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DePauw University is a fully residential liberal arts college of about 1,750 students woven into Greencastle, a small Putnam County town 45 minutes west of Indianapolis. Campus and downtown blur together: the courthouse square, with Music on the Square concerts on its east side, sits just off campus, and a 520-acre nature park with nine-plus miles of trails, an old limestone quarry, and one of Indiana's bigger waterfalls is a short trip away. Traditions run deep, from the Monon Bell football rivalry with Wabash to the Little 5 bike race each April and the Boulder Run on the year's first snow. It's a walk-everywhere place, so students get around on foot, and Indianapolis is an easy drive for a bigger night out.
DePauw University has a four-year residency requirement, so students live in university housing all four years, from first-year halls through sophomore, junior, and senior options like Rector Village, university-owned apartments and houses, and Greek chapter facilities. The housing selection process runs each March.
To live off campus or commute, you have to apply for an exception to the residential requirement, and those approvals are limited rather than automatic. Do not sign anything off campus until you have written confirmation of your status. For the small number who do rent in Greencastle, the process is informal and landlord-driven, with a basic application, a security deposit, and first month's rent up front, often with a guarantor if you do not have income.
Leases usually run a standard 12 months. Because the pool is tiny, read everything closely, confirm who covers utilities and yard upkeep, and get any roommate or sublet arrangement in writing before you commit.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Depauw University before signing a lease.
Because DePauw's four-year residency requirement keeps nearly everyone on campus, the off-campus search here looks nothing like a big state-school town. There is no fast preleasing frenzy, just a small, steady supply of houses and apartments scattered around Greencastle, often only a dozen or so listed at a time near campus. If you have been approved for an exception, start looking as early as you can in the spring semester before the lease year.
The handful of student-friendly rentals turn over slowly, and word of mouth matters as much as any listing site. Classes start in late August, so target a summer move-in and line things up by spring or early summer. Streets near campus like South Bloomington, South Jackson, and the blocks off the courthouse square see the steadiest interest.
Late searchers can still find something, but choices shrink fast in such a thin market. Watch for openings when seniors graduate in May. Ask the housing office and current renters for leads, since many places fill before they are ever advertised.
Walkable houses and flats on streets like South Jackson and Washington, steps from class and downtown events, the easiest spot to land.
A mix of older homes and a few apartment buildings, still walkable and close in.
Budget apartment complexes with parking, a short drive or bike to class.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Greencastle is a small, lower-cost market, so a per-person share in a house or apartment near DePauw University usually runs about $450-$700/month once you split it with roommates. A one-bedroom on your own typically lands around $700-$1,000/month, with most two and three-bedroom units near campus listing in the $1,000-$1,300 range total. Budget another $40-$100/month for utilities, since many older rentals don't include heat.