Loading listings
The University of Michigan brings about 47,900 Wolverines into Ann Arbor, a leafy college town that lives and breathes maize and blue. Campus splits between Central and North, and most days you'll walk or hop the free U-M buses between them. The Diag anchors Central, a crossroads where everyone cuts through between classes. Just north sits Kerrytown, home to the Saturday farmers market and the old market district. Come fall, more than 100,000 people pack the Big House on game Saturdays, one of the loudest afternoons in college football. Downtown spills into State Street, so live music, the public library, and the Huron River trails are all close. Winters are long and snowy, but the town leans into it.
Michigan doesn't force first-years to live on campus, but roughly 97 percent do anyway because it is where the community is. Most students make the jump off campus as sophomores.
With no mandate, students at Michigan can move off whenever they choose, and the big decision usually happens as sophomores. The rental process is fairly standard: an application, credit and income checks, and almost everyone under 21 needs a parent or guardian to co-sign or guarantee the lease. Bigger management companies dominate the market near Central Campus.
Most leases run a full 12 months starting in late August or September, which means you are paying through the summer whether you stay or not. Read the subletting clause before you sign, since you will likely want to sublet over the summer. Older houses can be charming but check the heating setup, because Michigan winters are not gentle and utility bills add up.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with University of Michigan-Ann Arbor before signing a lease.
Ann Arbor moves earlier than almost anywhere, and it catches people off guard every year. The best places near Central Campus get signed in October and November for the following August, sometimes before fall midterms. If you are targeting a specific building or a house with friends, start looking in mid to late September and have your roommate group locked in. The upside of moving this early is selection.
The peak runs October and November as the best Central Campus places get signed for the following August. The downside is committing to roommates months before you really know them, so choose carefully. By spring the close-in inventory is mostly gone. Start looking in late September with your group set.
If you miss the fall window, don't panic. Summer sublets open up as graduating seniors leave, and a few places turn over in spring when plans change. Just expect fewer options and less leverage the longer you wait, with leftovers or units farther out toward North Campus and the bus lines. Widening your search helps late in the cycle.
This area puts you steps from class and downtown, the most walkable and most in-demand, and the priciest.
Just north, Kerrytown is a little quieter, with the farmers market, older buildings, and a short walk in.
South of campus, Burns Park draws grad students and upperclassmen who want quieter streets and houses, still close by bike or bus.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A shared room or by-the-bed spot near Central Campus usually runs about $900-$1,400/month per person. Splitting a house with several roommates in areas like the Old West Side or out toward North Campus can land closer to $700-$1,100/month each. Newer buildings right on State Street sit at the top of the range. Budget another $40-$120/month for utilities depending on what's included.
Other universities in Ann Arbor share a similar off-campus housing market.
Washtenaw Community College is a large community college in Ann Arbor, Michigan, serving roughly 12,000 to 15,000 students each year across credit and non-credit programs. WCC offers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training in fields ranging from nursing and engineering technology to business and the…
View housing near Washtenaw Community College