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Off-Campus Housing Near UMass Dartmouth
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth gathers about 7,869 students on a striking concrete campus in North Dartmouth, on the coastal plain of southeastern Massachusetts between the old mill city of New Bedford and the beaches of Buzzards Bay. The campus is a piece of brutalist architecture worth seeing, all bold concrete forms tied together by covered walkways. Life here leans suburban and outdoorsy: the ocean and South Coast beaches are a short drive, and downtown New Bedford brings its working harbor, whaling-era streets, and museums. Most students get around by car since campus sits off the highway, and nearby Dartmouth and Fairhaven offer quiet residential streets. With Providence and the Cape both close, weekends open up fast once you've got wheels.
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
UMass Dartmouth does not enforce a hard freshman live-on mandate, but the large majority of incoming students live on campus, with first-years placed in the Balsam and Spruce residence halls. To live in university housing you generally must be enrolled full-time, and less-than-full-time students need an exception from the Director of Housing and Residential Education.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Apartments for upper-level students exist on campus too. When students move off, most stay in North and South Dartmouth or head into New Bedford, where older multifamily homes are common, and the school runs an official off-campus listings site to help you search.
Lease Timing
Read leases for who covers heat and water, watch for older units that may not be fully winterized, and confirm the legal occupancy of any place. Since the campus is car-oriented, check parking at the rental and whether a campus permit is included before you sign.