When I started college, I wanted the experience of living in a dorm room. In fact, in a 2021 study done by Makenzie Joseph of Eastern Illinois University, she found that living on campus â…provides multiple avenues for creating connections that enable [students] to feel like they not only belong but are wanted and valued members of the campus community.â I wanted to feel that sense of belongingâŠbut not for a huge price tag. According to NCES, the average cost of a dorm room in a 4 year university was $7,212 from 2021-2022. Iâve listed 14 schools that cost at least $1,934 less than that average.
Some of the most affordable college dorms that cost between $3,236 and $5,278 a year are the University of Kansas, Brigham Young University, Oral Roberts University, University of North Florida, Texas A&M University, University Of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and the University of Central Florida.
On top of cheap housing, some of these schools are ranked as having one of the best college dorms, campuses, college athletics, education programs or business programs in America! Some of them also come with their own private lakefront beach area, apartment-style living, dining halls inside of the dorm halls, and much more!
*Some of these prices are based on 2023-2024 and others are based on 2024-2025*
Table Of Contents:
1. The University of Kansas, KS: $3,236
2. Brigham Young University â Idaho, ID: $3,897
3. Oral Roberts University, OK: $4,560
4. University of North Florida, FL: $4,692
5. Texas A&M University, TX: $4,586
6. University Of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, WI: $4,800
7. University Of Wisconsin – River Falls, WI: $4,808
8. University of North Dakota, ND: $4,895
9. University of Central Florida, FL: $4,940
10. Ball State University, IN: $4,998
11. Regent University, VA: $5,034
12. Florida Gulf Coast University, FL: $5,062
13. University of Florida, FL: $5,106
14. University of Georgia, GA: $5,278
1. The University of Kansas, KS
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 semester individually: $1,618
Total cheapest housing from 2024-2025 (without the included housing application fee): $3,236
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.)
Forbes – #140 in America’s Best Value Colleges 2019
Why is KU Housing So Cheap?
The University of Kansas holds the top spot on this list when it comes to housing costs; this is thanks to the price of their halls called Miller and Watkins. When you live here, you also get a free meal plan! Additionally, these halls are closest to classes and campus events.
This public collegeâs low housing costs come with a catch though: theyâre only available to women. In all honesty, Iâm not sure why, but if youâre a girl then you might as well take hold of this advantage. You’ll basically be staying in a sorority-style house that fits 49 students total and has about 116 sq ft of living space in each bedroom. Here are the floor plans of the rooms; each is typically shared by 2-4 girls.
Besides being a woman, thereâs another requirement you have to fulfill before getting to live here: getting accepted to the scholarship hall program. Whatâs that? To summarize the most important parts, youâll have to agree to â…two to three hours of weekly duties, such as cooking and cleaning for [your] communityâ.
Each applicant is subjected to a âcompetitive process [that] selects residents based on academic achievement, written response, and financial aid considerations.â However, even though this is called the âscholarshipâ hall program, you donât need to qualify for an academic scholarship to apply.
So what else is inside of these affordable halls? Miller and Watkins have very similar amenities, but there are slight differences. They both have seven shared kitchens and dining areas, a sun porch, â…wireless internet, free laundry, and an academic resource center with computers and study aidsâ, strong alumni connections and a mentoring program. Lastly, Watkins hall has a shared sleeping porch while Miller has a shared study space.
Other Aspects of KU
Since housing is just one aspect of this university, letâs talk about the other aspects of KU. The collegeâs admissions rate is 92.5% as of 2021 and itâs ranked #22 of 454 for best colleges for sports management in America according to Niche.com. The most popular majors, also according to Niche, are psychology, journalism and biology.
