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Off-Campus Housing Near American University
About Off-Campus Housing Near American University
American University sits on a green hilltop in northwest Washington, DC, home to about 14,001 students who call themselves Eagles. The campus rests where Spring Valley meets Cathedral Heights, along the embassy-lined stretch of Massachusetts Avenue, less than a 15-minute walk from Rock Creek Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. New students rub the talon of the Eagle statue at Convocation, then wear red, white, and blue every Wednesday for Thank Clawed It's Wednesday. Daily life runs on the Metro Red Line at Tenleytown-AU and a free campus shuttle that loops every few minutes. Between the National Mall museums, the monuments, and a city built for policy talk, AU students treat the whole capital as their campus.
American University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
American University now requires students to live on campus for their first two years, a policy that took effect with the Fall 2025 incoming class. That means most freshmen and sophomores are in the residence halls.
Off-Campus Eligibility
The real off-campus push happens junior year. Exemptions exist mainly for students living with a parent or guardian within 25 miles of campus, but you will need documentation and approval is not guaranteed.
Lease Timing
When you move off campus, you are renting in a competitive DC market through private landlords and large management companies, so expect credit checks, proof of income or a guarantor, and an application fee. DC has strong tenant protections and rules on security deposits, and leases typically run a standard 12 months, so read your lease and watch for amenity fees, parking costs, and whether utilities are bundled.