




$550/unit
Fees may applyCampus Court Apartments





$550+/unit
Fees may applyThe 505

$600+/unit
Fees may apply617 S. Campbell

$499+/unit
Fees may applyBear Paw Commons

$550+/unit
Fees may applyBeartown Townhomes

$543/unit
Fees may applyEast Cherry Flats

$556+/unit
Fees may applyThe U at Park East
Missouri State University is a large public university enrolling approximately 27,000 students in Springfield, Missouri, the third-largest city in the state. Founded in 1905 and originally established as a regional teachers college, MSU now offers more than 200 degree programs across colleges including business, health and human services, arts and letters, natural and applied sciences, and education. The university's main campus is located on the south side of Springfield, a city of about 170,000 people with a diverse economy spanning healthcare, retail, education, and logistics. Springfield's size means students have access to a wide range of neighborhoods, employment opportunities, and amenities beyond what a typical college town provides. The off-campus rental market near MSU is robust, with apartment complexes, houses, and mixed-use buildings concentrated in areas south of campus and along the major corridors heading into downtown Springfield. Students enjoy relatively affordable rents compared to many other large public universities, and Springfield's urban infrastructure makes car-free living more feasible in certain neighborhoods than in smaller college towns.
Missouri State University requires all first-year students who have fewer than 30 college credit hours and who are 20 years of age or younger to live in university residence halls during their first academic year. Students who reside with a parent or legal guardian within 60 miles of campus, who are married, who have dependents in their care, or who meet other specific criteria may apply for an exemption from the live-on requirement.
Students who have completed at least 30 credit hours, are 21 years of age or older, or have fulfilled their required year of on-campus living are eligible to lease off-campus housing in Springfield. The city's large and competitive rental market offers a wide variety of options across multiple neighborhoods at different price points. Many landlords and property management companies in the areas surrounding MSU are accustomed to student tenants and offer lease structures that align with the academic year.
In Springfield's student-heavy rental zones, landlords near Missouri State typically begin marketing units for the following year in January and February. The most desirable properties in the South Campus area and the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the university tend to be leased by March. Students who begin searching in the fall semester and are prepared to commit early have the best access to well-located and competitively priced units.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Missouri State University before signing a lease.
Students who begin exploring off-campus housing options near Missouri State University in November or December are well-positioned to secure the best apartments and houses before peak competition sets in. Springfield has a large rental market, but the subset of properties that are affordable, well-maintained, and close to campus is finite, and these units attract interest early. An early start also allows students to tour multiple neighborhoods, evaluate different landlords, and make deliberate decisions rather than committing under time pressure.
The busiest period in the MSU off-campus housing market runs from January through March, when the bulk of leases for the following academic year are signed. During this window the most popular complexes and houses in the South Campus and nearby neighborhoods fill rapidly, and students who hesitate risk missing out on their preferred options. Having financial documentation, a co-signer if needed, and a clear sense of desired location and budget will accelerate the process during peak season.
Springfield's size works in favor of students who find themselves searching for housing in April, May, or summer. The city's broader rental market produces regular turnover and new listings throughout the year, and students searching late will find more options than they would in a smaller college town. While the inventory closest to campus may be reduced, Springfield's transit options and the relatively short distances involved mean that living a bit further from campus remains practical.
The area immediately south of the Missouri State campus along National Avenue and the surrounding residential streets is the most student-dense neighborhood in Springfield, offering apartments, duplexes, and houses within walking distance of the main academic buildings and student union.
Midtown sits a short drive or bus ride north of campus and offers a mix of affordable apartments and houses in established residential neighborhoods, popular with upperclassmen and graduate students who want proximity to both campus and Springfield's central dining and entertainment districts.
The Glenstone Avenue corridor east of campus is lined with apartment complexes and commercial development, offering students a range of mid-priced housing options with easy car or bus access to campus and to the commercial amenities along one of Springfield's main commercial streets.
South Springfield encompasses residential neighborhoods further south and east of campus where students looking for lower rents and more living space can find older houses and small apartment buildings, typically requiring a car or reliable transit access for daily campus commuting.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Rent near MSU Springfield generally ranges from about $450 to $700 per person per month in shared housing, with one-bedroom apartments typically running $650 to $950 per month. Springfield is known for relatively affordable rents compared to many other large university cities, and students can find well-located housing at reasonable prices, particularly in shared houses and older apartment buildings near campus.
Other universities in Springfield share a similar off-campus housing market.
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