Housing Guide
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Vol. 119, No. 36 Jan. 24-27, 2019 HOUSING GUIDE SPRING 2019 Graphic by Libby Gregg PAGE A2 | JAN. 24-27, 2019 HOUSING THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Cost comparison: On vs. off-campus By Caitlyn Frolo THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Finding housing at Penn State can become a student’s top prior- ity when deciding how the next academic year will go. In search- ing for housing, students must weigh decisions such as room- mate choice, price range and gen- eral comfort. Most people would say it is important to fully measure the myriad costs of living—no matter where one ends up calling home. With pros and cons being only a part of the decision-making pro- cess for living on or off-campus, the cost often plays a big factor in many student’s lives. Living on-campus provides many options for students, de- pending on which amenities and benefits they prefer. However, the cost of living on- campus comes with a mandatory Lindsey Shuey/Collegian meal plan cost. Beaver Hall is one of the dorm buildings in Pollock Housing Area on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. According to Penn State’s housing website, the meal plan cost $3,765 for a two-bedroom plan, it costs an average of $1,200 Commons on-campus. complimentary amenities, such costs anywhere from $2,025 to suite at Nittany Suites, $4,040 for a month for the eight months a This apartment building is as rooftop pools, indoor lawns, $2,600 a semester, depending on a two-bedroom suite at North student is living on-campus — to- located close to campus, and only gyms and parking garages within the level chosen. Halls and $5430 for a single-bed- taling at $9,600 for the academic costs around the building. The cost of living in a tradition- room at Eastview Terrace. year. $700 a month Living al hall each semester costs $3,185 Apartments located on-campus While on-campus housing can with two room- downtown for a double room, $4,330 for a provide students with an opportu- seem pricier, it also includes all mates. Rates On-Campus forces single room and $2,550 for supple- nity to enjoy the amenities of off- utilities and bills. The benefit can be as low students mental housing. Pros: Location; Cost efficiency; campus apartments, with a more of paying such fees is manifest as $475 a month Guaranteed meals; Lack of to consider Living in a renovated hall centralized location. in better location and access to with additional all aspects costs $3,490 for a double electric, Wi-Fi and cable bills; Nittany Apartments cost $3,860 classrooms, dining halls and on- roommates, ac- Access to CATA bus loops and of moving room, $4,420 for a single room for a two-bedroom apartment and campus services. cording to their off-campus and $2,790 for supplemental hous- campus shuttles; More ways to $4,430 for a four-bedroom apart- Living off-campus provides stu- website. make friends and connections and account ing. ment. White Course Apartments dents with a housing market that However, the for the cost Suites on-campus cost more costs $4,495 for a four-bedroom offers a variety of prices, loca- electric, cable Cons: Must follow all dorm of grocer- than traditional halls and come apartment. tions and amenities. and Wi-Fi bill rules and regulations; ies, utilities with a private bathroom. Suites When calculated with a meal Calder Commons is a mod- must be cov- Community bathrooms; Lack of and parking erately-priced complex lo- ered by tenants. total privacy; Meal plan cost expenses. cated right across the street This may result Upon from campus. Rent includes in an extra $150 Off-Campus calculation, it all utilities except electric, to $200 a month costs students according to Calder Com- split between Pros: Easy access to downtown an average of mons’ website. roommates. amenities; Access to a kitchen; $850 a month to Calder Commons costs For those who More living space and furniture; live downtown. $1,726 a month for a one-bed- want to live in Bus loops and campus shuttles This includes room apartment and $1,420 an upgraded or utility costs a month for a two-bedroom newer apartment Cons: Cost of groceries every like cable and apartment. The price de- downtown, there month; Possible utilities; Lack Wi-Fi. How- creases as more roommates is a steep price of designated ‘quiet hours;’12- ever, this does are added to the lease. increase. month lease not include the For example, if a stu- More expen- cost of food. dent lives in a two-bedroom sive apartments like the Metro- The decision to live on or off- apartment in Calder Com- politan, The Edge and The Rise campus is essentially a student’s mons with three other room- have accounted for the recent