Housing options at the University of Michigan

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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Can anyone talk about the problems I’ve been reading and watching on YouTube about the housing situation at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor? We are trying to make a final decision about schools for my D, and I’m concerned about what appears to be no guaranteed housing for students – in or OOS. This is going to be a make or break for us as we will be paying full costs. We cannot supply a car due to finance, some shocking driving we have witnessed on our visits by some Michigan drivers, and the No fault insurance situation that Michigan has. North Campus vs. Central ?? what is the problem? Doesn’t a school that costs almost 60K a year afford to find a solution for this situation? Any thoughts will be welcomed?

One last thing. I thought I read – and I could be wrong – that Freshmen could be assigned a room with an upper classman? Please clarify. Thanks.

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Housing is guaranteed for freshman. After that it can be a little tougher if you want to live on-campus, but most students live off-campus after freshman year. Keep in mind that “off-campus” may be closer to academic buildings than many of the dorms, and most off-campus housing in the immediate area of central campus consists of students only. There are many options for off-campus.

You will not need or want a car in Ann Arbor. I work at two colleges and I am always alarmed at young adults’ driving - you will find that anywhere.

With respect to North vs. Central, you don’t really have a choice, although you can select a preference. Most students prefer Central, but not all. Pros to North: pretty, quieter, can be less walking to class although you have to take a bus to Central. Better for Engineering, Architecture, Arts or Music majors due to proximity to classes.

At Michigan your student will have to be proactive about obtaining housing after Freshman year, but I would not consider it a deal breaker.

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you will never need a car all 4 years at umich because theres so much public transportation available. bringing a car would be a hassle because its hard to find parking spots. umich guarantees housing to all freshmen who meet the housing deadlines in may. many freshmen get placed in north, but most prefer central because its closer to their classes and you don’t have to take a 15 minute bus ride. otherwise north is pretty nice it’s just the bus ride people don’t like.

4

Your D will have a dorm space for freshman year. She can narrow where she wants to live by joining a learning community, the residential college, the LSA honors college etc. There is a lottery for dorm space for after freshman year. Some of the dorms (like north quad) are upperclassmen only. There are also apartments on north campus leased by the university. For sophomore and later years the on campus options are: apartment (usually $550-$800 per person for a 2 bedroom), sorority, house (some have 6-8 bedrooms), or co-op. The coops are a shared house where chores and cooking are shared by students. Most students have a lease secured by early in the winter term. There are also luxury apartments which cost around $1200/person/mo.

It would be extremely rare to pair an upperclassmen with freshman.

The city bus system is free to students. You can check the schedule at www.theride.org. Many students live further away from campus in the apartment complexes off of state, plymouth, stadium and washtenaw ave. It is a 10-15 min bus ride to campus for all and the prices are lower. The downside of non-university housing is that most have 12 mo leases.

Auto insurance in Michigan outside of Detroit is much more reasonable. For instance the average premium in Detroit is $5200/yr but $1800/yr in Ann Arbor. For a typical parent it is a lot less, we pay around $800/car/yr (broad collision) including coverage for our Michigan student. It is not no-fault but unlimited medical coverage which keeps premiums high. Most students use an uber, cab or zipcar when they need transport, or use a friends car.

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Thank you all for your comments. Since my husband and I will be paying full freight, housing for me is a huge deal and possibly a deal breaker. I cannot imagine having to find housing and all of the other pressures with college. I lived off campus for one year when I was in school (a very big school with bus transportation and close housing) and it felt very much like losing touch with campus life. Getting to school was a hassle, and staying late an even bigger one being a female. With the cost to attend this school as high as it is, they should build more housing to accommodate students who don’t want the hassle of finding living space off campus and don’t want to pay for one year when you are only there for 10 months. Otherwise, it’s sends a community college vibe.

I don’t think I’m alone in my sentiments. While I think Michigan has some great things going on there, I think the folks at housing should get out a little more and see how other schools are handling this trend. https://www.usnews.com/education/slideshows/top-10-colleges-for-housing

It’s a lot to think about, but again, thanks.

