Dorms: What You Need to Know About Student Housing and Beyond

When people talk about dorms, on-campus housing designed for students, usually provided by schools with shared rooms and common areas. Also known as student accommodation, it's not just about saving money—it's about structure, rules, and community. Most dorms last one academic year, but what happens after graduation? Can you stay over summer? Do you get to pick your roommate? These aren’t small details—they shape your whole experience.

Dorms are part of a larger system that includes student housing, any living space rented by students, whether on campus or off. Also known as university housing, this category covers everything from dorm rooms to shared apartments near campus. The big difference? Dorms come with built-in rules: curfews, guest policies, noise limits, and mandatory meal plans. Off-campus housing gives you more freedom but also more responsibility—utilities, leases, and landlords you have to deal with yourself. Many students jump from dorms to shared rentals after their first year, not because they want to, but because dorms don’t let them stay past graduation.

And then there’s the hidden side. Dorms aren’t always quiet, clean, or safe. People move out mid-semester because of bad roommates. Others get stuck in contracts they can’t break. Some schools don’t allow pets, even emotional support animals. And if you’re a grad student or international student, your options shrink fast. You might think dorms are the default, but they’re just one path—and not always the best one. The posts below break down what you won’t hear from the housing office: how long you can really stay, what happens when you graduate, and why some students end up in legal trouble over lease violations. You’ll also find real talk about shared living, pet policies, and how to avoid getting priced out after your first year. This isn’t a brochure. It’s what actually happens when you live in student housing.