I’m very concerned about the scarcity of on-campus housing for students at UT Dallas. My student is an out of state freshman and we just learned that the only way to assure continued housing is to lease and pay for the summer. Priority is given to freshmen, then to sophomores, then decreasing from there.
Freshman are required to live in the dorms if they do not commute. After that, they are encouraged to move to the on-campus apartments.
It seems that with all of the increases in merit aid, the university has grown in enrollment, but housing has not kept pace. Some students are paying ~$1000 a month for on campus apartments. Meals would be in addition.
What we are faced with is, potentially having to incur additional expenses that we did not expect for housing, off campus. When making decisions, factor in the cost of living off campus and transportation expenses, car, insurance, etc. The bus ride could be over an hour one way.
Tons of good info there! There are several apartments near campus that with a roommate would be $500-$600 a month there is also good public transportation so a car is not vital. Cooking instead of a meal plan will be cheaper too.
Many colleges do not guarantee four years of on campus housing.
No, he is a continuing a student and will be a sophomore next year. I’m living it.
We aren’t used to that scarcity of housing. It’s not an issue where we live because students rush to get off campus, but at UT Dallas. He received emails stating that he is not guaranteed on-campus housing unless he signs a lease through the summer and pays summer rent.
Check out the link I posted and start looking for a roommate if he doesn’t plan to be there this summer. I’ve also seen people post on the reddit UTD forum looking for roommates.
Will UTD let him live on campus if he’s not registered for classes that semester?
I did the math you are currently paying $815 a month to live in the dorms
9 months $815 = $7335
If you son moves to the on campus apartment 4 bedroom two bath $615 a month all utilities included and pays for the summer
12 month $7380
That’s only $45 more than what you are paying now plus he’s got a place for the summer. Go for the on campus apartment and pay for the summer, don’t for get the additional savings of being able to cook and not rely on a meal plan.
We actually pay $769 a month now to live in the dorms. It’s 9 months x $769 = $6921. I don’t think the savings between what he spends on the meal plan really saves much money. His meal plan is $1733 per semester for five months. Maybe it comes out the same.
I have several reasons for being concerned about not having housing guaranteed on campus.
Sorry, guess those are 2017/2018 rates on their web page.
Correction currently paying for dorms 9 x $769 = $6921
will have to pay for dorms in 2017-18 9 months $815 = $7335
4 bedroom two bath $615 a month all utilities included and pays for the summer 12 month $7380
I still think going the on campus apartment route if you can get one guaranteed isn’t a bad deal even if you have to pay for summer rent when you are there. It’s $459 over what you paid freshman year but you get those extra 3 months so a lot of flexibility plus you’ll still have saving on the meal plan. \
Next year you son might want to look into being a PA (peer advisor) to offset housing costs.
Wow, glad I’m reading this, before sending OOS there. since my son is national merit finalist, he also got HUGE offer from U of TX Dallas— this 1 has great access to tech companies, but it is like a commuter school, and they do not guarantee dorms for anyone (also it does not offer a tradition college experience, right?)
National Merit has priority for housing. 25% of undergrads students live on campus at UTD, my daughter attends OU and 30% of the students live on campus there just to give you some perspective. There is no football if that’s what you mean by traditional experience, student life is really what you make of it.
I don’t have a huge frame of reference but can compare it to OU. UTD has new, modern, sleek buildings - OU has redbrick Cherokee Gothic. OU has a huge Greek presence, UTD has a small Greek presence. The dorms at OU tiny and older, the dorms at OU are new and some of the nicest dorms I’ve seen. Both OU and UTD have RA’s but UTD calls them PA’s in the dorms. There are various clubs and activities at both. Sports big sports at OU are Football, Gymnastics, baseball …, Sports at UTD are Basketball, Baseball, swimming and chess. The general vibe I got from OU was it’s a bigger party school (especially on football weekends) where UTD is more of a nerdier/serious school.
@3scoutsmom Thanks!! My son will look at University of KY (1 hour from Cincinnati, OH), and for a FULL RIDE in Computer Science at KY> I guess it’s about overall experience, FLYING vs driving, and great for his major. We will consider UTD as option. If we lived in TX, then would go there, for sure!
I did get on, @Thinkerbelle - thank you. This has definitely been something we’ve had to adjust our planning regarding. If he does get McDermott, it’s not an issue but our AES aid combined with 529 came to the exact cost of attendance so those extra months of housing are definitely something that has been on our mind. For his major, it’s likely still the best fit for him, but it is so good to have this information in advance, so I really appreciate this thread.
@2sunny - another good school to consider as a NMF is the University of Central Florida in Orlando. They offer a full ride plus a computer and are well regarded in computer science.
@2sunny, as far as dorms closing for breaks, I don’t think so. UTD does have a large international student group, so they do keep housing available during the breaks. I would double check what the procedure is with housing especially for winter break. The food venues either shorten their hours or do close but hopefully next year. That will be less of a problem when the food venues at Northside open.
Does UT Dallas really charge only $1,700 per semester for a freshman food plan? That is so cheap. Here in the northeast we routinely pay more than $3000 /semester. The schools my son is considering charge $3,200 a semester. It sure sounds like you have some great savings out there in Texas.