Loading listings
Off-Campus Housing Near WWU
About Off-Campus Housing Near Western Washington University
Western Washington University brings about 15,000 students to Bellingham, a Pacific Northwest town wedged between the Salish Sea and the Cascade foothills. The campus climbs a forested hillside above Bellingham Bay, so you get water views one direction and mountains the other, with Sehome Hill Arboretum trails right at the edge of campus. The town runs on the outdoors: Boulevard Park and Taylor Dock hug the waterfront, Whatcom Falls Park hides a waterfall in 240 acres of forest, and the Outdoor Center lends gear for kayaking, climbing, and ski trips into the Cascades. Historic Fairhaven anchors the south end with brick storefronts and a green for summer concerts. Most students bike or ride the free transit pass, so a car is rarely needed.
Western Washington University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Western does not require freshmen to live on campus, though about 90 percent choose to anyway. The residence halls cluster in three walkable neighborhoods and ease the first-year transition, so most students stay in the halls their first year.
Off-Campus Eligibility
There is no live-on mandate, so students are free to go off campus whenever they like, and most move out as sophomores once they've found a roommate group. When you do head off campus, Bellingham's rental process is fairly standard: expect an application fee, a credit and background check, and first month plus a deposit up front. The city enforces caps on unrelated tenants per house in some zones, so confirm occupancy limits before a large group signs.
Lease Timing
The big local quirk is timing, since student houses near campus get spoken for unusually early. Watch leases for who covers yard care and utilities in the older houses, and read the renewal clause, because landlords often ask early whether you're staying.