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Middle Tennessee State University packs around 22,080 Blue Raiders into Murfreesboro, a fast-growing town that sits dead center in the state, just southeast of Nashville. Campus life orbits the Horseshoe outside Peck Hall, and traditions like the True Blue Pledge and the Homecoming Raider Walk pull the community together each fall. Historic downtown circles Court Square, where Friday Night Live concerts take over the courthouse lawn in warm months. The Stones River winds through town, feeding a 17-mile greenway of trails and boardwalks that connects to the Stones River National Battlefield. Most students drive or bike between campus, the Square, and the river, and Nashville's a half-hour up the interstate.
MTSU does not require freshmen to live on campus, which sets it apart from some other Tennessee schools. Incoming freshmen are guaranteed a housing spot, while upperclassmen and transfers can get turned away when demand spikes. As a result, many students commute or move off campus early.
With no live-on mandate, students are free to rent off campus from their first year. Newer by-the-bed complexes near campus rent per person and bundle furniture and amenities, while houses and townhomes farther out lease by the whole unit and run cheaper for a group splitting costs. The rental process is standard: apply, pass a credit or income check, and put down a deposit, with a guarantor common for first-time renters.
Murfreesboro has grown fast, so newer purpose-built student housing is plentiful but fills early. Watch leases for parking permit terms and whether utilities are capped. Confirm the bus or shuttle situation if you land somewhere past walking distance from the Horseshoe.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Middle Tennessee State University before signing a lease.
Murfreesboro leasing starts earlier than the town's laid-back pace suggests, partly because MTSU housing has filled to capacity in recent years and pushed more students off campus. The big by-the-bed complexes near campus open renewals in the fall and sign new residents through winter for the next August. Tour by November if you want a specific floor plan. Given how quickly the area has grown and how full campus housing gets, lock something down sooner rather than later.
Demand has been high enough that good units go well before spring, so the heart of the search runs through fall and into winter. Classes start in late August, so move-in lands right before. Securing a preferred complex or floor plan means committing during this stretch rather than waiting. Roommate groups in particular should sign early to keep their options open.
If you are searching later, the spread of houses and townhomes around town turns over closer to summer and gives late hunters a real shot. Spring brings sublets from students leaving for internships, co-ops, or graduation, a solid fallback for a partial-year lease. Expect a thinner list and units farther from the Horseshoe. Setting alerts and checking local listings often helps you catch openings as they appear.
The blocks right around campus hold the most by-the-bed student complexes and put you within a walk or short bike ride of the Horseshoe and the student union.
Downtown, around Court Square, mixes historic homes with walkable streets and weekend events like Friday Night Live.
Areas along Old Fort Parkway and Memorial Boulevard offer newer apartments and easy commutes by car, while neighborhoods near the Stones River greenway trade walkability for trail access and quieter streets.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A shared room or per-person spot near MTSU usually runs about $650-$1,050/month. Houses and townhomes split among roommates sit at the low end, while newer by-the-bed complexes near campus land higher. Budget another $50-$120/month for utilities if they aren't bundled into rent.