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Slippery Rock University is a public comprehensive university in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1889, SRU enrolls approximately 7,000 to 8,000 students across programs in education, business, health sciences, and the liberal arts. The campus sits in the small borough of Slippery Rock in Butler County, roughly 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, giving it a classic residential college feel. Campus facilities include a strong emphasis on outdoor recreation through the nearby Jennings Environmental Education Center. The off-campus rental market in Slippery Rock is student-driven, with houses and apartments filling quickly each fall.
Slippery Rock University requires all first-year students to live in university-operated residence halls for their first academic year. Exceptions are considered for students who commute from a parent or legal guardian's home within a reasonable distance from campus, or for students with documented circumstances reviewed by the Office of Housing and Residential Life.
Students who have completed at least one full academic year at SRU are generally eligible to live off campus. Upperclassmen, graduate students, and students who qualify for a commuter exemption may rent from the private market in Slippery Rock or nearby communities such as Cranberry Township and Butler. Students should confirm their eligibility status with the Office of Housing and Residential Life before signing a lease.
The off-campus rental market in Slippery Rock is small and moves quickly. Landlords typically begin showing units for the following academic year in November and December, and the best options are often claimed by January or February. Students who wait until spring semester to begin searching frequently find limited availability and may need to look in neighboring towns.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Slippery Rock University before signing a lease.
Students who begin their search in October or November of their sophomore year are positioned to get the widest selection of off-campus housing near SRU. Slippery Rock is a small borough with a finite number of rental properties, and many landlords prefer to renew leases with existing tenants before marketing to new renters. Starting early means you can compare multiple options, negotiate terms, and secure housing before the winter break rush empties the available inventory.
December through February represents the peak period when most desirable off-campus units near campus are claimed. Landlords actively advertise during this window, and groups of roommates compete for the limited supply of houses and larger apartments. Students who have not begun searching by January should expect fewer choices and may encounter higher rents as competition intensifies among remaining seekers.
Students searching in March or later will find that most prime units near campus have already been leased. At this stage, options may still exist in apartment complexes farther from the main campus corridor or in nearby towns such as Grove City or Butler, where commuting by car is necessary. Sublease listings and rooms in shared houses occasionally surface in late spring when prior tenants drop out, so monitoring local Facebook groups and the SRU off-campus housing board can uncover last-minute opportunities.
Streets surrounding SRU, particularly North Main Street and Kiester Road, with most houses and apartments within walking or biking distance.
Farther out, where rents are sometimes lower but a car becomes more useful for groceries and errands.
About 15 miles south, with larger apartment complexes offering more amenities at competitive prices for students with vehicles.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
SRU operates a limited campus shuttle system, but public transit in Slippery Rock is essentially nonexistent. Most off-campus students who live close to campus walk or bike, while those living farther out rely on personal vehicles.