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The housing situation at UMich was a deal breaker for us too. We are in-state but didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding a place to stay after freshman year. My daughter is now attending MIT where she has guaranteed housing all four years and she got to choose her dorm.

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@Razzyreb the reason michigan does not have guaranteed housing all 4 years is because its a large public university. the schools that do have guaranteed housing all 4 years are much smaller. most of the schools that you provided on the slideshow that guarantee housing all 4 years are much smaller private elites like the ivy league which have undergrad populations less than 10,000, so its not really fair to compare a large public university’s housing with a smaller private university. do you think the ivy league and similar privates would be able to guarantee housing all 4 years if they had more than 25,000 undergrad students? I don’t think so. if you look at other public universities like uc berkeley, ucla, ohio state, michigan state, they do not have guaranteed housing all 4 years because it’s impossible to providing housing for so many undergrads. the housing situation at uc berkeley is a lot worse than at umich because of the smaller but more expensive dorms, even though its also a very prestigious public university. people complain that uc berkeley’s city is ghetto and there’s crime, so it’s scary finding off campus housing sophomore year, whereas ann arbor is a much safer place for off campus housing. Michigan excels in everything except for housing, but that’s the case for most other large public universities.

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We have paid “full freight” for two sons. Off campus housing was not a big deal at all. Like others have said, much of the off campus housing is as close or closer than dorms. The housing available is no only abundant but variable in what the student is looking for - apartments, houses, number of beds, budgets, etc. Plus, more apartments are being added quickly - and these are all close by (albeit, some of the more expensive choices - but relatively luxurious)

Don’t worry- the students can find it, they absolutely are not out of touch with campus and it’s not a real stressful effort to locate. They all get it done, learning another skill needed after campus life is complete.

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If the small chance of having to find an apartment is a deal breaker because it’s too complicated/stressful…Michigan is probably not for you. Compared to the other things students routinely juggle…it’s small potatoes.

The vast majority of kids who want University Housing will get it. I promise you, no one is fighting over it. It’s overpriced and small compared to what you can get in Ann Arbor “off campus.”

My kiddo has lived in University Housing on North for three years because she lucked into the Northwood apartments, which she much prefers to dorm life. As others have mentioned, the only draw back to North is that it’s a 15 minute bus ride to Central. The Michigan buses are good, though, they come frequently and most kids don’t find it too much of a hassle. North is quieter. Fewer parties, etc.

Next year my kiddo is living “off campus”. Her apartment is three blocks from central. She can take a twelve minute walk, or hop on a Michigan bus. The bus stop is about fifty feet from her front door. “Off campus” she’s MUCH closer to Central. I know that seems weird, but it’s true.

There are neighborhoods that branch away from Central Campus that are essentially made up of apartment buildings and private houses for rent. The Michigan buses service them just as they do the dorms…there is really no difference. It’s easy to find close housing. Gay kids, international kids, kids from every background…have no problem finding housing…people in Ann Arbor are very diverse and tolerant.

You really don’t need a car. Both the Michigan buses and the Ann Arbor city buses are free for your student, and will get you everywhere you need to go. Only time my kid calls a cab is when she wants to come home on the train and has too much luggage for the bus.

If you’re scared your student won’t be able to find housing…don’t worry. There’s plenty of safe, walking distance, affordable housing.

Go to some of the apartment hunter search sites and type in Apartment close to University of Michigan Central Campus. The number of results will convince you.

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" I lived off campus for one year when I was in school (a very big school with bus transportation and close housing) and it felt very much like losing touch with campus life. Getting to school was a hassle, and staying late an even bigger one being a female"

I’m not following you. If off campus housing was " close" why was it a " hassle"? As others have said at UMich off campus housing is often CLOSER to campus than many dorms. There are tons of options, apartments, houses. Also none of my daughters friends who actually wanted on campus housing had any difficulty getting it. But off campus is often cheaper and better located.

And you definitively don’t need a car, unless you’re a nursing student ( my daughter is actually required to have access to a car after sophomore year)

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Why are you worried about it? Trust me, she’ll be looking for a sophomore apartment with friends by Halloween! The kids generally don’t want to live on campus.They are not only guaranteed on campus housing first year, it is generally required.

