Residence Life and Housing Services
On-campus versus Off-campus Living
Choosing where you want to live when you come to NYU-Poly for the first time or return for a new semester can be difficult. Here are some things to consider when deciding between living on campus or off. Our benefits of living on campus can help you decide too.
To tour our dorms, please contact the Office of Residence Life.
Finding and Getting a Place |
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| On-Campus | Off-Campus |
| When you choose to live in one of NYU-Poly’s dorms, you’re not competing with millions of New Yorkers to find an apartment. We have enough rooms for our students to make the selection process easy. And since your payment is made through your tuition, you don’t have to have a guarantor, fill out tons of paperwork, or submit recommendations from previous landlords. | Finding an apartment in New York City can be a stressful experience if you’re looking on your own, and an expensive process if you work with a real estate broker. Apartments go fast, so you can sometimes feel pressure to commit to a place within hours of seeing it. |
Security and Community |
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| On-Campus | Off-Campus |
| Security staff protect our dorms 24 hours a day. And since you’ll be living with fellow students, you’ll already know some of your neighbors. This creates a sense of community from day one. | 24-hour security via an actual or virtual doorman or security cameras comes at a premium in New York City. |
Amenities and Utilities |
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| On-Campus | Off-Campus |
| The package of amenities included in our dorms, e.g., on-site laundry, a gym in the building (Clark), central air conditioning, a tennis court (Othmer), is similar to what you would find in what some real estate brokerages call “luxury buildings.” Plus, your utilities, including high-speed Internet, cable television, and electricity, are included in your semester costs. | Central air conditioning and on-site laundry may seem like standard amenities, but in New York City, they’re actually big selling points that many apartments don’t have. Often, the only utility included in monthly rent is water. You’ll be responsible for setting up and making monthly payments for Internet, electricity, and cable in most off-campus housing options. |
Flexibility |
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| On-Campus | Off-Campus |
| One of the best things about being a student is being able to spend your summers back home, travel abroad, or take an internship in a different city for a semester. Our dorms follow the semester schedule, so you won’t be tied down to a year-long lease. And when space permits, you can even have a different roommate from semester to semester if you want. In addition, our rooms are fully furnished, making moving in and out simple. | Most landlords will require you to sign a year-long lease, either as an individual, or if you’re getting an apartment with friends. For many students who choose to live off campus, this means finding someone to sublet their apartment or room during the summer, or semesters when they want to study or intern in another city. |