Finding a comfortable place to live that feels like home can be one of the most daunting challenges of moving away to college. According to a recent poll conducted by the American Association of Community Colleges, only about 25% of community colleges in the United States offer their students on-campus housing. There are many benefits to living on campus and experiencing the typical American college experience. Here are some of our favorite reasons why living on campus is so great.

Living on-campus makes living away from home a very safe option. 

The housing is minutes away from class, making it very easy to get to and from class quickly. Forget your homework in your room? No problem! It is easy to run back to get it. Each floor has a resident assistant (RA) who students can go to if they have a problem. The building also has cameras and 24/7 security.

It’s a great way to make friends. 

On-campus housing has study rooms and recreation rooms with games and a TV — ideal areas to meet other people. There are often building or floor events organized by the RAs to meet other students in the building. The housing is full of people your own age so it is easier to find people with similar interests. This gives you an automatic community.

Living in a residence hall on-campus means that many services are included in the cost.

Internet, utilities, cable, and sometimes even laundry are included in the price. Not worrying about these monthly bills makes life much less stressful, and you know exactly how much you will need to pay each month. 

On-campus housing means that you are in the middle of the action at all times. 

You have easy access to campus activities, amenities, and services. Campus frequently has fun, free events with games, food, and music. Living close by makes it easy to take a study break to take advantage of all your school has to offer.

Campus has many opportunities to get involved and make your application to a 4-year institution more competitive. 

There are campus jobs, clubs, and organizations that hold events during both days and evenings. Living nearby gives you the freedom to participate, take on leadership positions, and learn new skills. Universities will see that you spent time focusing and developing your academic and professional goals in your first two years. This could lead to more university acceptances and even higher scholarships!

Many people typically assume the cost of housing on campus is more expensive than living off campus. This however, is often not the case! On-campus housing saves the cost of transportation, a higher bill for utilities and Wi-Fi, and the cost of living in a place if you cannot find roommates. Since the pandemic, finding affordable housing has become more difficult as new homes are not built quickly enough to serve the population. On-campus housing has not increased in price as quickly as the rest of many cities, often leaving it significantly cheaper in price.

Housing often reserves spaces for international students to live. Many schools understand the challenges of moving from another country and trying to find a safe and comfortable place to rest your head. As living near campus is a popular option, beds can fill up quickly. Check out your community college of interest to see if they offer these services for you!