If you want to know some fun places to go off-campus when classes finish, then here are some close-by options:
- Breakout Lawrence: 9 minutes away from main campus
- Royal Crest Lanes: 6 minutes away
When you get tired of campus food and want to check out the off-campus options, here are some highly rated spots:
- Hawaiian Bros Island Grill: 3 minutes away
- The Fresh Mediterranean Co: 4 minutes away
- Little Saigon Cafe: 2 minutes away
While youâre at it, check out these popular attractions in your free time too:
- Massachusetts Street: 8 minutes away
- Booth Family Hall of Athletics: 2 minutes away
- Grinter Farms: 19 minutes away
Notable qualities about campus life:
- The dorm quality and social atmosphere are highly rated by students
- There are great on-campus food options
- Students have a lot of school pride
- Basketball is the most popular sport here
- There are more members of sororities than fraternities
2. Brigham Young University â Idaho, ID
Fall 2024 semester: $1,499
Winter 2025 semester: $1,249
Spring 2025 semester: $1,149
Total cheapest housing from 2024-2025 (without included fees): $3,897
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.)
College Factual – #8 out of 2,223 schools
U.S News – #8 in regional colleges west
Forbes – #86 America’s best value colleges 2019
About BYUI Housing
Brigham Young University â Idaho (BYUI) is a private college that has one of the cheapest housing options out there. Itâs important to note that this school doesnât offer dorm rooms; every on-campus freshman that isnât married is going to be staying in an apartment complex called Centre Square. Now, I know what youâre thinking: âwait, back upâŠmarried?â. Yes, this school divides housing based on your marital status and if youâll be living with a spouse or not. Pretty unique to say the least.
Itâs important to note that when it comes to these housing prices, youâll be paying an additional processing fee of $25, a security deposit of $75 and other various fees thatâll be specified in your housing contract. How much you pay varies based on student requests (such as parking) or failure to comply with housing rules (such as failing to clean properly). Now letâs talk about why itâs so cheap to live here.
Even though the apartment is an above average size of 2,015 sq ft., youâll be living with eight other roommates in four different bedrooms while sharing two bathrooms. Here is what your living space will look like. The building can hold up to 546 students and there are 200 parking spaces available.
Even though youâll have to live with a lot of people, the complex has enough amenities to accommodate you all! According to the school website, Centre Square has âextra storage, large kitchen & pantry, wonderful vanities, free use washer & dryer in each apartment, study rooms, gathering rooms, music rooms, green spaceâ and an exercise room!
Other Aspects of BYUI
Now that weâve talked about money, letâs talk about some other aspects of this school that youâll be signing up for if you choose BYUI. This schoolâs acceptance rate is 96.6% as of 2021 and, according to Niche.com, is ranked #55 out of 281 schools for the best colleges for public health in America. Even so, their most popular majors are liberal arts and humanities, human development and business.
Off-campus life is also very important when it comes to college life. Some fun places in the area are:
- Yellowstone Bear World: 15 minutes away from main campus
- Teton Vu Drive In: 9 minutes away
- Rexburg Re-Escape: 7 minutes away
Additionally, a few popular (and highly rated) food places outside of the campus dining options are:
- Righteous Slice: 3 minutes away
- Da Pineapple Grill: 1 minute away
- Kiwi Loco: 2 minutes away
Lastly, some of the most popular attractions that are close to BYUI are:
- Rexburg Idaho Temple: 3 minutes away
- Cress Creek Nature Trail: 26 minutes away
- Legacy Flight Museum: 9 minutes away
Notable qualities about campus life:
- Students here have a lot of school pride
- They feel very safe while on-campus
- Sports arenât prominent in this school (at all)
- There arenât many parties
- Thereâs no Greek life
3. Oral Roberts University, OK
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 semester individually: $2,280
Total cheapest housing from 2023-2024 (without included fees): $4,560
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
Best Colleges – Ranked #9 in The Most Affordable Online Theology Programs
Research – 10 Best Value Colleges in Oklahoma in 2023-2024
About ORU Housing
Coming in at number three on the list is a private school called Oral Roberts University! Most of the schools on this list only have one or two cheap housing options; this college has seven! Thatâs right, as of their 2023-2024 prices, Oral Roberts University offers seven housing options that cost $4,560 for the entire year! Only five of them are available to women, but in case any guys are reading this blog post, yaâll can celebrate too!
