What do you need to succeed in school? Living off-campus, or outside of University Housing, comes with some additional responsibilities that range from paying bills, to shoveling snow, to being a good neighbor and much more.
Here are some living options you may want to consider:
University Housing is convenient and offers a variety of options to suit your needs – including upper-level student only living arrangements. Visit University Housing’s website to learn more about on-campus housing options and check to see if you meet the residency requirements!
Depending on your individual situation, living at home may be the most reasonable living environment for you. Especially if your classes are online, living at home can be a great option!
There are various off-campus rental units available to you as a UWM student, including apartments, houses, duplexes and more. These also come with features such as the number of bedrooms they include and where they are located. If living off-campus is something you want to consider, we have outlined some important considerations below!
Here are some important considerations to keep in mind while looking for housing in Milwaukee. These are potential questions to ask yourself in order to find the best fit for you.
What may feel safe to one person may not feel safe to another. At UWM, we have transportation options to get around campus as well as getting around off-campus. Check out our safety page with more information about resources available to you.
University Housing comes with its own safety measures, including a front desk check-in, UWM staff and more.
When viewing rental units, keep an eye out for basic safety features. Make sure there is outside lighting at night. Make sure there are working locks on the doors and all windows. Feel free to ask the landlord any questions you may have about the unit, especially concerning safety.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee requires all first-time freshmen to live in University Housing residence halls, where availability allows. While many freshman or first-year students occupy a portion of the residence halls, there are also upper level students living in them as well. The same goes for living off-campus.
If you are a first-year student, living in the dorms can be beneficial for acclimating yourself to the campus and city, and can also be a good place to begin your college journey.
Living off-campus also comes with its own benefits including more freedom, responsibility and community.
Deciding on where you want to live, whether you are a first-year student or not, is completely individualized and should be a consideration made based on your individualized situation.
If you are thinking about renting off-campus during your time at UWM, it is important to consider some of the following responsibilities and characteristics.
- Do I want to be responsible for cooking/preparing my own food?
- Do I want to be responsible for shoveling snow and/or mowing the lawn at my unit?
- Do I want to be responsible for paying a monthly rent to my landlord, along with my extra utilities?
- Do I want to be within walking distance of UWM, take the bus or drive my car?
Getting to Know the Neighborhoods
There are three major neighborhoods surrounding the UWM campus that are popular with students to live. These neighborhoods start at less than a mile (1.6km) from campus and extend to about 2.5 miles (4km) from campus. The rentals that are available on our listing service are generally in these neighborhoods. We have included a map of the UWM area below, with each neighborhood explained and outlined.
- UWM Campus extends North to Edgewood Ave, South to Kenwood Blvd, East to Downer Ave, and West to Cramer St.
- Riverwest is located West of the Milwaukee River and East of Holton St. It borders Capitol Drive to the North, The Milwaukee River to the East, North Avenue to the South, and Holton Street to the West.
- It is a residential, upcoming artist community located just west of the river. It ranges from about 1 mile (1.6km) to 2 miles (3.2km) from campus. These living options are usually a little less expensive as an upcoming community.
- The Upper East Side is South of UWM’s Campus. It borders Kenwood Blvd to the North, Brady Street to the South, Lake Drive to the East, and just before The Milwaukee River to the West.
- This area is also residential with families and long-term residents, however, it is the area with the largest population of student residents. This is where a majority of students rent while going to school. This neighborhood is less than a mile (1.6km) from UWM’s campus.
- Shorewood is North of UWM Campus. It borders Edgewood to the South, Hampton Rd to the North, Lake Drive to the East, and just before The Milwaukee River to the West.
- Many available rentals in the Shorewood area or located about a mile (1.6km) from the UWM campus. It is a large residential area with mostly long term residents and families.
