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Off-Campus Housing Near UW-Whitewater
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater sends about 11,989 Warhawks into Whitewater, a small southern Wisconsin city tucked against the Kettle Moraine. Downtown is a 15-minute walk up Main Street, lined with historic homes, the Birge fountain, and the Cultural Arts Center, so you don't need a car to reach the heart of town. The Kettle Moraine State Forest and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail sit minutes away, so mountain biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing are part of the deal. Cravath Lakefront Park anchors summer with the City Market, weekly concerts, and a four-day Fourth of July festival. Fall belongs to football: students pack 13,500-seat Perkins Stadium for the Warhawk Walk, and you'll see Warhawk Drive painted purple before the season.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
UW-Whitewater follows the University of Wisconsin System rule requiring first- and second-year students to live in university housing unless they qualify for an exemption. Plan on two years of on-campus living as the default. After that second year, most Warhawks move off campus.
Off-Campus Eligibility
The most common exemption is distance: if you live with a parent or legal guardian within 40 miles and commute daily, you can apply to skip the dorms. The other path is time, since students who graduated high school two or more years ago are not bound by the rule. Apply for the exemption rather than assuming you qualify.
Lease Timing
The rental process is fairly informal, but landlords still run credit checks and usually want a parent or guardian cosigner if you do not have steady income. Leases typically run a full 12 months, so plan to cover summer even if you go home. Watch for occupancy limits, since Whitewater caps how many unrelated tenants can share a single-family house, and confirm who handles snow removal and lawn care.