Living off campus provides many advantages that on-campus housing doesn't offer. Off-campus apartments provide students more freedom, privacy, and other perks that dorms don't offer.
Cheaper
Off-campus housing often costs less than living in the dorms, and, what's more, you get more for what you pay for. In off-campus apartments, you get your own bedroom, sometimes your own bathroom, and a living room and kitchen. Some places are as cheap as $400 a month, which, compared to dorm prices, is significantly less.
Privacy
In the dorms, privacy is extremely hard to come by. Some dorms have communal bathrooms, so showering in privacy becomes nonexistent. While this may be a great chance to bond and get to know your hall mates, for some, it's a great source of stress. Apartments give residents privacy and a space to get away from extraneous noises and people.
Real-Life Experience
With off-campus housing, students are responsible for paying rent and utilities. In the dorms, everything is paid for in advance. Off-campus residents have to pay for electricity and water bills, which give them a taste of the real world. Residents also have to go grocery shopping and cook more often, as they often have fewer meal punches. It's a great way of indoctrinating students into the real world.
Own Rules
Dorms come with many rules that off-campus apartments don't have. In apartments, you don't have to worry about waking up your RAs, being too loud, or abiding by the no alcohol rule. Living off campus affords students so much more freedom to live their off-campus way.
Amenities
Off-campus apartments often have more amenities than do dorms. Many apartments include gym memberships with their leases, and many complexes come with pools, picnic tables, or off-campus near parks. It's so much better than in dorms, where residents are forced to cluster in tight living spaces with not much free space to get fresh air.
Avoiding Sickness
In apartments, because you have your own room - and sometimes your off-campus bathroom - you can avoid getting germs that spread easily on-campus dorms. Dorms are notorious for spreading contagion like wildfire, but when you live off campus, you come into less contact with other students and germs.
Building Credit
If you pay your rent and utilities on time every time, you can build good credit for your credit card. off-campus is beneficial for the real world, or when you might want to rent from a future apartment. It's also good practice living at a college apartment.
Pets
Dorms don't allow pets (unless they're service animals), which, for any dog or cat lover, is heartbreaking. Many apartments allow animals - but often charge a monthly fee. Still, for animal lovers, these fees would be worth it to have a cute puppy or kitten.
Food
Being able to cook anything you want without the fear of setting off the fire alarm in the dorms is great. Apartments come with fully furnished kitchens where residents can cook something more fancy than instant ramen. It's a great way for students to get better food and nutrition.
Staying over the break
With off-campus apartments, leases are usually around 11 months, which means you can choose to stay in your off-campus over breaks. This allows out of state students or those not wanting to go home to have a place to stay. Dorms, on the other hand, close over break, so students are forced to go home.
Parties
If you're into partying and want to throw your own parties, off-campus apartments are way better than the dorms. You have more space to invite all of your friends, versus a dorm where there are limited communal rooms.
Better Studying
Apartments are often quieter than the dorms, which facilitates easier studying for residents. Residents have their own room too, which affords fewer distractions than sharing a room.
While dorm life is important for a real college experience, off-campus housing comes with various advantages that dorms don't offer.