If your kid wants a more “boarding school vibe” with all kids in dorms, a much smaller school is required!

Where do you live that AA drivers are so much worse? I drive there often and have no issues…

PS: most of us OOS families pay full freight, so…

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My D is finishing her third year and has friends who live on Central, on North, off Central and off North. None of her friends have had major issues finding a place wherever they wanted to live. She’s lived off North campus for the last two years, without a car until last summer. She is a three minute walk to North and uses the bus system when she needs to go to Central. No issues staying plugged in to study groups, extracurriculars and social scene. She is thoughtful about personal safety, and has used Uber a few times each semester to avoid a solo, late walk. Campus safety also offers night walking escort and transportation options. I think my D would say that typical mid-semester roommate dramas average more stress than deciding each year’s housing.
Good luck with your D’s decision!

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Hi All,

Thank you all for your input. I live out of state, and this is my third kid to go to college – both of their schools provided 4 year living and it was required. Two of them was on the link I provided. One was an Ivy and the other was not. They loved living on campus even though some of their friends who wanted to live off campus seemed to like it. Very few chose that route and they were okay.

https://www.usnews.com/education/slideshows/top-10-colleges-for-housing

@HRSMom.“Why are you worried about it? Trust me, she’ll be looking for a sophomore apartment with friends by Halloween! The kids generally don’t want to live on campus.They are not only guaranteed on campus housing first year, it is generally required.”

I’m really not worried that she will be looking for housing. I know she won’t, because are not willing to pay for it. There are plenty of kids who like living on campus. The furniture hassles, leases, no campus security, rent payments are not a bother.
Are the dorms that bad that the students want out? Or are they just following others and think it’s cool? I believe there will be plenty of time to deal with paying rent in life.

@HRSMom. “If your kid wants a more “boarding school vibe” with all kids in dorms, a much smaller school is required!”

Can’t do that. We are limited with her major and she already knows what she wants to do. Wish it could be in a smaller closer school though. But Michigan is one of the few really good schools in her field.

@HRSMom. “PS: most of us OOS families pay full freight, so…” Yeah, I agree that we are not unique, but we will be paying for two. I know – it’s our choice which is why I’m trying to learn as much as possible.

@maya54 “I’m not following you. If off campus housing was " close” why was it a " hassle"?" It was a hassle because I liked to study in the library and stay there late – buses stopped running at 11 or 12 p.m. and less often on the weekends. No night time escort service when you are off campus. It was a hassle because meeting with study groups was not as easy to navigate. If I had a car, it would have been easier. Grocery shopping was a hassle – I was a healthy eater, and roommate ate junk too much. It was a hassle finding furniture and getting it to and from school.

@MaryGJ. “Go to some of the apartment hunter search sites and type in Apartment close to University of Michigan Central Campus. The number of results will convince you.”
My kid, if she goes, will mostly be North campus and not Central due to her major.

Okay, I get what you guys are saying. It’s the Michigan culture. We have visited twice, but neither times did we explore how to find housing off campus. Thank you all for your help. I realize for some of you, listening to concerns about Michigan is a tough pill because you love it there. I want to love it too, but these issues are why students take time after being accepting to decide what school to go to for whatever reason.

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I don’t see any current issue with the housing on campus as of now. Before last year, there were shut down of dormitories for renovation for several years. It went into problem a couple years ago when there was over-enrollment of freshmen. That year, the school pay for luxury apartments for 300 returned students to trade their rooms for freshmen. That problem has gone and they have removed most, if not all, family housing apartment units from the list for undergraduates. Freshmen have guaranteed housing and 95% of them live in dorms (remaining are commuting from home or with other arrangement themselves). For returned students, they pick rooms according to seniority and in randomly picked priority order. Some may withdraw if they don’t have the room type or location they want. In the last few years, there were more and more upscale apartments on (or near) campus for students who can afford them. Otherwise, there are also lower cost older apartments (but those would need to be secured almost a year ago). I have not heard any housing shortage in the last year.

