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Student Housing 101
The basics of off-campus student housing — how leasing works, key terms, timelines, and what to expect the first time you rent near campus.
When to Look for Off-Campus Housing at KU: The Lawrence Lease Calendar
Start looking for off-campus housing at KU in October and have a lease picked out by late January for a move-in the following August. Student complexes near campus hand over keys between August 13 and 20, and KU's deadline for returning students to renew campus housing lands in late January.
Why Davis Leases Sign in Winter: The UC Davis Off-Campus Timeline
The best time to look for off-campus housing at UC Davis is October through January, nine to eleven months before you move in. Most Davis leases run September 1 to August 31, and big complexes start pre-leasing the next school year in December and January.
When Columbia Leases Sign: The Mizzou Off-Campus Search Calendar
The best time to look for off-campus housing at Mizzou is October through February, about 8 to 10 months before an August move-in. Columbia student leases mostly start in early-to-mid August and run 12 months.
Why Bloomington Leases Sign a Year Early: The IU Off-Campus Timeline
Start looking for IU off-campus housing in September or October, roughly 11 months before an August move-in. Bloomington runs on 12-month leases that begin in August, and the best group houses are claimed early in the fall semester.
When to Look for Off-Campus Housing at UofL: The Louisville Leasing Calendar
Start looking for off-campus housing at UofL in November, about nine months before an August move-in, and plan to sign by March. That window lines up with UofL's own room-selection calendar: the on-campus application opens in early November and the general priority deadline lands around February 10.
When to Look for Off-Campus Housing at Rutgers: Why New Brunswick Leases Sign in the Fall
Start looking for off-campus housing at Rutgers New Brunswick in September or October, a full year before you plan to move in. Most houses near College Avenue are signed before the fall semester ends, months before Rutgers runs its continuing-student housing selection in late January and February.
When to Look for Off-Campus Housing at Mississippi State: The Starkville Timeline
The best time to look for off-campus housing at Mississippi State is October and November, a year before you move in. Starkville's leasing season peaks from December through February, and the Highway 12 complexes fill first.
When to Look for Off-Campus Housing at UArk: The Fayetteville Lease Calendar
The best time to look for off-campus housing at UArk is October through December, about nine months before your lease starts, and you should aim to sign by February. That's when Fayetteville's student complexes fill their closest, cheapest rooms.
When to Look for Off-Campus Housing at UGA: The Athens Lease Calendar
When to look for off-campus housing at UGA: start in September or October, tour before Thanksgiving, and sign by January if you want to walk to class. Athens complexes open preleasing for next fall almost a full year ahead, and some push for signatures by the end of October. Almost every lease then runs 12 months and starts in the first half of August.
When Gainesville Leases Sign: The University of Florida Off-Campus Timeline
The best time to look for off-campus housing at UF is October through January for a lease that starts the following summer. Gainesville preleasing opens in the fall, and the close-in buildings on SW 13th Street and University Avenue fill through the winter.
When Do JMU Leases Sign? Harrisonburg's Early Off-Campus Leasing Cycle
JMU students who want first pick sign next year's off-campus lease between October and December, roughly ten months before an August move-in. JMU's own Off-Campus Life office says wait until spring, so the right time depends on how sure you are about your roommates.
When Tucson Leases Open: The University of Arizona Off-Campus Search Timeline
When to look for off-campus housing at the University of Arizona: figure out your people and budget in October, tour in January, and have a lease signed before May gets ugly. Most leases near campus flip over in July and August, and May is when the signing crush peaks.