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Bloomsburg University is a public university in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, now operating as part of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania following a 2022 merger with Lock Haven and Mansfield. The main campus sits on a hillside overlooking the town of Bloomsburg and the Susquehanna River, with a traditional residential layout and several thousand enrolled students. The surrounding borough is compact and walkable, with East Main Street connecting campus to a small downtown anchored by the Columbia County Courthouse and local restaurants. Off-campus housing surrounds the university on nearly every side, and the rental market is almost entirely student-driven. Bloomsburg is a quiet college town by design, with the university setting the pace for commerce, activity, and housing demand throughout the academic year. Rents are low compared to most Pennsylvania college towns, and students willing to look a block or two beyond the most popular streets can find good value. The Susquehanna River valley landscape makes for appealing surroundings year-round.
Bloomsburg University requires all incoming freshmen to live in university residence halls for their first year. Housing assignments are made after enrollment deposits are received, and students are encouraged to submit their housing applications as early as possible to access more hall and roommate options.
Students who have completed at least 30 credit hours, are 21 or older, married, or living with a parent or guardian within commuting distance may apply to live off campus. The off-campus rental market around Bloomsburg is active, with many properties catering specifically to university students.
The strongest off-campus rental inventory appears in October and November, when landlords begin listing for the following academic year. Students who wait until February or March often find the best options within two blocks of campus already claimed, leaving them to search in neighborhoods farther from the main academic quad.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Bloomsburg University before signing a lease.
Students who start looking in October of their freshman year, for a sophomore-year move, are in the strongest position. Bloomsburg is a small college town, and the most desirable streets near campus, particularly along East Main Street and Lightstreet Road, fill up faster than students expect. Touring in October or November lets students see available units before winter weather makes visits harder. Locking in a lease before Thanksgiving is common among students who want the best addresses.
December through January is the busiest signing period for off-campus housing near Bloomsburg University. Landlords who own student-focused properties near the academic core expect to have their units committed by early February. Students looking for two- or three-bedroom houses in the immediate campus neighborhood should treat December as the practical deadline for securing a lease. Waiting until after winter break puts most of the prime inventory out of reach.
Students searching in March or April can still find housing, though the options shift toward apartments on the edges of town or along Route 11 toward Danville. Sublets from graduating seniors occasionally appear on Facebook Marketplace and the university housing board in April and May. Summer semester arrivals sometimes find more flexibility, as landlords prefer a tenant over a vacancy during the off-peak months.
The blocks of East Main Street closest to the academic buildings are the most sought-after student addresses in Bloomsburg. A mix of converted houses and small apartment buildings lines this corridor, putting students within a short walk of class, dining, and the library.
Lightstreet Road and the residential streets west of the main campus offer quieter settings with a mix of single-family homes and duplexes renting to student groups. It is an easy walk or short bike ride to the academic core and tends to attract upperclassmen looking for more space than downtown apartments provide.
The commercial blocks along Market Street offer a handful of upper-floor and loft apartments above businesses. Students here benefit from walkable dining and local shops but face slightly longer walks to upper-campus buildings. Parking can be limited on these blocks, so a car is less essential than in outer neighborhoods.
Students with cars sometimes rent apartments along the Route 11 stretch between Bloomsburg and Danville for lower rents. The tradeoff is a 5-10 minute drive to campus and dependence on a vehicle for most errands.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Bloomsburg is among the more affordable college towns in Pennsylvania. Shared houses or apartments near campus typically run $400-$650 per person per month when split among two to four roommates. One-bedroom units range from roughly $600 to $900 per month depending on proximity to campus and unit condition. Utilities are usually separate; students should ask about heating costs in older houses, which can add $80-$150 per month in winter.