Loading listings
Central Michigan University fires up about 17,300 Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, a mid-Michigan town that sits right on the Chippewa River. The river runs through town, so tubing, kayaking, and lazy floats are a normal way to kill a warm afternoon, and Island Park gives you green space a few blocks from downtown. Main Street downtown is walkable and quaint, with summer concerts on the plaza. Campus has its own rhythm: "Fire Up, Chips!" doubles as a greeting, Kelly/Shorts Stadium packs out on football Saturdays, and Homecoming brings the Cardboard Boat Race across Rose Ponds. The Saginaw Chippewa community is woven into the area, and the Celebrating Life Pow Wow honors that heritage. Campus is flat, so you'll get around fine on foot or bike.
Central Michigan requires first- and second-year students to live on campus, a four-semester residency rule. Because of that, most students do not move off campus until junior year. The residence halls anchor the first two years of student life at CMU.
Exemptions exist for students living locally with family, commuters, married students, and those who meet age or credit thresholds. You need to apply and get approved before you sign anything elsewhere. Once you are cleared, the Mount Pleasant rental process is fairly standard, with a tour, application, credit or income check, and often a parental guarantor if you do not have a job history.
Watch the lease term closely. Many student complexes lease by the bed on a full 12-month term, which means you pay through summer whether you stay or not. Houses closer to campus tend to go by the unit, so you split one lease with roommates and share liability, so read the subletting and joint-and-several clauses before everyone signs.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Central Michigan University before signing a lease.
Mount Pleasant leases early. The bigger by-the-bed complexes near campus open renewals and new signings in the fall for the following August. If you want a specific complex or a house within walking distance, start touring in October or November. Most students at CMU who want a prime unit begin the search well before winter break.
The best units and lowest per-bed pricing are often gone by winter break, so plan to sign by January or February. Houses near campus move fast because there are only so many of them, so the earlier you lock a group of roommates, the better your odds. Classes start in late August, so an August move-in is standard. This winter stretch is when the close-in inventory clears out.
If you are searching late, in spring or summer, you will have fewer choices but can still find openings, especially as students graduate, transfer, or break leases. Summer sublets pop up too, since so many leases run a full 12 months and people leave town. Check the university off-campus listings and local pages, not just the big complexes. Flexibility on distance opens up more options this late.
The blocks immediately around campus and along Main Street put you within walking distance of class and downtown. You will find a mix of older houses and rentals here, popular with students who want to be central.
The complexes out on the east side, toward Blue Grass Road, are newer and built for students with more amenities. They sit a short drive or bus ride from campus, trading proximity for modern features.
Downtown Mount Pleasant suits students who want to be near the plaza, shops, and the river. It offers a walkable, social setting close to the heart of town.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A shared room or a bed in a by-the-bed complex near CMU usually runs about $400-$650/month per person. Older houses south and west of campus land at the bottom of that range, while newer east-side complexes with amenities sit higher. Budget another $40-$120/month for utilities if they aren't capped or included.