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Off-Campus Housing Near SMU
$699/unit
Fees may applyCenterpoint apartments
4.2 (5)
$689/person
Fees may applyCampus Edge on UTA Boulevard
1.0 (5)
About Off-Campus Housing Near Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University sits about 12,373 students on a tree-lined campus in University Park, a leafy enclave inside Dallas about 15 minutes north of downtown. The campus feels like its own small town, all red brick and Georgian columns, anchored by the Dallas Hall lawn where students sprawl between classes. Next door, Snider Plaza gives the area a walkable village feel, and Mockingbird Station puts a transit hub within reach. SMU runs on its Residential Commons system, eleven living-learning houses that shape first-year life, and Mustang football and the Boulevard tailgate turn fall Saturdays into a production. Dallas opens up fast: the DART light rail runs from Mockingbird Station into downtown, so students who want a bigger night out don't need a car.
Southern Methodist University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
SMU requires first-year students to live on campus, where they are assigned to one of eleven Residential Commons, the school's living-learning model with a faculty member in residence in each house. The first-year experience is built around these houses. The requirement shapes social life across the entire freshman class.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Starting with the Fall 2025 entering class, SMU dropped the second-year live-on requirement, so sophomores can now choose to stay on campus as space allows or move off. That shift has pushed more students into the surrounding University Park rentals earlier than before. University Park is affluent, so landlords run thorough credit and income checks, and students without their own income usually need a parent or guarantor to co-sign.
Lease Timing
Read leases closely for term length and what is bundled, since newer luxury buildings near campus often run 12-month terms and charge separately for parking and amenities. Occupancy limits can also apply, so confirm how many people a unit legally allows before you pack in roommates. Clarifying these terms up front avoids surprises after you sign.