personal preference, but compar- mates, they would pay $714 a construction of many high-rises ing the costs is a priority when month. in the downtown State College also paying for a Penn State edu- Jonah Rosen/Collegian Hetzel Plaza is a less-ex- area. cation. pensive apartment building These apartments cost any- Associated Realty Property Management offices are located at 456 East downtown, located across where from $750 to $1,200 a To email reporter: [email protected]. Beaver Ave. the street from Redifer month. The price hike comes with Follow her on Twitter at @caitlynfrolo. WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT! Find your perfect apartment at RetreatStateCollege.com 300 Waupelani Drive / State College, PA 16801 / P: 814.231.0871 THE DAILY COLLEGIAN HOUSING JAN. 24-27, 2019 | PAGE A3 How safe are Penn State dorms? By Grace Miller feels safe is because of the design leaving my room in my bath robe THE DAILY COLLEGIAN of the renovated dorms. to take a shower because there Unlike older buildings, the was just chaos going on in the According to Penn State’s room doors lock automatically hallway.” Timely Warnings, eight forcible when they close. Wright said she would feel saf- sex offenses were reported since “I think that’s really smart be- er on an all-girls floor, and that the school year started in Aug- cause it forces everybody to take students from other residence est — seven of which happened their keys with them,” Rosh said. halls are always surprised that in on-campus residence halls. “If you’re alone in your room, she does live on a coed floor with The most recent reported assault and your roommate just left, you a male resident assistant. happened in East Halls. know you’re safe because the “When the guys get kind of Despite this, many students door locks.” loud, then I get a little ambivalent said they generally tend to feel Tess Wright feels differently. about leaving my room some- safe living in their dorm build- Although she lives in a non-reno- times,” Wright said. ings. vated building in East Halls, she Still, Wright feels safe overall. Aeva Roth is among them. thinks that auto-locking doors “I feel like everybody has a gen- Roth (freshman-graphic de- wouldn’t make much of a differ- eral understanding of who should sign) lives in a renovated dorm ence. be in the dorm, and obviously we in North Halls and says that she While she said she does gener- have all of our keys to get into feels safe. ally feel safe, being on a coed floor the dorms,” Wright said. “I feel “I don’t really know the circum- has worried her before. like I’m not running into random stances [of the sexual assaults] Wright (freshman-kinesiology) people in the dorm.” or how that happens with them, recalled one specific evening Riley Kuhn agrees, saying that but I don’t know,” Roth said. “I when the men on her floor were he feels safe in Pollock Halls. Ken Kalbach/Collegian don’t feel like I’m unsafe here.” running up and down the hall- “It’s always been an inviting A dorm room filled with student belongings. The only time she has ever felt way, throwing each other into the atmosphere here,” Kuhn (fresh- unsafe in her hall was when a doors. man-finance) said. everyone on the floor,” Kuhn said. tive might be different if he was fight broke out between two girls, “I remember very, very clearly Kuhn says that he only recently “There’s been no incidents that a female. In his opinion, thinking who Roth said were violent with that I had to get somewhere, so started locking his door after it I’ve known of.” otherwise would be “ignorant.” each other. I had to take a shower,” Wright was recommended to him. Even though he personally isn’t Visit collegian.psu.edu to read Roth said part of the reason she said. “I didn’t feel comfortable “Overall I trust pretty much worried, Kuhn said his perspec- the full story. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSING FAIR! ROOMMATE MATCHING AVAILABLE! FALL 2019 LIMITED AVAILABILITY STOP BY OUR HOUSING FAIR BOOTH Saturday, January 26 11 am - 3 pm WWW.MERIDIANONCOLLEGEAVENUE.COM PAGE A4 | JAN. 24-27, 2019 HOUSING THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Making the move: Deciding what living situation is right By Cassandra Kidwell because they were close to her where he lived off-campus fresh- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN classes this year. man year. Husain (freshman- “One of the biggest things for petroleum engineering) had When choosing the right me is having a more space,” she a single room apartment this apartment in State College, dif- said, “and North is known to be year, but decided to find room- ferent factors range in prior- a bit quieter— so I like that, per- mates to live with away from ity to each student.