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Northwestern University brings about 22,600 students to Evanston, the lakeside suburb just north of Chicago where campus runs right up against Lake Michigan. The Lakefill, an expanse of land Northwestern built out into the lake decades ago, is the spot students claim for studying, sunsets, and the spring all-day music festival Dillo Day. Downtown Evanston sits steps from campus with the kind of walkable grid you'd want, and the Purple Line train drops you into the heart of Chicago in under an hour. Wildcat fall means football at the rebuilt Ryan Field and basketball at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The neighborhoods nearby, from quiet Northeast Evanston to the busier downtown blocks, are tree-lined and easy to bike. You're never short on something to do.
Northwestern requires students to live on campus for their first two years, and transfers for their first year. Most students spend those two years in the residence halls before making the move off.
The off-campus push usually starts junior year once the two-year requirement is met, and students at Northwestern lean heavily on older walk-up apartments, converted houses, and a handful of newer mid-rises downtown. The process runs through private landlords and management companies: an application, a credit or guarantor check, and first month plus a security deposit at signing.
Leases almost always run a full twelve months, typically starting September 1, which is also the city's notorious moving day. Evanston enforces occupancy rules tied to its zoning, including a long-standing limit on how many unrelated people can share certain units, so a big group should confirm a place is legal for their headcount before committing.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Northwestern University before signing a lease.
Evanston's cycle starts early and moves fast. Preleasing for the next year opens in the fall, and many juniors start touring in October and November for places that won't be available until the following September. The closest apartments to campus and the bigger group houses get claimed first, often by winter quarter. Start in fall if you want a real choice of neighborhoods and roommates.
The peak runs fall through winter quarter as juniors lock in apartments and group houses near campus. Classes start in late September on the quarter system, and since most leases begin September 1, move-in lines up with the start of fall. The closest units and biggest houses go first. Sign by winter quarter for the best options.
If you are searching in spring, you will find fewer options and more competition, since next year's leases are mostly already signed by then. Summer is quieter on campus, which makes it a decent window for subletting if you are staying for research or an internship. Don't wait until spring to start if you want a genuine choice of place and roommates.
Neighboring campus directly, Northeast Evanston is quiet and residential with the Lakefill and athletic facilities a short walk away.
Downtown puts you in the middle of shops, theaters, and the Purple Line, the busiest and most social option.
Calmer and a bit further out, South Evanston has older apartments and easy access to the Main Street stops.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A bedroom in a shared apartment or house near campus usually runs $900-$1,500/month per person. Older walk-ups in South Evanston and Rogers Park sit at the lower end, while newer downtown Evanston mid-rises near the Purple Line run higher. Plan on another $80-$150/month for utilities, depending on heat and central air.