Theyâre all double dorms that use hall style bathrooms. You can find the floor plans to every single hall on their website. Each one of them has a number of the same amenities available. They come with a mini fridge, microwave, âindividual climate controlsâ, access to the free-to-use laundry room, a âCox digital converter box upon requestâ and âeach wing also has a chaplain to serve students’ spiritual needs.â.
Now letâs talk about the amenities that are unique to each hall. Claudius Priscilla Roberts is 7 stories tall and houses 550 women. Inside, youâll have easy access to the International Student Center. Ellis Melvin Roberts is also 7 stories tall and fits 550 men. The campus post office and student health center. Frances Cardone is 12 stories high and houses 372 women. This hall is one of the two places that has a female honors wing. It also has a wing dedicated to only freshmen girls.
Michael Cardone has a freshman wing for boys, is just as tall and holds the same amount of students as Frances. Susie Vinson is 9 stories tall, houses 244 women and hosts the 2nd honors student floor. Susie North is just as tall and holds the same amount of students. The last hall is Gabrielle Christian Salem which has 3 floors, holds 240 women and comes with walk-in closets in each dorm.
Even though every hall has a different number of students, ORU claims that âeach floor/wing houses approximately 30 studentsâ. They built the dorms this way to â…maximize your college experience.â Itâs also worth noting that every undergrad student whoâs younger than 23 is required to live on campus. That is, unless youâre staying with your parents. Also, every RA conducts a weekly hall meeting, so get ready to fit that into your schedule.
Other Aspects of ORU
Now that weâve covered the details of your living situation, letâs talk about the rest of your college experience at this school. ORU has an admissions rate of 85% as of 2021. Most of the students who get in choose to study divinity, ministry, and pre-theology, psychology and nursing. Even though these are all the most popular majors at the school, the university has a reputation for being ranked #54 of 378 for Best Colleges for Religious Studies in America according to Niche.com.
When it comes to having fun off-campus, here are a few popular spots:
- The Escape Tulsa: 16 minutes away from main campus
- Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge: 19 minutes away
- Admiral Twin Drive-In: 20 minutes away
If you get tired of the on-campus food, try some of these highly rated off-campus food options:
- Gyros By Ali, Tulsa: 2 minutes away
- El Samborsito: 2 minutes away
- Kaido Boba & Coffee: 6 minutes away
Lastly, when it comes to off-campus fun, here are some popular attractions nearby:
- Tours of Tulsa: 12 minutes away
- Tulsa Zoo: 27 minutes away
- Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium: 25 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Students used the word âChristianâ to best describe the university
- Chik-Fil-A is an on-campus food option
- Almost every student feels safe on this campus
- Sports have a a big impact on campus life
- Thereâs no Greek life
4. University of North Florida, FL
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 semester individually: $2,346
Total cheapest housing from 2023-2024 (without included fees): $4,692
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
Academic Influence – #10 for 10 Best, Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2024 (undergrad tuition)
About UNF Housing
In fourth place on this list we have the public University of North Florida. To stay in their most affordable housing on campus, Osprey Hall, youâll only have to pay $4,692 a year. Notice that this is based on the 2023-2024 school year though. Unfortunately, the 2024-2025 numbers werenât available yet at the time of writing this.
To give you a summary of the rooms, theyâre traditional style double dorms. That means that they donât come with private or suite-style bathrooms. Each one is about 174 sq ft and you donât have to pay extra for utilities because theyâre included in the rent! Here are the floor plans. Each dorm also comes with satellite tv service, high speed internet (and ethernet) and big windows that give you a great view of the lakefront and woodland scenery. When you leave the bedroom and walk into the hall, youâll find a lounge area with itâs own tv, a laundry room and hall-style bathrooms.
Other Aspects of UNF
Now letâs talk about the rest of the school. UNF has a 77% admissions rate and itâs ranked #84 out of 454 best colleges for sports management in America according to Niche.com. Despite this, most students who go here choose to major in liberal arts and humanities, research and experimental psychology or health service preparatory studies.
