During their college years, most students have the opportunity, for the first time, to choose where they want to live — and the decision to live on or off campus depends on a variety of factors.
For many students, residence halls provide convenience and social opportunities not available in off-campus living situations, but for others, off-campus apartments and houses offer freedom and affordability not available in the residence halls.
Many residence hall dwellers said they think residence-hall living is easier than living off campus.
“I like that I don’t have to worry about cooking for myself or when bills are due,” freshman Allegra Herdklotz-Yasutake said.
Freshman Sheena Shook said that she chose to live in the dorms partially because she didn’t know enough about Eugene to start an apartment search. “If I had better information … I would have lived off campus,” she said.
Many residents cited the social opportunities as a reason they chose to live in the residence halls.
“I really like living in the dorms,” freshman Christine Limperis said. “You get to meet people … you’ll be going to school with the next four years.”
Another convenient element of residence-hall living is that it comes with all the necessary amenities, plus more. According to University Housing, every hall is equipped with high-speed ethernet, expanded basic cable television, laundry facilities, a phone line and a standard meal plan. All these services are included in the yearly rate of $6,894, or about $766 a month.
Still, off-campus living options can be significantly cheaper than residence-hall living. Many apartment complexes include utilities and other amenities in the rent so that the tenant doesn’t have to worry about extra bills. For instance, apartments at the Eugene Manor, located at East 10th Avenue and Ferry Street, include cable
television and Internet hookups, all utility bills and parking in the monthly rent.
However, residents without these packages can find themselves with steep cable and utility bills. According to Comcast.com, a standard cable television subscription costs $41.55 a month and a cable Internet service costs $42.95 if ordered with cable television.
Also, John Mitchell, the communication coordinator for Eugene Water and Electric Board, said electric bills for a one-bedroom apartment can average $25 to $76 depending on the size and structure of the apartment, the type of heating appliance and a number of other factors.
Although her rent doesn’t include utilities, cable or other amenities, sophomore Zora Oreskovich said her house rent is still significantly cheaper than when she lived in the residence halls. She said her living expenses come to about $300 a month, but the greatest benefit is the freedom.
“You can put up your blow-up Corona Light bottle and no one will bother you,” she said.
Some living in the residence halls, such as Herdklotz-Yasutake, said the residence hall regulations can be annoying, saying she wishes she could “play (her) music when (she) wanted and not deal with other people’s crappy music.”
Shook, whose dorm is situated next to the Living Learning Center construction site, said the lack of freedom and the noise were both downsides to living in the dorms.
“I can’t play my music as loud as they play their jackhammers,” she said.
However, University Housing Director Michael Eyster said there are many intangible benefits to living in the residence halls that can’t be quantified in dollar amounts. studies show that freshmen who live in the residence halls do better academically, are more likely to graduate and are less likely to drop out.
“(Residents) appreciate the community and the opportunity to make friends and the opportunity to feel like a part of the University,” he said.

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