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East Texas A&M University anchors the small city of Commerce in Hunt County, about 65 miles northeast of Dallas, and brings the energy of a state university to a place that still feels like a genuine college town. Founded in 1889, the university has built a reputation for education, business, and agricultural programs, and its student population gives Commerce a rhythm that shifts with the academic calendar in noticeable ways. The campus features a mix of historic brick buildings and newer construction set across a landscape that transitions from the Cross Timbers to the Blackland Prairie, with tree-lined walkways that are pleasant in fall and spring. Commerce is small enough that students quickly feel at home but connected enough to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex that internships, concerts, and major city amenities are within reasonable reach on a weekend. The off-campus housing market around campus is active and reasonably well-supplied, with student-oriented apartments and rental houses available across a range of price points. For students who want the feel of a close community without the isolation of a more remote campus, East Texas A&M and Commerce offer a comfortable balance.
East Texas A&M University requires most first-year students who have graduated from high school within the past year to live in university-managed housing for their first academic year. Exemptions are available for students who are 21 or older, married, living with a parent or legal guardian within a defined commuting distance, or who can demonstrate financial hardship. Students seeking an exemption must submit a formal petition to the Office of Residence Life before the deadline posted each semester.
Students who have completed at least one full academic year at East Texas A&M are generally free to move off campus without needing special approval. Transfer students entering with a certain number of credit hours may also qualify to live off campus immediately. It is worth verifying your specific eligibility status with the housing office, as policies can be updated and individual circumstances vary.
The Commerce rental market moves on a predictable academic calendar, with the best apartments near campus typically leasing up between February and April for the following fall. Signing a lease during this window gives you the strongest selection of price points and unit types. Students who wait until June or July often find that the most convenient properties close to campus are already taken.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with East Texas A&M University before signing a lease.
Students planning to move off campus should begin exploring options in January, particularly if they want to live within easy walking or biking distance of the main campus. The most popular complexes and private houses near East Texas A&M tend to pre-lease well before the semester ends in the spring. Starting early also allows time to compare lease terms, inspect units, and coordinate with potential roommates. Securing housing by March puts you in a strong position before peak demand hits.
February through April is the core leasing season for the Commerce student housing market. Landlords and property management companies release available fall units during this period and the best ones fill quickly. Students who are still in the dorms but eligible to move off campus should be actively touring properties and submitting applications during March at the latest. Missing this window means competing for a smaller and often less desirable pool of remaining units.
Students who have not secured housing by July still have reasonable options in Commerce, though the most desirable locations and floor plans are likely gone. Some landlords offer move-in specials or reduced deposits on remaining units to fill vacancies before the semester begins. Subletting from a current tenant who is leaving early is another avenue worth exploring during the summer. The university housing office can also provide referrals to local landlords who may have openings.
The streets immediately surrounding the East Texas A&M campus feature a mix of student apartments, rental houses, and small complexes within easy walking distance of academic buildings. This area is the most in-demand and tends to lease earliest in the year.
A short drive or bike ride from campus, Commerce's small downtown has a handful of residential options above street-level businesses and in adjacent blocks. Students who appreciate being near local restaurants and shops sometimes prefer this slightly quieter setting.
The neighborhoods north of Highway 24 offer a mix of single-family rental homes that are popular with upper-division students and graduate students who want more space. Rents here are often more affordable per bedroom than newer purpose-built student complexes.
South of campus along State Highway 50, a collection of apartment complexes and duplexes caters primarily to students. These properties tend to offer amenities such as covered parking and on-site laundry, and they are close enough to campus that biking is practical for most residents.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Off-campus housing costs in Commerce vary depending on location and unit type. Shared rental houses and older apartment complexes tend to be the most affordable options, while newer purpose-built student complexes closer to campus command higher rents. Splitting a house with two or three roommates is a popular way to keep individual costs manageable.