On-campus versus off-campus: A breakdown

College students are always on budgets, and when planning for the next academic year, the finances for selecting the best housing option are important factors to consider.

Living in a residence hall costs between $5,928 and $7,026, based on a variety of factors. And students who want more privacy and space may want to consider apartment options both on and off campus.

On-campus apartments offer the perks of extra space without students having to worry about utilities or other additional expenses, according to the Department of Housing and Residential Education’s website.

Ram and Odum Village, on-campus apartments located on south campus, run from $6,335 per academic year — for a private bedroom in a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment — to $8,228 a year for a one-bedroom private apartment.

Rent runs for the duration of the academic year, meaning those who don’t plan on living in Chapel Hill during the summer do not need to sublease their on-campus apartments.

Most off-campus complexes only offer 12-month leases.

Carolina Student Legal Services advises all students considering off-campus housing to consult with its attorneys about the terms and agreements in housing contracts.

“To understand the full nature, we encourage kids to come to us before they sign a lease,” said Dave Crescenzo, an attorney for Carolina Student Legal Services. “We can go over the terms at any point in the process, but preferably before they sign anything.”

“Odum is a nice in-between to get out of the dorms before you move off-off campus,” said Rachel Wolf, a junior who lives in Odum Village this year. Wolf said she plans to relocate off campus during the 2014-15 school year.

She said the ability to use scholarships and financial aid money for on-campus housing is convenient, though she added students who live off campus can also potentially receive refund checks for financial aid which would have gone towards on-campus housing.

The expense of off-campus complexes varies widely, with location being the primary cost factor.

Rent at Stratford Hills, located on Bolinwood Drive — about 1.4 miles from campus — ranges from $720 to $1,320 a month depending on the floor plan.

At Chapel Ridge, located about 2.5 miles from Franklin Street, rent for a four bedroom, four bathroom apartment is $579 a month.

Other factors to keep in mind when considering whether to live off campus are the cost of utilities, food and parking.

Some apartments include utilities, while others will cost extra each month.

Chapel View’s monthly rent includes water, cable TV, internet, sewer and trash; Chapel Ridge includes cable, Internet, trash and water.

Kathryn Auten, a junior who lives in Warehouse Apartments, said her rent includes utilities up to a certain point.

“We’ve had overage charges every month since I’ve been there, since August,” Auten said. “Usually it’s only around $2, which isn’t that annoying, but it’s been up to $13, which is absurd.”

“It’s just another extra cost to think about,” she said.

Raven Moore, spokeswoman for Warehouse Apartments, said there is a $25 cap on electricity charges, and if residents go over the cap the cost is split evenly among residents.

Parking is also a factor to consider at many apartment complexes. Auten said the cost for a parking space at Warehouse is between $60 and $100 each month.

The official rate for Warehouse is between $55 and $95 depending on if students want a covered or uncovered parking deck spot, Moore said.

She said Warehouse finds its rates comparable to those in the area and that when they run special deals, they try to make them as competitive as possible with other complexes.

Block meal plans are available for off-campus students, but with private kitchens and a further walk to on-campus dining halls, groceries are another cost to keep in mind.

Wolf said she finds eating without a meal plan to be less expensive.

“I had a commuter meal plan last semester and ended up not using it enough,” she said. “It’s pretty expensive compared to cooking for yourself or even just eating out. Especially at peak hours in Lenoir, it’s not worth it.”

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