The university requires that all Niagara students, who are not commuting from home, live in the residence halls for at least their first two years due to statistics that show that students who live on campus are generally more successful in college.

If you have fulfilled the residency requirement and are thinking of moving off campus, please consider the advantages to remaining a part of NU’s on-campus community. There is something special about living at NU. Your experience in an on-campus residence has definitely made a significant impact on your academic achievement, maturity, time management and overall experience as a Purple Eagle.

Community assistants and other professional and paraprofessional staff live in your residence, where they respond to emergencies, offer social, educational and developmental programs and help to create healthy and safe living-learning communities.

Please consider this list of accommodations that come included in your traditional room and board charges, which would be an additional cost in many off-campus leases:

• A meal plan that provides a multitude of options daily
• Washer and dryer
• Internet service
• Cable television service
• 24 hour on-site security and escort service
• Local telephone service
• On-site staff to respond to lockouts, facility emergencies, etc.
• Game rooms
• Social programming areas
• Garbage service and common area cleaning (hallways, bathrooms)

Additionally, Niagara’s on-campus apartments offer students all of the above (except for the meal plan, which is optional), giving you the advantages of living on campus while transitioning to more of an independent lifestyle.

When comparing the cost of on- and off-campus living options, make sure you are considering all the costs. Typically, students will spend between $400 and $600 per month just on rent for an off-campus apartment. Including utilities, cable, Internet, car payment, insurance, gas and food costs, the cost of living off campus can escalate quickly. All of these expenses can easily exceed $700, potentially doubling the amount of rent you pay. You may think that living off campus will save you money, but, in most cases, it will not.

Please contact us at residencelife@niagara.edu or 716.286.8566 or stop by our office in O’Shea Hall if you are planning to move off-campus.