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@Razzyreb - My D lived on North campus in Baits as a freshman and loved it. Very close to music building and she had a huge, suite-style room. She did move just off North campus after that, primarily as she wanted a kitchen and it was much cheaper. Distance-wise it is a bit further, but only a few minutes walk. Safety walk escort and ride services extend a mile off campus, so those are still available. Your daughter should enjoy living on North as a freshman and she should be able to find options to stay on campus for future years if she chooses.

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@Razzyreb you should definitely think it through! A lot of big schools have a “north campus” and second year housing issues. Cornell is the same!

There are very nice dorm like “apartments” the U owns that might fit the bill for her later years!!

My second starts next year…so I have a short break before the double whammy years!!

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  1. There is campus escort service even off campus up to a mile

  2. There are lots of available apartments near north campus that are less expensive than dorms AND fully furnished, no need to bring your own.

  3. With Uber it’s easy to go grocery shopping. My daughter and her 2 roommates went bi-weekly and it cost them only about 4 bucks each round trip.

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“Okay, I get what you guys are saying. It’s the Michigan culture. We have visited twice, but neither times did we explore how to find housing off campus. Thank you all for your help. I realize for some of you, listening to concerns about Michigan is a tough pill because you love it there. I want to love it too, but these issues are why students take time after being accepting to decide what school to go to for whatever reason.”

Razzyreb, I can totally appreciate what you’re saying here. The perspective of a parent just shipping their kiddo off…is going to be different than folks who have been through the process. Of course schools with less complicated housing are going to seem more attractive…cause you’re worried about your kiddo, and want to protect them from unnecessary stress, and want to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed. You’ve got a lot on your plate.

Gotta kinda switch my mindset back to when my daughter was just graduating high school, and that seems like a decade ago. But I get it…I really do. This parenting gig can be tough, particularly when your little birds are first flying the nest. You want the safest, best choices for them.

I don’t think any of us mean to seem impatient with your questions. If I did, I’m really sorry about that. Your questions are absolutely valid. It IS a little freaky to be told “there is no guarantee your kid will have housing”. But I absolutely promise…there will be plenty of private housing available. Even for kids who rely on buses.

I think if your kiddo spends a year on campus in University Housing, she will rapidly adapt to Ann Arbor. She’ll visit friend’s apartments closer to campus than she lives. She’ll get a feel for the neighborhoods around campus (even North) and come to think of them as extended student housing.

As daunting as it seems at first, the housing thing is a piece of cake. If your kiddo actively tries to get University Housing, chances are excellent she’ll get it through her Junior year. Won’t make any promises about senior year, but after three years, she will absolutely be able to handle it.

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I’ll chime in. I have a soph at Mich. First, is there any chance your daughter will choose Greek life? If so, she will be living in the sorority house sophomore year. Junior year, many, many students study abroad 2nd semester, so she only needs housing fall semester if she does that. Then she comes back from abroad and she’s a senior.

“On campus” and “off campus” are almost indistinguishable. It’s not like there’s a gate that you pass through to arrive “on” the campus (at least for central campus). It’s very fluid. Next year my child will be living in an apartment building that is closer to her classes than her dorm was freshman year. The building is 100% students and geared for student life. Every apartment in the building is fully furnished. The application and lease were no more difficult than the paperwork required for campus housing. There’s an on-site manager. She’s sharing with three other students. Each has her own bedroom and an individual lease – no worries about one roommate not paying her share. It’s like a dorm, but run by a private company instead of the school.

One big downside. You have to sign a 12-month lease. Of course, she might choose to stay over the summer and do an internship or get a job in Ann Arbor. Or she can sublease it to someone else.

Notwithstanding your older children’s experience, living on campus all four years is very much the exception rather than the rule.

Important question: How does your daughter feel about this issue?

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@MaryGJ This is my 3rd kid off to college, so I’m a little experienced at sending a kid off to college. I also teach for a living. ;), but I appreciate the kind words.

@brantly … “How does your daughter feel about this issue?” She’s very unsure and concerned. Her options are strong and all guarantee housing all 4 years – and all gave her merit money except Michigan – the school she likes the most.

Thanks to you all.