Loading listings
Off-Campus Housing Near University of Rhode Island
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is Rhode Island's public flagship university, enrolling around 17,000 undergraduates on its main campus in Kingston, a small village in South Kingstown in Washington County. URI is known for strong programs in pharmacy, ocean engineering, nursing, and business. The campus sits inland from Narragansett Bay, about 30 miles south of Providence. Off-campus housing in the Kingston village area is extremely limited, so students also look in Narragansett, Wakefield, and Peace Dale. URI competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Rams.
University of Rhode Island Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
URI requires all first-year students to live on campus for their first full academic year. Freshmen are assigned to residence halls and must fulfill this requirement before becoming eligible for off-campus housing. This policy is designed to help new students build community and get adjusted to university life.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Students who have completed their freshman year are generally free to live off campus, though they should confirm current policy with the Office of Housing and Residential Life. Upperclassmen typically move into apartments or houses in Kingston village, Narragansett, Wakefield, or Peace Dale. The off-campus market near URI is unusually constrained, with very limited inventory relative to student demand.
Lease Timing
Most off-campus leases in the Kingston area run on a 12-month cycle beginning in late May or early June. Because inventory is so scarce, landlords in Kingston village and Narragansett often have their units claimed before the spring semester ends. Students who want housing close to campus should be prepared to sign leases well before most of their classmates would expect to.