Living On Campus - A Must?

I've been doing some research into colleges and I can't quite figure this out - do most colleges require freshmen to live on campus? I have some different living situations in mind and was hoping for some insight.

This varies significantly by college. Some colleges do indeed require freshmen to live on campus, barring exceptional circumstances. The belief behind this rule is usually that living on campus can help students transition to college life, create a strong sense of community, and have easy access to campus resources.

For example, at Stanford University, freshmen must live on campus unless they are married, have dependent children, or have lived away from their parent’s home for at least four years. Similar policies are in place at many other schools, like Dartmouth College and Cornell University, to name a few.

However, other colleges – particularly larger state universities or those located in big metropolitan centers – do not have such requirements. Students may be more spread out at these schools and more likely to live off campus due to the cost, availability, or preference.

So, if you're exploring alternate living arrangements, I suggest that you review the policies at the colleges you’re interested in. This information is usually available on their housing department’s website or can be answered by reaching out to the college directly. It’s always essential to ensure that any alternate living arrangements are permissible and won't interfere with any college requirements.