Living on campus vs. commuting to college (with quiz) — Collegeisforme.com (2023)

FAQs

Is it better to live on campus or commute? ›

You Can Feel More Connected to Other Students

Students who live on campus often enjoy a greater sense of community than commuters. Living close to school facilities can make it easier for you to connect with classmates through campus activities and events.

From missing out on opportunities, whether they be social events late at night or other on-campus activities, commuting can lead to a sense of exclusion from the campus community. There's also less time for homework depending on what time you have to leave the house or what time you return.

Studies show that students who live on campus tend to: Complete more credit hours and have higher grade point averages. Become more involved with the campus community.

The benefits of commuting to college are numerous, and it can help you save money in the long run. While commuting isn't for everyone, it can be a good way to focus on your studies with fewer distractions, and it could help you graduate on time.

Living off campus is cheaper than living in the on-campus dorms. Many college students are on a budget and need to be selective as to where they spend their money. If funds are tight, there are a number of options to live off campus in apartments that fit your budget.

What are some advantages and disadvantages of living on a college or university campus? ›

To maximize your chances of success in college, you should try to keep your commuting distance to less than 10 miles, or 30 minutes (whichever comes first), each way. Students who commute are at a natural “disadvantage” when it comes to academic success.

NBC News Freshman Year Experience contributor Darian Stevenson, who's in her first year at Southern Illinois University, chose to commute to save money. Stevenson estimates she saves $10,000 a year by commuting from home, and is paying for school entirely with scholarships and FAFSA.

College students choose to commute, rather than live on campus, for a number of reasons. Cost is the most obvious reason. Students can save money by living at home and reducing the amount of college loans they will need to pay back. For other students, though, commuting simply feels more comfortable.

Living at home during college can allow you to save up and eventually get your own apartment. It can help reduce financial stress while in school for both the student and their parents, since college tuition fees can already be very hefty.

The rental cost of living off-campus is cheaper than the price of a room or bed in the school, although additional running costs on utility, furniture, and fixtures might eventually scale up the cost of living outside the campus and bring it to par and sometimes more than the cost of college dorms.

Living at home during college can make it harder to feel connected to a campus. But students can still find plenty of opportunities to engage with their academic community. This list highlights some of the many campus resources available to help students connect with peers and create a satisfying college experience.

Your home is an ideal option with fewer distractions and noise. You can focus better on your studies without unwanted interruptions. One of the main advantages of staying at home is the chance actually to save some money. Your expenses for food and rent is less than what you would pay at the campus.

Living off campus can help the process that allows students to mature into an adult. However, leaving on campus you don't have to worry about transportation, responsibility, social life, and cost. With living on campus students can easily walk to classes, the library, and the café.

What is the advantage of living in dorm? ›

Dorm rooms are equipped with features students need to succeed, and community amenities are tailored to students including quiet study rooms and fast Internet speeds. Form study groups with roommates and other students and stay focused on why you here in the first place.

The average U.S. commute to work of 26.1 minutes each way looks like a quick trip around the block compared to the travel times posted by extreme commuters. The U.S. Census Bureau defines extreme commuters as workers who travel 90 minutes or more each way to work.

Your Risk of Depression and Anxiety Escalate

The study also showed that those with a long commute were 33 percent more likely to deal with depression. All that stress also contributed to the physical health issues. While dealing with the anxiety and depression, commuters also struggled with obesity and less sleep.

Long-term effects of dealing with a stressful commute can be significant, including depression, ongoing anxiety, and a dread of the commute cycle. "Research proves that ongoing stress is detrimental to overall physical and psychological health," says Manly.

A few of the numerous difficulties commuter students face include academic responsibility, family obligations, work, maintaining personal relationships, time management, financial obligations, and becoming acclimated to the university environment (Negga et al., 2007).

Commuting also has significant psychological and social costs. It can be a major cause of stress, due to its unpredictability and a sense of loss of control. Commuters can experience boredom, social isolation, anger, and frustration from problems like traffic or delays.

The truth is that most students do not receive more financial aid if they live off campus. In fact, in many cases, they will receive less financial aid. Ultimately, the amount of aid you receive is determined by the university's estimates for on-campus and off-campus housing.

Any student who plans to live off-campus must declare so in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Benefits of Living On Campus

Research shows college students that live on campus experience the following in comparison to those that live off campus: Higher rates of retention, persistence, bachelor's degree attainment and graduate school entry. Higher grade point averages.

