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Pittsburg State University puts about 6,398 Gorillas in Pittsburg, a flat southeast Kansas town where campus and community basically share one identity. The terrain makes walking and biking easy, so most students skip the car. Downtown runs along Broadway, with shops, the public library, and the homecoming parade that rolls from 11th down to Second Street every fall. University Lake hosts the homecoming raft races, where student orgs paddle two-person teams. When football season hits, Carnie Smith Stadium fills with crimson and gold, and GorillaFest sets up east of the stadium with food trucks and live music. The town leans all the way in, with gorilla statues, flags, and storefronts decked in red and gold.
First-year Gorillas have to live in a residence hall for their first two semesters, unless they are commuting from a family home inside a fifty-mile radius of campus. That exemption covers a lot of regional students, so check with Housing if home is within driving distance. The requirement is built around the first-year residence hall experience.
After those two semesters, most students move off campus, often to the apartment communities and rental houses clustered right around the edges of campus. The local rental process is refreshingly low-drama compared to bigger college towns. You deal directly with local landlords and a handful of student-focused complexes, so expect standard applications, a security deposit, and a credit or income check, with a co-signer common for students without rental history.
Read the lease for who handles lawn care, snow, and trash, since that varies house to house. Confirm whether the term runs the full year or just the academic year. Ask about subletting rules before summer so you are not stuck paying for months you are away.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Pittsburg State University before signing a lease.
Pittsburg moves at a calmer pace than the big Big Ten towns, but the good stuff still goes early. Students leaving the dorms after two semesters usually start touring places in late fall and signing through winter for the next academic year. The newer student complexes near campus fill first, so get on it before the spring rush. Houses close to campus and along Broadway tend to lock up early.
Demand peaks from winter into early spring as students sign for the next academic year. The newer student complexes near campus fill first, and the popular spots along Broadway tend to lock up by February or March. Classes start in late August, so leases commonly begin in early August. Touring before the spring rush keeps the best near-campus options open.
If you are searching late, do not panic, because this is a town where summer openings and last-minute landlord listings still pop up, and you can often find a spot in July. Spring graduates free up units too, so subletting for a semester is doable if you need a short-term bridge. The relaxed local market keeps rolling availability through summer. Late movers usually still find something within reach of campus.
The spine of town, with rentals north and south of campus all within an easy walk or bike.
Just south of main campus, a steady student pick.
Newer student-focused complexes near the athletic facilities, popular and a bit higher-end.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A shared room or per-person spot in a house near Pitt State usually runs about $350-$600/month. Older houses along Broadway sit at the low end, while newer student complexes like Crimson Villas and Gorilla Edge run higher. Budget another $40-$90/month for utilities depending on whether heat and water are included.