Howard University - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Even though the University provides housing facilities for all undergraduate students, and even though all freshmen are guaranteed housing, the higher your classification, the less likely it is that you are guaranteed a spot in the dorms. Because of this, most students start looking around for apartments and house-shares close to campus as early as sophomore year. There are a lot of convenient off-campus options in the city and in the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia that are within the metro area, and sometimes these options are cheaper than the dorms. Some of the more popular locations are in the Shaw district within walking distance of the main campus. And while the landlords of these apartments or houses usually rent out for prices that students can afford relative to living in the dorms, one of the cons of living in some of these locations is the fact that students are more vulnerable to the dangers of city living. Just remember that you won’t have the benefit of having the campus police around.

Some of the best areas to live are actually outside of DC, and while the commute can be as long as 45 minutes to an hour, the added sense of security that comes from living in the suburbs is worth it. The prices in these spots are often very low; the farther away from DC you go, the more inexpensive the prices for apartments and house-shares are. And you can always count on the Metro to take you into the city.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

I think living off campus has more... I think living off campus has more pros than cons, because for one thing, you can just live your life and not have to worry about other people being all up in your business. If you’re a very social person and don’t mind the lack of privacy, you might prefer to try and make sure you get housing even after freshman year, because living in the dorm is better in that case. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Off-campus housing is the best.... Off-campus housing is the best. There are a lot of good places for good prices within walking distance of the campus if you know where to look. I would move off campus for privacy and so you don’t have anyone telling you when you can have visitors. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Off-campus housing is convenient... Off-campus housing is convenient if you plan to stay in DC over the summer or keep paying while you are gone. It is worth it if you despise the policies of the dorms. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Off-campus housing in the city is... Off-campus housing in the city is pretty expensive, but affordable housing can be found in the neighboring suburbs with a short commute to campus. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Housing off campus after freshman... Housing off campus after freshman year is not convenient. For example, if you live in the city and have a car, parking can be a pain, with time limits and actually finding a place to park. Living on campus makes things so much easier because you can walk to your classes and other facilities on campus that you may have to use. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Did You Know?

Although there are plenty of condo and apartment buildings in Washington, DC, they can get very expensive!

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Jennifer Hunter
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Major: Nutritional Science/Chemistry

Jennifer enjoys everything dental. She loves dentistry!

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.