I was just wondering what universities allow students to live off campus freshmen year? I’m considering having an apartment, but I’m not exactly sure what universities allow students to live off campus as a first year student.
I think it would help first to know what you want to study, where you live, how much you can afford, who will be paying for the apartment, etc. Choosing a school because they don’t make you stay in a dorm the first year is like shopping at a grocery store because you like the paper towels they use in the restroom. Once you determine what you want in a school, you could use off-campus housing as on of many factors to choose where to apply.
Many state schools allow you to live off campus from the very beginning. Purdue University does not require freshman to live on campus, for example.
I am not sure if there is any sort of compiled list on this topic. Your best bet would be to look at the universities you are interested in and review their housing policies on their websites. Typically a large public school with a large amount of commuters might be more flexible, whereas a smaller private school may have more restrictions.
Agree, you’ll need to look up the regulations for each college you are interested in attending. Some publics, but not all, would allow first year students to live off campus. Not all is the operative word.
" I’m considering having an apartment, " - Why? Living in the dorms freshman year is a rite of passage 
Having said that, it’s good you are researching the point. The on/off campus factor after freshman year varies a great deal from school to school. When we did research, I was avoiding long distance schools with no room on campus after freshman year. You would be coming from a different angle, but info is on web.
In general most schools require freshman to live on campus unless commuting from family residence.
The pluses out weigh the minuses regarding freshman year on campus.
Frees up so much of your time when you don’t have to shop, prepare and clean up after meal prep.
not to mention you wont need a huge outlay in kitchen tools and the pita that taking the bus to go grocery shopping is.
Eating around others is also a nice casual bonding experience.
When you have more free time, you can spend it exploring your college town, investigating the opportunities on campus, or sleeping!
Relationships take a while to build, even longer for those of us who are introverts. When you live off campus, you spend less time on campus and so you have less time to get to meet people. Classes don’t generally allow for social time.
No requirement to live in a dorm your first year at UW-Madison.
Really? Generally most schools require freshmen to live in a dorm freshmen year?
I am not sure what State you live in but NC State does not guarantee housing for freshman so you can live off campus.
Auburn. U Alabama- Birmingham.
Colleges with no dorms, or not enough dorm space to accommodate all non-commuter frosh, likely will not have such requirements.
It is generally considered desirable for resident frosh to live in the dorm, unless it costs too much compared to other options.
No way, no how.
Maybe @bookmama22 has a source for her information in Post #5.
Most univs do NOT require frosh to live on campus. Most univs don’t have enough dorms to make such a req’t.
Typically major univs might have such a req’t (if they have enough housing), but often directionals do not have enough housing to make such a req’t.
Our local example - Other parents have told me that CU Boulder requires freshman to live on campus, unless family home is within 50 miles.
A lot of schools that do require freshman to live on campus usually have exemptions - such as a certain mile radius (usually 50, I’ve seen), family/domestic obligations, or other extenuating circumstances (financial, health, etc.)
Most state schools in Massachusetts do not require freshman to live on campus - I am unsure about UMass Amherst, the flagship - but all other schools in the UMass system along with the ____ State University schools allow off campus living/commuting.
lol, I’m going for a college that will let me live on campus all 4 years. Different perspectives, I guess.
@albert69 - I think a lot of upperclassmen choose non-dorm living options because it affords them more freedom and its usually cheaper. 
But dorms are supposed to be very beneficial both socially/academically for Freshman specifically.
@preamble1776, yeah, I want to live on campus for convenience’s sake. I can walk to my classes, food, etc. Maybe by my third or fourth year I’ll be tired of it, but if not, I want the option to continue living on campus available. As a NMSF, hopefully NMF, that is part of the reason that I only briefly considered OU for college - the housing scholarship is only half for the first year, and after that I’m on my own. And the housing on campus is higher than the in-state tuition at the school I’m going to! But if someone wants to live off campus, then hey, if they can find a way to make it work, go for it. It probably does have some advantages, like you pointed out.
Often rent (12 months - year leases) is about the same as dorms. BUT food can be much cheaper off campus, as long as the student refrains from eating out a lot.