




$525/unit
Fees may applyRedpoint Starkville





$769+/unit
Fees may applyRevery


$614/unit
Fees may applyThe Block Townhomes





$850+/unit
Fees may applyThe Cotton District





$650+/unit
Fees may applyThe Grand at Starkville




$510+/unit
Fees may applyThe Quarters Starkville

$700+/unit
Fees may applyThe Walk Starkville





$825/unit
Fees may applyBullDawg I at Brownsville Station Community

$1,450/unit
Fees may applyOverstreet Drive

$840+/unit
Fees may applyThe Links at Starkville





$859+/unit
Fees may applyVista Starkville | Student Housing
Mississippi State University is a flagship land-grant research university enrolling approximately 23,000 students on its campus in the unincorporated community of Mississippi State, Mississippi. Founded in 1878, MSU offers more than 180 degree programs across colleges including agriculture, engineering, business, education, veterinary medicine, and arts and sciences. The campus is expansive and heavily residential, with a strong freshman live-on tradition and a large percentage of undergraduates living in university housing during their first year. Off-campus student housing is centered not on the small community of Mississippi State itself but on the city of Starkville, located about three miles to the west. Starkville is a college town of roughly 25,000 residents where most apartment complexes, houses, restaurants, and services catering to MSU students are found. Students looking for off-campus housing should expect to search primarily in Starkville and along the corridors connecting Starkville to campus. The surrounding area offers a range of housing types from large student apartment complexes near the campus edge to older rental houses throughout Starkville's residential neighborhoods.
Mississippi State University requires all first-year students who have not previously attended college to live in university residence halls for their first academic year. Students must also purchase a university meal plan during their required live-on period. Exemptions are granted to students who are 21 years of age or older, married, veterans, or living with a parent or legal guardian within a 30-mile radius of campus.
Students who have completed 30 or more credit hours, have lived on campus for a full academic year, or meet an approved exemption category may sign leases for off-campus housing. The majority of off-campus rentals available to MSU students are located in Starkville, approximately three miles from the center of campus, as well as in apartment complexes along Highway 12 and the corridors connecting Starkville to the MSU campus. Students should plan for transportation costs since most off-campus housing requires a car or reliance on the Starkville Area Transit System.
The Starkville student rental market is competitive and landlords typically begin accepting applications for the following year in November and December. The most sought-after apartment complexes near the MSU campus edge and along the Highway 12 corridor fill by February. Students who delay their search into spring semester often find a reduced selection of units and may need to consider properties further from campus.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Mississippi State University before signing a lease.
Students who begin searching for off-campus housing near Mississippi State University in October or November of their freshman or sophomore year will find the widest selection and most favorable terms. The Starkville rental market is heavily influenced by the MSU academic calendar, and the best-located complexes and houses are claimed well before the spring semester ends. Starting early allows students to compare properties across multiple neighborhoods, coordinate with potential roommates, and avoid the pressure of rushed decision-making during final exams.
Rental activity around MSU peaks between December and February as students commit to housing for the following academic year. During this period the most popular complexes along the Highway 12 corridor and adjacent to campus fill rapidly, and new listings in desirable areas receive inquiries within days of appearing. Students searching during peak season should have their financial and co-signer documentation prepared and be ready to submit applications and deposits without extended deliberation.
Students who have not secured housing by late spring or summer are not without options in the Starkville area. Turnover from graduating students creates availability in May and June, and some landlords re-list units that were not renewed. Sublets for the summer or one-semester arrangements are also common. The selection at this stage will lean toward units further from campus or with fewer amenities, but the Starkville market is large enough that determined late searchers can find housing.
The stretch of Highway 12 between Starkville and the MSU campus edge is lined with large student apartment complexes offering modern amenities, proximity to both campus and Starkville dining, and the heaviest concentration of purpose-built student housing in the area.
Downtown Starkville offers apartments and rental houses within walking distance of restaurants, bars, and shops on Main Street, making it a popular choice for upperclassmen who want a more urban feel while remaining within a short drive or bus ride of campus.
North Starkville includes established residential neighborhoods with older rental houses and smaller apartment buildings that attract students seeking more space and lower per-bedroom costs compared to the newer complexes along the highway corridor.
The area directly bordering the MSU campus on its west and south sides includes several privately managed apartment communities that are within walking or biking distance of the main academic quad, making them highly sought after and typically commanding a price premium.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Rent in the Starkville and MSU campus area typically ranges from about $500 to $750 per person per month in shared apartments, with one-bedroom units running $700 to $1,000 per month. Newer complexes along the Highway 12 corridor with amenity packages tend to be on the higher end, while older rental houses in Starkville neighborhoods offer lower per-bedroom costs for groups of three or four roommates.