with a roommate. for yourself. Bathrooms and other spaces are shared with a lot of other people. If you're planning to work while you study, living off-campus may be better for you since on-campus dorms tend to have a lot more rules and it may not dovetail with your work schedule. Financially, living off-campus may come out pricier despite having low rental prices. The costs of transportation, groceries and miscellaneous stuff add up to your expenses each month. The total cost may not be a far cry from the cost of living on-campus though, because you still have to take account for the miscellaneous expenses that students usually add on, like eating out, partying and school projects. In the end, it still depends on what you think will work well for your comfort and your unique personal circumstances. SOURCES: www.barry.edu collegelife.about.com www.investopedia.com www.foxbusiness.com This infographic has been brought to you by: GRADUATION CAP and GOVWNI