Rhode Island School of Design - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Most students who live off campus swear that it’s the only way to go, while those who stay on campus note the convenience and proximity to school. Making the housing decision is something that every student has to face after freshman year. It’s important to remember that you can enter the lottery, withdraw, and only lose a small deposit, so sometimes, the safest idea is to consider both options, and then pick the best situation of the two.

Contrary to popular belief, it is generally cheaper to live off campus than in school housing. However, off-campus living costs can skyrocket if utilities are not included in the rent. Many students end up paying hefty heat bills in the winter, so it is important to talk to the previous tenants to get an idea of how the apartment is kept by the landlord and what kind of bills to expect. Apartments that are within a 10-minute walking distance from the main part of campus and that include heat in the rent will be a much better deal and a much more comfortable place to live than school housing. It’s true that some landlords are unscrupulous, but RISD has a lawyer service that will look over students’ leases to let them know if they are being taken advantage of. Even though there is going to be more student housing available, off-campus housing is necessary for most RISD kids. If you are willing to shop around and get defensive about what kind of deal you are getting, then not only will you be fine, you’ll probably live very happily and comfortably with as much heat and utilities as you need. In many cases, it takes RISD just as long, if not longer, to get around to fixing little broken things than a real landlord. The downside is that the closer you want to be to campus, the more you’ll have to pay.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Off campus is farther; it takes... Off campus is farther; it takes energy to look for places, and landlords may screw you over. However,it’s cheaper, homier, you can bring a car, and you feel like you’re leaving school when you go home. That’s been real important. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

It can be a real pain in the butt,... It can be a real pain in the butt, but yes, it’s worth it. I’m not the kind of person that likes to be looked after and policed. I like my space and I like to make my space mine. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

I definitely don’t think living... I definitely don’t think living off campus is worth it. Although it may be $100 extra monthly for school housing, all utilities are included: heat, electricity, gas, as well as Internet access. I heard heating prices go way up during winter for off-campus houses, and a lot of my friends paid so much money for heat, they had to turn it off, even though it was freezing to lower their bills. Also, there are a lot of sketchy landlords around Providence, which one should try to avoid. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Off-campus housing is convenient,... Off-campus housing is convenient, but it’s more expensive. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

A lot depends on your landlord and... A lot depends on your landlord and how close you are to school. It’s important to start looking early, and try to rent from someone who you think takes care of their property. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

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Major: Graphic Design/Painting

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