Swarthmore College - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Very few Swarthmore students live off campus, and the few who do often get left out of campus activities either because they are unaware of them or they are simply too lazy to make the trip back to campus. The “Swarthmore bubble” can seem pretty oppressive at times, so a lot of students live off campus to escape the general campus scene and to live more independently. The campus is by no means commuter-friendly, so students that do live off campus tend to live very close, often closer than some dorm-dwellers, to campus.

Ironically, it’s usually cheaper to live off campus than in the dorms. Despite the affordability of housing around Swarthmore, most Swatties live on campus. The reasons for this are that the dorms are quite adequate and provide a welcoming social environment, and Swarthmore is a strictly residential campus. So, students who consider living off campus often choose instead to live on campus in order not to miss out on the Swarthmore experience, even if it means living “in the bubble.”

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Off-campus living can be... Off-campus living can be relatively convenient, if you don’t mind cooking for yourself. Still, the vast majority of people live on campus all four years, and I think you miss a huge part of being a Swattie if you live off campus. For one, the dining hall is a big gathering place, and it’s sort of a center for social life here (and forcing everyone to come together like that is actually a big reason why there’s only one dining hall). 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

There’s some really nice housing... There’s some really nice housing available off campus, and I think there are quite a few spots that cost about the equivalent of living on campus. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Living off campus will provide... Living off campus will provide students a feeling of independence that they just won’t get in many of the dorms. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Rent here is quite cheap. If you... Rent here is quite cheap. If you come from New York City, or even from some places in and around downtown Philly, you’ll find that the remarkably low rent prices are hard to believe. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Some students opt to live in ‘the... Some students opt to live in ‘the Barn,’ a large, off-campus apartment building that houses about three dozen students a year. These students live in groups of four that share the same bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen is a major plus—a big reason to move off campus is to escape the meal plan! The Barn is a very cool place to be and the students who live there typically throw several large parties for the campus, at which a different drink is served in every apartment. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Did You Know?

Students are required to live on campus their first two semesters. After that, if they wish to move off campus, they must fill out the Statement of Intent to Live Off Campus.

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