Housing is clearly a very important part of your stay at Northern Illinois University. There are several
options available to you as an NIU student:
To help you decide which of these options is best for your particular situation, please ask yourself these
questions:
If privacy, independence, and being able to cook your own meals are high priorities for you, this option might be the best. Apartments are widely available in DeKalb, especially in the area of the campus, and many are served by the Huskie bus system. Efficiency or one-bedroom apartments start at around $480 per month; in addition you may need to pay for your own utilities (electricity and gas service). If you share an apartment with a roommate, you may considerably lower the cost per person. Most graduate students prefer living in an off-campus apartment instead of living in the residence halls on-campus
To move into an apartment you will need to pay the first month’s rent, the last month’s rent, and a security deposit, which is usually equal to one month’s rent. In most cases you will also have to sign a 12-month lease. Signing this lease means that you are legally bound to pay rent for 12 months, whether you continue to live there or not.
To find an apartment, please start with the Northern Star Housing Guide. You can also check the bulletin boards in ISFO and in the Off-Campus Housing Office in Neptune Hall, after you arrive.
Please remember to visit several available apartments before choosing one. Inspect each apartment carefully, ask questions, and take time to READ THE LEASE. Remember that it is a binding contract: once you sign the lease, you are required to pay the rent for the length of the lease. We also suggest that you ask for a copy of the free housing guide from the Off-Campus Housing Office
NIU offers on-campus Residence Halls for all students. Please be aware that these facilities are designed for Undergraduate students and may not accommodate the quiet lifestyle of a Graduate student. On-campus living (http://www.niu.edu/housing/) provides easy access to campus activities and facilities plus opportunities to meet other students. Each student generally shares one room with another student and uses a common shower/bathroom located on the same floor as the room.
In shared rooms each student has a single bed with mattress, a desk with a lamp, desk chair, dresser, and a wardrobe or closet. In each room students share a microwave/ refrigerator/ freezer, phone, and basic cable television service.
In the residence hall students will find laundry facilities, mail service, local telephone service (with individual billing for long-distance calls), fitness centers, kitchenettes, study lounges, and computer labs.
Each residence hall has qualified live-in professional staff. Staff are available to assist students in their adjustment to the University and to facilitate the use of the Residence Hall’s extensive educational, recreational, and social programs.
In the halls you may choose to purchase the Gold Meal Plan, in which you are allotted $55 per week to spend in the dining facilities, the Platinum Meal Plan for $80 per week, or the Titanium Meal Plan, which provides $100 per week to spend in the dining areas. For more information, please visit the website describing Dining Options http://www.stuaff.niu.edu/dining
Most undergraduate students choose to live in the on-campus residence halls, while most graduate students find that off-campus apartments more closely meet their needs. If you would like to live on-campus in the residence halls, please read the booklet Residence Hall Life which is included in your admission packet. Once you sign a contract for a room in one of the Residence Halls, you are required to live there for the rest of the academic year.
Another option is University Plaza, a privately owned residence hall located north of campus, on Crane Drive. University Plaza is a co-ed residential facility that offers all the comfort and convenience of independent, apartment-style living. Their web site is: http://www.uplaza.com/
In this fourth option, a student rents a room in a house and shares use of the kitchen and bathroom with the other tenants. Usually there are about 10 to 15 other people living in the house. Please check the Northern Star for more information.