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Off-Campus Housing Near Baylor
$499/unit
Fees may applyBear Crossing
$499/unit
Fees may applyThe Outpost at Waco
$499+/unit
Fees may applyThe View on 10th
$499/unit
Fees may applyElevate
About Off-Campus Housing Near Baylor University
Baylor University sits on a green 1,000-acre campus along the Brazos River in Waco, where about 19,300 Bears study at the largest Baptist university in the world. The river runs right past campus, and McLane Stadium rises on its bank, so home games turn into a sailgate with boats pulling up to tailgate on the water. Tuesdays mean Dr Pepper Hour, a decades-old tradition of free floats, fitting since the drink was invented in Waco. Every spring, Diadeloso, the Day of the Bear, shuts down classes for a campus-wide day of music and games. Cameron Park, one of the biggest urban parks in Texas, gives students cliffs, trails, and river access minutes away. Campus is walkable, though Waco spreads out enough that many upperclassmen keep a car.
Baylor University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Baylor requires first-year students to live on campus their freshman year, part of the university's residential college model, and most freshmen also carry a meal plan. Most freshmen at Baylor spend that first year in the residential colleges. The model shapes when students begin planning their move into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Exemptions are limited but exist for students living at home with family within commuting distance, married students, those with dependents, and older or transfer students who meet the criteria. Most Bears move into apartments or houses just off campus as sophomores. Waco's student demand sits heavily right around campus, so the closest houses and by-the-bed complexes lease early.
Lease Timing
The local rental process uses standard Texas leases with an application fee, a credit or income check, and a guarantor when rental history is light. Watch the lease for whether utilities are capped, since older houses near campus can run up summer cooling, and confirm parking and occupancy limits before you sign. Some single-family rentals cap unrelated tenants, so read the fine print and ask about subletting.