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Grand Valley State University is one of Michigan's largest public universities, enrolling approximately 25,000 students across two primary campuses. The main Allendale Campus occupies a sprawling rural setting in Allendale Township, about 12 miles west of Grand Rapids, while the Pew Grand Rapids Campus places students in the heart of Michigan's second-largest city. GVSU is known for its strong programs in health sciences, engineering, business, and education, and its size allows it to offer extensive research facilities and Division II athletics despite its relatively young history as an institution. The dual-campus structure significantly shapes where students live: many freshmen and sophomores reside in Allendale to be close to the main campus, while upperclassmen, graduate students, and those enrolled primarily at Pew often choose to live in Grand Rapids, which offers a more dynamic urban environment with a nationally recognized food scene, craft breweries, and a thriving arts community. Understanding which campus you will spend most of your time on is an essential first step in deciding where to live.
Grand Valley State University strongly encourages first-year students to live on campus in Allendale and offers a wide range of residence hall communities designed around the freshman experience. While GVSU does not enforce an absolute mandatory live-on policy for all freshmen, housing demand in Allendale is high and students who do not secure on-campus housing early may find themselves dependent on the limited private apartment complexes directly adjacent to the campus.
All students may choose to live off campus, but practical considerations vary significantly by campus. In Allendale, off-campus options are almost entirely limited to a cluster of student-oriented apartment complexes immediately surrounding the university, as the surrounding area is rural and lacks walkable amenities. Students attending primarily at Pew Campus have access to the full Grand Rapids rental market.
Allendale-area apartment complexes adjacent to the main campus typically begin leasing for the following fall as early as October or November, and popular complexes often fill up by January. Students planning to live in the Allendale area should begin their search well before the spring semester begins to avoid being locked out of their preferred complex.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Grand Valley State University before signing a lease.
For students who want to live in one of the private apartment complexes immediately surrounding the Allendale campus, searching in October or November is not too early. These complexes have finite unit counts and consistent demand from a large student population, and the most desirable floor plans and buildings within each complex tend to lease first. Forming a roommate group and committing to a unit before winter break is a common strategy among experienced GVSU students. Students who wait until January risk finding their preferred complex already fully committed.
The peak leasing season for Allendale-area housing runs from December through February. During this stretch, the major complexes adjacent to campus run open houses and promotional events, and units move quickly. Students looking in Grand Rapids for Pew Campus living have a slightly longer window, as the Grand Rapids rental market is larger and more diverse, but popular neighborhoods close to the Medical Mile and downtown still see strong competition in early spring. Having your roommate group finalized and your budget confirmed before this window opens will put you in a strong position.
Students who have not secured housing by May or June may find the Allendale-area complexes fully committed for the coming fall. At that point, looking at Grand Rapids neighborhoods accessible by the Rapid transit system or the GVSU connector shuttle is a practical alternative. Subleases and individual room listings within existing leases in both Allendale and Grand Rapids appear regularly on GVSU housing boards and social media groups through the summer. Contacting apartment complexes directly to ask about cancellations or waitlists is also worth attempting.
The cluster of student apartment complexes immediately adjacent to the Allendale campus forms the primary off-campus housing zone for GVSU students who want to avoid a commute. These purpose-built communities offer furnished and unfurnished options, short walking distances to class, and on-site amenities.
Beyond the main apartment complexes, Allendale Township has limited residential rental housing, but some students find single-family homes or smaller multi-unit buildings available at lower rents. A car is essential for students living in these areas, as walkability is very low and services are minimal.
Students spending significant time at GVSU's Pew Grand Rapids Campus often choose to live in nearby Grand Rapids neighborhoods such as Midtown, Heritage Hill, or Eastown, which offer diverse housing stock, restaurants, and reliable bus connections to both campuses.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
In the Allendale area, student apartment complexes near the main campus typically charge $600 to $900 per bedroom per month, often with utilities partially included. In Grand Rapids, costs vary widely by neighborhood, ranging from about $700 to $1,200 per bedroom. Shared housing and multi-bedroom units help reduce per-person costs in both locations.