UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As we hit the middle of the fall semester, off-campus rental properties begin offering leases and the on-campus housing request process opens. Students may feel pressured to select a housing option for next school year. However, whether you are considering on- or off-campus living, Penn State has a variety of resources to help you make the decision that works best with your priorities — without feeling rushed or uninformed.
Students can live on campus — in traditional or renovated residence halls, suites and apartments, or in an off-campus apartment or house. They may also consider on-campus sorority housing in the renovated portion of South Halls, or off-campus fraternity housing. Details on housing options can be found at studentaffairs.psu.edu/housing.
Housing timeline
Students are reminded that, while the housing process starts early, there is more time to make a housing decision than they may expect and lots of options are available into the early spring.
On-campus housing can be requested on eLiving from Oct. 1 to 31 and again from Dec. 1 to Feb. 15. Students who requested on-campus housing — including sorority housing — will receive an invitation to view housing options, select a space, invite roommates and accept a Housing and Food Services (HFS) contract. Those who are waitlisted for on-campus housing will receive their HFS contract offers in March.
Students should note that they can request on-campus housing and choose not to accept it once they receive their invitation. Students should not, however, sign an HFS contract and an off-campus lease. The University will not cancel a student’s HFS contract just because they signed an off-campus lease.
Some off-campus apartments also start offering leases in October, but many remain available into the spring semester. If you have difficulty finding availability when you start your search, the office of Off-Campus Student Support can help connect you with places that still have openings at that time.
Those considering sorority or fraternity housing are encouraged not to sign an off-campus lease or HFS contract until they accept a bid for membership and complete the chapter housing process. Because on-campus housing stays open through mid-February, students have time to make a decision based on receiving a bid to join one of the fraternity or sorority communities. If, however, students want to live on campus, they should act quickly after bid day to make sure they request housing by Feb. 15.
Making a Decision
With a variety of housing options to choose from, students should consider the cost, location, community and support, amenities, flexibility and responsibility associated with each form of housing before making a decision. All of these factors can vary widely between on-campus and off-campus options, but they can also vary between different complexes on or off campus.
Students should consider how much they want to spend, making sure to factor in other costs, such as meal plans or groceries, transportation, and utilities (if applicable). Students should also consider the type of community in which they hope to live.
Students will find vibrant communities on and off campus, but they are different. With on-campus living, students can participate in regular activities, such as arts and crafts nights, end-of-year carnivals, or even floor-wide IM teams. On-campus living also has a built-in support network for students. Students living in University Housing have an additional layer of support from the Residence Life, Housing, and Food Service staff. The sense of community can vary greatly depending on where students live off-campus and the type of housing they select.
Resources
Regardless of whether a student chooses to live on- or off-campus, Penn State offers a variety of resources to assist in the housing process, as well as support students throughout their time at Penn State.
The University holds a Housing Fair in the fall and spring each year where students can learn about housing options, as well as various resources available to them. The next fair will take place in person on Jan. 28 and virtually on Feb. 2.
Students can also attend a housing webinar or information session to learn more about their living options. The Housing Assignment Office is available to assist students with questions or understanding the process.
Students who decide to live off-campus can connect with resources through Off-Campus Student Support, including finding off-campus housing options or roommates and learning about their rights as a tenant.
For more information on housing options, timelines, and resources, students can visit Penn State’s Housing Options website.