When youâre looking for some fun and games off campus, check out these spots:
- Breakout Games – Jacksonville: 13 minutes away from main campus
- K1 Speed: 14 minutes away
- Zero Latency Jax: 16 minutes away
If the campus food starts to taste repetitive, try these highly rated places:
- Tacos Azcatl: 4 minutes away
- Senorita Healthy: 4 minutes away
- Q-Cup Boba Tea: 5 minutes away
If you want to check out some local, popular attractions, try these spots:
- Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary: 30 minutes away
- The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: 17 minutes away
- Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens: 26 minutes away
Notable qualities about campus life:
- Chik-Fil-A is an on-campus food option
- Students feel very safe on-campus
- Sports arenât a big part of campus life
- The Florida Vs. Georgia Tailgate is the biggest event of the year
- There are more sorority members than fraternity members
5. Texas A&M University, TX
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 semester individually: $2,293
Total cheapest housing from 2023-2024 (without included fees): $4,586
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
U.S News – #71 in Best Value Schools
Forbes – #45 America’s Best Value Colleges 2019
College Vine – Ranked #3 out of 10 Cheapest Colleges in Texas
About TAMU Housing
Fourth on this list is Texas A&M University! The most affordable housing on this public schoolâs campus is called Hart Hall. It has 130 rooms and can house 268 students total. Here is something really important to note though; these rates only applied to the 2023-2024 school year. In 2024-2025, these numbers are set to increase by 3-5%, so instead of $4,586 per year, youâll probably be looking at around $4,724 â $4,815 per year. For this price, youâll be living in a 168 sq ft suite-style double dorm room with a 34.8 sq ft bathroom.
Not sure what a suite-style dorm is? I explained what it is and provided a pros/cons list on this blog post! To get a better idea of the rooms in Hart Hall, here are the floor plans for each one. As you can see, the bathrooms have standing showers instead of tubs, so if you were hoping to fit a relaxing soak into your schedule, then Iâm sorry to burst your soapy bubble. Thatâs okay though, because this hall has so many other amenities to offer! Anytime something breaks, like the toilet or the shower, every resident has access to on-site maintenance service that can help fix it!
Thereâs also staff available all day, almost everyday to try and help you navigate college life. If safety is your concern, then youâll probably like the fact that residents that have a key to a dorm in the hall are the only ones who can access the hall itself. There are also security officers that work in the building. Everyone who lives in Hart also shares some community kitchens, and cooking is a luxury in a dorm (speaking as someone who didnât have a kitchen in her hall).
When it comes to outdoor amenities, all of the Hart students can take full advantage of the â…volleyball pit, picnic area, water bottle refilling stations, and BBQ grillsâ. The hall itself is planted close to parking lots 19, 30, 40 and the central campus garage. Not only that, but you also have âeasy access to Northside Community Learning Center, MSC, [the Memorial Student Center], Southside Community Learning Center, and diningâ. If youâre not a fan of walking to these places, then no worries! Thereâs a bike rack right outside of the hall. On top of all this, Hart also offers âliving learning programs for residentsâ.
Other Aspects of TAMU
Now let’s talk about other important aspects of the overall university. Texas A&M has a 64.3% acceptance rate as of 2021. According to Niche.com, this school also ranked #3 of 150 best colleges for agricultural sciences in America. Other than that, the most popular majors studied here are, according to Niche, liberal arts and humanities, psychology and biomedical sciences and molecular medicine.
