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Off-Campus Housing Near DePaul
About Off-Campus Housing Near Depaul University
DePaul University spreads about 21,922 Blue Demons across two Chicago campuses, one in leafy Lincoln Park and one downtown in the Loop. Lincoln Park is the heart of student life, a walkable grid of brick three-flats and tree-lined streets that runs right up against the park it's named for and the Lake Michigan shoreline beyond it. You're minutes from the lakefront trail, the conservatory, and the free zoo, and the CTA Red and Brown lines put the whole city in reach from the Fullerton stop. Fall kicks off with Blue Demon Welcome and the new-student cavalcade to the Quad, and homecoming spirit peaks during Blue Demon Week. Most students walk, bike, or ride the L between class, the lake, and downtown, so a car here is mostly dead weight.
Depaul University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
DePaul does not force first-years into the residence halls, which is unusual for a school its size. Most freshmen still choose to live on campus their first year, but it is a choice rather than a mandate.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Because there is no lock-in, you can start eyeing off-campus places earlier than peers at mandate schools, and plenty of students make the jump to a Lincoln Park or Lakeview apartment by sophomore or junior year. Chicago's rental process is straightforward but landlord-driven, with a credit and income check. If you do not qualify on your own, a guarantor or cosigner usually clears it.
Lease Timing
Many Chicago buildings run 12-month terms starting in summer, with July 1 and August 1 as the big lease-start dates. Larger buildings may charge a separate move-in or elevator fee, and the city's tenant ordinance governs deposits and notice. Heat is sometimes included in older walk-ups and sometimes not, so confirm before you sign.