Living Off Campus
Assessing Off-Campus Costs
To help students to accurately assess the cost of living off campus, Housing Services commissioned WSU's Social and Economic Sciences Research Center to do a survey. During 2006 a total of 178 interviews were completed, giving an accuracy level of ±7 percent. The following data are based on the mean responses.
How much is your portion of the rent?
$362 per month.
Rents ranged from $75 to $800 per month. Variability depended on the number of roommates (3 was average), quality of apartment, location, private bedroom, furnishings, and other factors. The average cost for people living alone was $469; the average cost for those with roommates was $340.
How many months are included in your lease?
Leases ranged from 9 to 12 months, with 2.1% reporting a 9-month lease, 4.2% a 10-month lease, and 82.6% a 12-month lease.
How much was your damage deposit?
$333.
The range was $50 to $1875.
How much do you pay per month for utilities, including water, power, sewer, heat, and garbage?
$34 per month.
8.5% paid no utilities. For the remaining 91.5% costs per roommate ranged from $10 to $150 per month.
How much is your portion of the landline phone charges?
$4 per month.
88.5% of the residents living off-campus did not have a landline.
What is your portion of the Internet connection fee?
$17 per month.
What is your portion of the cable TV bill?
$16 per month.
This data reflects the cost of basic cable, excluding pay movie channels. The cost of cable TV increases with the number of movie channels purchased.
How much do you spend on food to cook at home?
$128 per month.
The range of answers for the cost of groceries varied from $10 to $600 per month.
How much do you spend on food cooked outside your home, including pizza delivery?
$56 per month.
The cost ranged from $0 to $400 per month. Students eat out an average of 3 times per week; students eat 1 of those meals on campus each week.
Students eating 12 times per month outside the home would need to average no more than $4.67 per meal to spend only $56 per month.
How much do you need to get started living off campus?
$735.
89% respondents paid a damage deposit upon moving in. Many were also required to pay first and last month's rent. The average required to get started living off-campus usually includes a deposit and first and last month’s rent, which according to the internal survey results would require $1057.
Damage deposit $333
First month's rent $362
Last month's rent $362
What is your total housing and food cost for the academic year?
Averaging answers from the above survey answers indicate costs of $7404 for students with a 12-month lease; $5553 with a 9-month lease. The 10-month reported average for respondents living alone was $7240; the average for those with roommates was $5950.
When asked for a perceived total cost to live off-campus students report that their annual cost to live off-campus is between $2583 and $5970 (depending on the number of months required in the lease). Students underestimate their cost to live off-campus by 25-50%.
Compare Costs Chart
| Washington State University | Name of Apt. | Name of Apt. | Name of Apt. | Name of Apt. | ||
| Res Halls 335 - 4577 |
Apts. 335-4577 |
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| Single / single plan (1 person in 1 room) | $1010 |
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| Double / double plan (2 persons in 1 room) | $964 |
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| 1 bedroom |
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N/A |
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| 2 bedrooms |
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$350 $440 |
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| 3 bedrooms |
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$295 $390 |
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| 4 bedrooms |
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$225 $250 |
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| Utilities | Incl. | $34 |
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| Internet | Incl. | $17 |
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| Cable | Incl. | $16 |
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| Food / cleaning Supplies |
Incl. | $196 |
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| Security / damage dep., Hook-up fees |
$150 | $150 |
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| Monthly total | $1010 $964 |
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| 8 - 2/3 month total | $8,358 $8,758 |
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We have provided this space for your convenience in developing price comparisons. Residence Hall rates are based on a weighted average of the residence halls for 8 and 2/3 month occupancy Figures are given for the Level 2 meal plan. Apartment rates are based on a one person per bedroom rate and vary based on complex and furnished/unfurnished. Individual expenses are taken from averages given by students for the survey taken for this brochure. Additional housing information may be obtained by calling the WSU Housing Hotline (335-9574) or the Pullman Chamber of Commerce (334-3565).
Making Your Decision
Given the range of costs at WSU and in the Pullman Community, you might be able to move off campus and save money. However, in making this decision many students overlook the hidden costs of living off campus and neglect to consider the other advantages of staying on campus.
Many practical factors make living on campus a good choice.
- Proximity to your classes, the library, recreation facilities.
- Time saved shopping for groceries, cooking, and general house-keeping chores. Students estimated 9 hours per week.
- Time saved commuting (students make 2 trips to and from campus each day with each trip taking 21 minutes; total time saved over the course of a week: 5 hours).
- Time saved avoiding bus lines.
- In room data connections and unlimited Internet access.
- Money saved in gas and parking fees.
- Computer lab access.
- A Guaranteed Rate for housing and dining costs for continuing residents.
Other factors also affect the quality of your college experience. Students who live on campus have greater opportunities to:
- Develop a sense of belonging.
- Build community spirit.
- Form lasting friendships with many types of people.
- Become involved in group activities that further your interests and goals.
- Acquire leadership skills that attract employers.
Each year WSU surveys freshmen living on and off campus on a variety of personal and academic scales that measure involvement in college. We use the National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE). A recent random sample of WSU freshmen who live on campus reported positive differences compared to peers living off campus in the following areas.
- Examinations during the current school year challenged students to do their best work
- Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings
- Their relationships with administrative personnel and offices
- Hours per 7-day week spent relaxing and socializing
- Hours per 7-day week spent preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, doing homework or lab work, analyzing data, rehearsing, and other academic activities)
- Their relationships with faculty members
- Their evaluation of the quality of academic advising you have received at WSU
- Developing a deepened sense of spirituality
- Their evaluation of their entire educational experience at WSU
- Their choice to attend WSU
- Their relationships with other students
- Attending campus events and activities (special speakers, cultural performances, athletic events, etc.)
Students who live on campus can put more energy into their college experience and, as a result, get more out of it. The convenience and time saved by living on campus helps make this possible. Living on campus is truly more than "room and board."
Why should you stay on campus?
Take a look at this additional information and find out why it's better to stay.