What majors have the happiest students? ›

Computer science majors, with an average annual starting salary of almost $100,000, were the happiest overall, according to ZipRecruiter.

Dorm life offers many perks and conveniences for college students, such as close proximity to campus and other students, shared living spaces, and more convenient meal plans. Dorms also often provide more privacy than apartments, which can be beneficial for some college students.

Research has linked long commutes to a host of negative health impacts, from increased stress and poorer cardiovascular health to greater pollution exposure.

Commuter students are defined as those who do not live in institution-owned housing on campuses. They make up more than 85 percent of today's college students.

Well, even if not living in a dorm a student must live somewhere. Often living at home with parents is rent-free, and meals may be provided as well. In this case, with free rent and meals, the cost of a 1 hour commute to college may be worth it.

Commuting to Campus

Cost Savings: Perhaps the most convincing reason to live at home and commute to class each day is the cost. Living on campus is an added investment. If you live within an hour of campus and want to save money, commuting may be an option for you.

Generally, commuting expenses can not be deducted on your tax return.

Why living on campus is better than commuting? ›

You Can Feel More Connected to Other Students

Students who live on campus often enjoy a greater sense of community than commuters. Living close to school facilities can make it easier for you to connect with classmates through campus activities and events.

Many employees detest the commute.

After all, who wants to spend hours of their week on an unproductive task before and after their 9-to-5? Commuting's unproductive nature can make work itself harder. A 2020 Springer survey of 26,000 workers uncovered a negative correlation between commute length and job satisfaction.

Our study concluded that students having longer commutes experienced significant physical difficulties, higher levels of stress, and an increased risk of accidents. Furthermore, we found that students with increased commute times also seemed to lose sleep more frequently than those with shorter commute times.

Is it cheaper to live on or off campus? If you rely on public transit and cook most of your meals at home, living in an off-campus, one-bedroom apartment might run you roughly $1,500-$1,800 per month — more than the monthly cost of on-campus room and board. But with roommates, off-campus living could save you money.

The rental cost of living off-campus is cheaper than the price of a room or bed in the school, although additional running costs on utility, furniture, and fixtures might eventually scale up the cost of living outside the campus and bring it to par and sometimes more than the cost of college dorms.

Higher grade point averages. Higher levels of participation in co-curricular activities, promoting their professional development and marketability to employers. Higher levels of interaction with faculty and peers. Higher degree of satisfaction with the college experience.

Do you receive more financial aid if you live off-campus? The short answer is no. For many students, financial aid is an important consideration when going to college, and even more so when deciding to live off-campus.

Apartments are Usually Cheaper than Dorms

While it may seem surprising, apartments are cheaper than college dorms. This is because dorms require students to pay semester fees for room and board. These fees cover the costs for utilities, laundry, and other services.

Living on-campus is ideal for students who want to immerse themselves into the campus culture so much better and have easy access to school activities, organizations and parties. But it may not be the best option for those who are on a tight budget or value their privacy or being around their loved ones always.

Living on campus can be expensive choice. If you already have a room at home and are afforded decent amounts of independence and privacy there, you might consider saving some money by commuting to your classes rather than living on campus. The money that you save by living at home extends beyond housing costs as well.

Is staying at home for college worth it? ›

Living at home during college can allow you to save up and eventually get your own apartment. It can help reduce financial stress while in school for both the student and their parents, since college tuition fees can already be very hefty.

The average cost of food per month for a college student is $667. College students spend on average $410 a month eating off-campus. Meals cooked at home average $257 a month when the cost of eating off-campus is included. A campus meal plan averages $450 a month.

In most cases, students will find that living on campus their freshman year is a powerful way to be in touch with their college community. That's why so many Colleges of Distinction make residence life a dynamic and desired highlight of their first-year experience.

Students who are independent do not have to supply their parents' information and often qualify for more student financial aid as a result.

Schools then offer a financial aid package covering the difference between attendance costs and expected family contribution. Students who live at home enjoy lower attendance costs than those who live on campus or independently. As a result, these students may receive lower financial aid awards.

A: You would select “off-campus.” Students should not select “With Parent” as their housing plan if they plan to live with a foster parent, relative caregiver, or legal guardian. Instead, select “Off-Campus.” This is crucial for getting all the money that is available to you to pay for your living expenses.