Now letâs talk about life off-campus. When it comes to having fun, you might want to check out these fun spots that are close to the university:
- Escape room BCS: 8 minutes away from main campus
- Grand Station Entertainment: 10 minutes away
- Star Cinema Grill: 6 minutes away
When you get hungry in between having fun, here are some highly rated food spots that wonât be on your campus meal plan:
- Mamaka Bowls: 7 minutes away
- The Cookshack: 8 minutes away
- Sushi Masa College Station: 6 minutes away
If you want to check out some popular attractions in your freetime, try these spots:
- George Bush Presidential Library and Museum: 9 minutes away
- Museum of the American GI: 19 minutes away
- Veterans Park Loop: 12 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Chick-fil-a and Panda Express are on-campus food options
- Students have a lot of school pride
- Sports are a big part of the social atmosphere
- There are more members of sororities than fraternities
6. University Of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, WI
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025: $2,400
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $4,800
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
- US News – #49 in Best Value Schools
- Research – 19 Best Value Colleges in the Midwest in 2023-2024 US
- Academic Influence – #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin 2022
About UWSP Housing
In sixth place on this list we have the public University Of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. You have three housing options thatâll cost you $4,800 for the entire year: May Roach, Pray-Sims and Smith.
Each hall is about 168 sq ft. or 193 sq ft. Every single one is a short distance away from Allen Fitness Center, the Marshfield Clinic Health System Champions Hall, Schmeeckle Reserve and student parking lot Q. Each hall also has a Residence Hall Director that lives on-campus, full community kitchens with kitchen supplies available for checkout, a computer lab, laundry room, study lounges, meeting rooms, a gender inclusive bathroom and mailboxes.
Here are the floor plans to May Roach. When it comes to Pray-Simsâ individual amenities, this hall offers an elevator and a music practice room. Pray and Sims are also two individual dorm halls that are connected by the elevator; Sims is for girls and Pray is for boys. Here are the floor plans to the halls. When it comes to Smith Hall, it also comes with a music practice room, and here are the floor plans to the dorms.
Other Aspects of UWSP
Letâs talk about the other aspects of this school. The admissions rate for UWSP is 90.2% as of 2021 and the most popular majors, according to Niche are business, wildlife and fisheries management and liberal arts and humanities. When it comes to what the school is known for, however, its ranked #158 out of 1,344 for the best schools for college athletics in America; this is according to Niche.com.
When youâre ready to take a trip off-campus, here are some fun places to visit:
- Putt N Play: 4 minutes away from main campus
- Breakpoint Escape Rooms: 9 minutes away
- SentryWorld: 3 minutes away
Here are some off-campus food options that are highly rated:
- Micheleâs Restaurant and Catering: 1 minute away
- Culverâs: 3 minutes away
- Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse: 1 minute away
Some popular attractions to try are:
- Green Circle Trail: 3 minutes away
- Stevens Point Sculpture Park: 4 minutes away
- Tactical Escape 101: 4 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Sports arenât a big part of college life
- Homecoming is the most popular event of the year
- There are more sororities than fraternities
- Greek life has an effect on the campus social scene
7. University Of Wisconsin – River Falls, WI
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024: $2,404
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $4,808
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
Niche – #880 out of 1,482 Best Value Colleges in America
Research – 12 Best Value Colleges in the Midwest in 2023-2024 US
Academic Influence – Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin 2022
About UWRF Housing
In seventh place for the cheapest dorm rooms in the U.S, we have a public school called the University Of Wisconsin – River Falls. Remember how Oral Roberts University has seven dorm rooms available for the same price? Well this school has nine! Not only that, but seven of them are co-ed, so almost everyone can benefit from this price. Wait, thereâs more; a lot of schools have an age limit when it comes to who can stay in their campus dorm halls, but not this school. Four of these halls allow students of any age to benefit from these prices as well!
