Loading listings
Abilene Christian University was founded in 1906 by members of the Churches of Christ and has grown into a recognized private Christian university of roughly 5,000 students. The campus anchors the north side of Abilene, a West Texas city that serves as a regional hub for healthcare, retail, and agriculture. ACU is known for programs in business, nursing, education, and the liberal arts. The university's Christian identity shapes residential life and campus culture in tangible ways. Abilene has a strong regional character, with Dyess Air Force Base as a major employer and a downtown revival bringing new life to the Cypress Street corridor.
ACU requires all incoming freshmen to live in university-operated residence halls for their first year. This policy applies to students under 21 who are enrolled full-time and is consistent with ACU's emphasis on community formation as part of the undergraduate experience.
Students who have completed their freshman year, are 21 or older, are married, or are living with a parent or guardian in Abilene are generally eligible to move off campus. Students should verify their eligibility status with the Office of Residence Life before signing any lease, as policies are reviewed periodically.
Apartment leases in Abilene commonly run 12 months, with many off-campus properties catering to students on August-to-July cycles. A smaller number of landlords near campus offer 9-month or academic-year leases, which is worth asking about if you want to avoid paying for summer months you will not use.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Abilene Christian University before signing a lease.
Students planning to move off campus after their freshman year should begin their search in January or February for a fall move-in. The rental market in Abilene is not enormous, and the properties closest to the ACU campus fill up fastest once upperclassmen begin planning their next academic year. Starting early means access to the widest range of price points and floor plans, and it allows time to coordinate with potential roommates before everyone commits to separate units. Students coming in from out of state have the added benefit of being able to research thoroughly before a spring campus visit.
The peak search window for ACU off-campus housing runs from February through April, when returning students lock in leases for the coming fall. Properties along Judge Ely Boulevard and North Judge Ely are in especially high demand during this stretch because of their proximity to campus and relative affordability. Landlords in Abilene who cater to students know this calendar well and may not hold units long once applications are submitted. Being ready with a co-signer, deposit, and documentation speeds up the process considerably.
Students who begin their search in May or June will find the selection thinner but not empty. Some properties hold units due to late cancellations, and new listings do appear through summer. The ACU Off-Campus Housing board and local Facebook groups for Abilene rentals are useful channels for finding last-minute availability. Students willing to accept a slightly longer commute, for example near the Catclaw Creek area or south Abilene, will have more options than those holding out for walking distance.
The corridor along North Judge Ely Boulevard is the closest off-campus rental zone to ACU, with a mix of older houses, duplexes, and small apartment complexes. The walkability to campus makes these properties highly competitive and they tend to lease quickly each spring.
A short drive south of campus, the South 1st Street and Ambler Avenue area offers affordable apartments and rentals popular with upperclassmen and graduate students. The area has several small grocery and dining options and feels more residential than commercial.
Rentals along and near Buffalo Gap Road tend to be newer or more recently updated, catering to students who prefer a slightly more suburban setting. The tradeoff is a 10-to-15-minute drive to campus, but rents are often lower and units tend to be larger.
Students interested in proximity to Abilene's small but active downtown scene near Cypress Street and North 1st Street can find a limited but growing supply of apartment and loft-style rentals. The character is different from the typical college rental, and it appeals to students who want separation from the immediate campus atmosphere.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Off-campus rents near ACU are modest by Texas standards. One-bedroom apartments in the neighborhoods closest to campus typically run $650 to $950 per month, while two-bedroom units range from $850 to $1,200. Shared houses or duplexes near North Judge Ely can be even more affordable when split among two or three students. Abilene's overall cost of living is well below the state average, which makes the rental market accessible for most students.