As broke college students, finding the best deals is essential, but enjoying these college years is also essential. The choice to live on or off campus varies with what each student looks for in that college experience.

Eastern Washington University supplies various student services on campus that are just a short walk away from the dorms, such as the library, computer lab, writer’s center, math lab and many others.

“The access to student services, the staff that is dedicated to student success, the abilities to be more involved and connected to campus, those things an apartment can’t offer,”said Eastern’s chief housing officer, Josh Ashcroft.

This fall, EWU required incoming freshman to live in the dorms as a requirement.

“We made this decision for overall student success.” Ashcroft said. “There is research that supports that students that live on campus their first year are more engaged, do better academically, are more likely to graduate and go to graduate school.”

Before this new rule came into effect, many freshman students chose to live their first year of college in the dorms in order to have the full college experience.

“I wanted the true college experience in the dorms,” Kira Johnston, a new sophomore student at EWU, said. “I don’t mind sharing a bathroom or kitchen.”

The process of placing students in the right dorms with the right people is well thought through to give the best overall experience for all students and their success.

Most dorms are separated by student’s interests and majors.

snyamncut is marketed to students interested in computer science and engineering, Pierce is geared toward EPIC. Dressler, leadership and exploration. Streeter houses to the arts and global connections and Brewster contains mostly transfer students. “Our purpose is to kind of build what I like to call ‘a family of Eagles,’” Ashcroft said.

There are some exceptions for freshman to not live in the dorms, such as medical issues, living with their parents or if they are married, according to Ashcroft. Other than that, freshmen must live in the dorms for a full year, other students can choose to move out of the dorms.

There are many benefits to living on campus, yet after the first or second year, many students choose to live in houses or apartments. The three most popular being The Grove, Eagle Point and Rock Springs, according to Ashcroft.

“All of my amenities like laundry and a bathroom are in my house,” Lexi Cooper, a sophomore at EWU, said. “I like having my own room to myself.”

Whether living on campus or off campus, all EWU students have full access to EWU’s student services.

“When you live in an apartment, you go to classes and you just go home most of the time,” Ashcroft said. “You’re less likely to come back and utilize the services Eastern provides and get more involved.”

“But there are some skills to learn with renting an apartment, like how to manage your money and regulate utilities,” Ashcroft said.

According to Ashcroft, the estimated price to live on campus is about $6,174.00 for a single (1 person) hall and $4,977.00 for a double hall (2 people), for 9 months. This price includes utilities, internet and television. Off campus average costs of living is about $7,404.00 for a single room and $5,316.00 for a double room for 12 months, this does not include utilities, internet and television.

Some students may like their personal space and independence, and others may like to have all EWU resources just a walk away.