Most of these rooms are double dorms that are 165 sq ft. Here are the floor plans for each one. Hathorn has east & west rooms that are 168 sq ft. while its center rooms are 165 sq ft. Letâs talk about amenities. Every single hall has a common area, individual and group study rooms, a soda and snack machine, a lounge area with a tv, a microwave, a basement hangout area and mini fridge in each dorm and one or more free laundry rooms. Here are the amenities that each hall has individually:
A free laundry room and a full kitchen:
More than one full kitchen:
Multiple hall-style bathrooms that have hand dryers:
- Crabtree, Johnson, May, Parker, Prucha and Stratton
Community bathrooms that feature private bathrooms, shower rooms and fully private bathrooms:
- Grimm and McMillan
Hall-style bathrooms but also has some private bathrooms:
- Hathorn
Elevators:
- Crabtree, Hathorn, Johnson and May
Regular restrooms:
- Hathorn, Johnson, May, Prucha and Stratton
Gender neutral restrooms:
- Crabtree and Parker
A dart board, pool table and a ping pong table:
- Hathorn
Air conditioning and an outdoor patio:
- May
Now letâs talk about outdoor amenities. Every hall is close to a sand volleyball court. Here are the outdoor amenities that each hall has individually:
Near the campus trails:
- Crabtree, Hathorn, Johnson, May, Parker, Prucha and Stratton
Short distance away from the Falcon Center:
- Hathorn, Johnson, May, Prucha and Stratton
Close to parking lot O, basketball courts and a huge lawn:
- Crabtree, Grimm, McMillan and Parker
Near downtown River Falls:
- Johnson, May, Prucha, and Stratton
A short distance away from parking lot E, K and a big lawn:
- Johnson, May, Prucha, Stratton
Close by the south side of the Kinnickinnic River:
- Crabtree, Hathorn and Parker
Near Rodli hall:
- Grimm and McMillan
Now letâs talk about how many students can live in each hall, what gender they have to be, and what age they have to be:
Crabtree: 250 first year, co-ed students
Grimm: 250 first year students
Hathorn: 350 co-ed students who are âone year post high school graduation by move in dateâ
Johnson: 300 co-ed students of any age
May: 150 co-ed students of any age
McMillan: 250 first year, co-ed students
Parker: 250 first year women
Prucha: 140 co-ed students of any age
Stratton: 120 co-ed students of any age
Other Aspects of UWRF
PhewâŠthat was a lot. Letâs talk about what the rest of the school is like. The admissions rate to UWRF is 86.2% as of 2021. According to Niche.com, this school ranked #369 out of 972 schools with the best colleges for education in America. The Most popular majors at this university, according to Niche.com, are animal sciences and husbandry, business and elementary education.
When you want to have some fun off-campus, here are some options:
- St. Croix Lanes: 6 minutes away from main campus
- Hoffman Park: 3 minutes away
- Sterling Hills Disc Golf Course: 6 minutes away from main campus
To mix up your food choices, here are some off-campus food spots:
- Mei Meiâs Cookies & Creamery LLC: 3 minutes away
- Mariachi Loco: 2 minutes away
- The Table on Main: 3 minutes away
Here are a few more attractions that you could visit in your free time:
- River Guide Kayaks: 4 minutes away
- The Falls Theatre: 4 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Sports arenât a big part of college life
- Hockey is a popular sport here
- There are a good amount of parties
- There are more fraternities than sororities
8.University of North Dakota, ND
Fall 2023: $2,690
Spring 2024: $2,205
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $4,895
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
- Affordable Schools – #10 out of 15 Best Affordable Schools in North Dakota for Bachelorâs Degree 2020
- Forbes – #291 for Americaâs Best Value Colleges 2019
- Academic Influence – #1 for Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023
About UND Housing
In eighth place we have a public school called the University of North Dakota. The cheapest housing available on this campus are double dorms in Smith Hall. Each semester is a different price with the fall price being $2,690 and the spring price being $2,205. In the hall, youâll have optional loft beds, full sized closets, access to the kitchenette, free laundry rooms, study lounge and microwaves.
Other Aspects of UND
UND has an admissions rate of 89%. This school, according to Niche, is one of the best ones for college athletics in America, ranking #40 out of 1,344 other universities. When it comes to majors, most students here choose to study aeronautics and aviation technology, nursing and liberal arts and humanities.
