Emerson College - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Due to the lack of housing at Emerson, few students stay in the dorms until they graduate. Living in an off-campus apartment provides students with more freedom, virtually no rules, and a fair share of responsibility. Boston is a pricey place to live, but Emerson’s expensive room-and-board rates provide little excuse to stick around. Though Boston has some of the highest rents in the country, it’s definitely possible to find housing that ends up being cheaper than the dorms. Emerson students live all over the city. Those with trust funds, generous parents, or an amazing job find places in Beacon Hill or the North End, both of which are the fanciest areas of Boston, with rents to match. Other Emersonians find housing in the quagmire of college students, better known as the Allston and Brighton areas.

The hunt for cheap and nice apartments is competitive. Leases generally run from September to August, and for smart students, the great apartment search usually begins in February. Emerson’s Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) is helpful, providing a message board and numbers of local rental agencies for students looking to find a room and those who want to sublet. Usually, the cheapest way to find a place to live is to respond to fliers or Internet message boards because going through an agent almost always has a fee. Of course, responding to roommate want ads has its downsides, too—namely, weirdos and jerks. Though looking for apartments in Boston can feel like a part-time job, the end more than justifies the means. Imagine it: your own bedroom, no parents or pesky RAs, and your very own electric bill.

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Students Speak Out

EmeBH says: Emerson College 2016 Communication and Journalism

Emerson has a new policy in which... Emerson has a new policy in which all freshmen and sophomores have to reside on campus during their time at Emerson. Moving off campus is expected after sophomore year, and Emerson has great resources on hand to help you find a Realtor or anything else you might need. There are even people on staff to read over your lease and a list of landlords you don't want. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: March 02, 2009 Report

EmeML says: Emerson College 2015 English Language and Literature

Off-campus housing after sophomore... Off-campus housing after sophomore year is usually necessary, though we are adding some new dorms. Some people find it more inconvenient than others, and it definitely depends on where you choose to live, but it is worth it for a lot of people. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: February 25, 2009 Report

EmeMC says: Emerson College 2014 Arts, Visual and Performing

It takes a bit of time to find the... It takes a bit of time to find the apartment that's right for you, but Boston is a big city, so there's plenty of apartments available. My roommates and I found one that is close to public transportation, so that we could get to campus. It's a bit of a commute but not too bad. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: February 18, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Living off-campus is very worth... Living off-campus is very worth the hassle of searching for a good place. Boston rent is exorbitant, but so is the cost to live in the dorms. You’ll save money by moving off campus, and get out of the ‘Emerson is my whole world’ rut. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Somerville is a great place to... Somerville is a great place to live—it’s on the red line, has stuff going on, and it’s comparatively cheap. I would never live way out on the B Train—it’s like an hour-long commute with all the stops for the lazy Emerson kids. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

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