Macalester College - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Although some Mac students end up commuting to campus from distant neighborhoods in the Twin Cities and surrounding area, most students choose to stay within a close walk or bike ride of the College. Off-campus housing ranges from standard studio apartments to beautiful, large brick homes which students rent in groups. The Mac-Groveland neighborhood, best described as a charming residential section of St. Paul, allows students to sense the independence of living off campus while still maintaining a close connection with Macalester College. As a general rule, students don’t occupy any chunks in the neighborhood; rather, student houses and apartments tend to be spread out from one another. Because students from Macalester, Hamline University, St. Thomas University, and the College of St. Catherine share the neighborhood with local residents, there have been minor tensions over noise violations in the past.

While residents of houses throw parties on a regular basis, students who drink off campus before they’re 21 years old—along with the students who throw the parties and provide alcohol for underage drinkers—run a fairly large risk of getting a ticket from the St. Paul Police. So, while the surrounding area is very convenient, affordable and nice for Mac students to live in, it is by no means a college neighborhood. If you’re looking for more of a student or party atmosphere, either stay on campus or move across the river to the University of Minnesota campus.

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Students Speak Out

snowcountrychild says: Macalester College 2015 Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

I disagree about the comment on... I disagree about the comment on the party houses being at risk of tickets. In my experience, the cops are all very tolerant of the college lifestyle. They will break up a party when it spills outside or is complained about by neighbors, but no one at the party or throwing it is likely to be charged with anything. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: March 27, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

After sophomore year here, living... After sophomore year here, living off campus is very convenient, cheap, and close by. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

You can’t go live off campus until... You can’t go live off campus until you’re a junior, but once you can, there seems to be plenty of available housing. The school is surrounded by a very nice neighborhood, so a lot of my friends share beautiful houses. I think it’s about the same price to live off campus as it is to live on campus for most people, so I’d say it’s definitely worth it. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Start looking early if you want a... Start looking early if you want a place, because they go fast and living far from campus sucks. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Yes, it’s definitely worth it to... Yes, it’s definitely worth it to live off campus when you can. It’s really easy to find an apartment. There seems to be a mass migration off campus after sophomore year once mandatory on-campus living does not apply. People tire of the incredibly small campus and seeing their peers every single time they go out. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

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