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Mount Pleasant, Michigan is a central-Michigan college town built around Central Michigan University and its large student body. The campus sits on the west side near the Mission Street corridor, the city's main commercial spine, and student life radiates out into apartment communities and surrounding neighborhoods. The Chippewa River winds right through the heart of the city, anchoring a chain of parks, including Island Park, where the river loops completely around to form a natural island downtown. With more than 1,500 acres of parkland and riverside trails, there's room to walk, bike, and get outside. Downtown keeps a classic main-street feel with local shops, festivals, and a farmers market, while CMU events and athletics set the pulse.
The neighborhoods just off West Mission Street, like Cedar Hills, hold a high concentration of off-campus student apartments and houses within easy reach of campus.
A short bus or bike ride from CMU, Parkwood mixes apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes.
On the city's edge near a medical center, Deerfield offers apartments and houses alongside nearby shopping for students who want a quieter setting.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Mount Pleasant.
The Isabella County Transportation Commission, known as ICTC, runs local bus service along Mission Street and across town, giving students a way to reach campus, shopping, and other neighborhoods. Central Michigan University sits on the west side near Mission Street, so transit links campus to the commercial corridor. The ICTC buses cover the main runs for students without a car. Check routes and schedules before relying on it.
Walkability is decent right around campus and in the apartment-heavy areas off West Mission Street. Many student apartment communities cluster within a short walk or bike ride of campus. Biking works well thanks to the riverside trails through Island Park. Students close to campus can cover daily basics on foot and bike.
The city spreads out, so a car is the most common way students get around, especially in winter, though many still walk or bike to class when close to campus. Driving is the default for reaching destinations beyond the campus core. Parking is generally available around campus and the apartment communities. Students living close in can still manage on foot when the weather allows.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Mount Pleasant is one of the more wallet-friendly CMU-area markets. Per-bedroom rents in shared student apartments often land around $400 to $700 a month, and the average apartment near campus runs roughly $900 to $950 overall. Sharing a larger apartment or house brings your per-person figure toward the lower end.
Browse student housing near each Mount Pleasant-area university.