When youâre not in the mood to study, here are a few fun spots to check out in your freetime:
- Alerus Center: 3 minutes away from main campus
- Northern Air Family Fun Center: 8 minutes away
Here are some closeby places to grab a bite in between the fun:
- Safari Restaurant: 3 minutes away
- Papa Murphyâs Take âNâ Bake Pizza: 3 minutes away
- Las Delicias De La Abuela: 4 minutes away
For more entertainment, check out these other spots too:
- River Cities Speedway: 3 minutes away
- North Dakota Museum of Art: 2 minutes away
- Fire Hall Theater: 5 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Sports have a big impact on campus life
- Hockey is the most popular sport here
- There are more sororities than fraternities
9. University of Central Florida, FL
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024: $2,470
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $4,940
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
- University HQ – #22 in Most Affordable Forensic Science
- US News – #157 in Best Value Schools
- Best Colleges – Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Online Law Degree Programs of 2022
About UCF Housing
In ninth place we have a public college called the University of Central Florida. The cheapest housing found on this campus is called the Apollo Community. In this hall, there are two living space options. In option A, there are two 180 sq ft. double bedrooms with a 116.6 sq ft. common area and one bathroom. This means youâll have three other roommates in total. In option B you have the exact same spaces except you also have a 116.6 sq ft. single bedroom, giving you four additional roommates. To get a visual idea, here are the floor plans for Option A and Option B.
This hall is only available to freshmen students and, for $4,940 a year, they all have access to the laundry rooms, lounges, study rooms and the Knightflix movie channel. This hall is also close to the ââ63 South Dining Hall, Reflecting Pond, John C. Hitt Library, Student Union, Student Health Services, All Knight Study, Recreation and Wellness Center, Parking Services and the Ferrell Commons.â
Other Aspects of UCF
Getting into this school is not easy since the admissions rate is 36%. According to Niche.com, this top ranked school placed #7 out of 972 for the best colleges for education in America. Most of the students who go here, however, choose to major in psychology, liberal arts and humanities and health service preparatory studies.
When looking to have fun off campus, here are a few cool places to check out near the school:
- American Escape Rooms: 5 minutes away from main campus
- Congo River Golf: 11 minutes away
- Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center: 10 minutes away
When campus dining food gets old, here are some highly rated off campus places to try:
- BurgerFi: 4 minutes away
- Lineage Cafe and Bakery: 6 minutes away
- Lazy Moon Pizza: 5 minutes away
We all know that central Florida has Disney World, which may not be the closest to campus but, comeâon, when the opportunity presents itself, you have to go to Disney. In case youâre not willing to make the drive, I included a closer attraction to check out instead:
- Exotic Animal Experiences: 25 minutes away
- Disney World: 1 hour and 19 minutes away
- Universal Studios Orlando: 56 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Students here have a lot of school pride
- Students feel very safe while on-campus
- Sports are prominent in this school
- There are more sorority members than fraternity members
10. Ball State University, IN
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025: $2,499
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $4,998
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
- US News – #195 in Best Value Schools
- University HQ – #19 in Most Affordable Legal Studies
- College Simply – #10 in Best Value Colleges in Indiana
About BSU Housing
The school with the tenth cheapest dorm rooms on this list is a public college called Ball State University. A yearlong stay in the Woodworth Complex will cost you $4,998 a year plus a $200 technology fee. For this price, each student gets access to the fitness room, laundry room, kitchenettes, study lounge and the movie room.
When it comes to dining, this place has a big advantage. This is one of the only living spaces on campus that has a dining service located inside of the complex! It offers seven different food places inside. Woodworth is also a 600 student co-ed complex thatâs not air-conditioned (unless you request an a/c unit). Lastly, itâs home to both the nursing and health professions living-learning communities. These are programs that provide students academic support outside of the classroom and a living space filled with people in the same/similar major.
Other Aspects of BSU
Ball State University has a 68.2% acceptance rate as of 2021. According to Niche.com, theyâre ranked #54 out of 161 schools for the best colleges for architecture in America. Most of the students, however, choose to study liberal arts and humanities, psychology and digital communication and media/multimedia.
Some places that students can have fun off campus are:
- Escape Muncie: 3 minutes away from main campus
- Boulder Falls Mini Golf and BatZone: 2 minutes away
- Mad Axe Muncie: 5 minutes away
Some popular and highly rated food spots are:
- Yats: 1 minute away
- Mariscos Los Plebes (Muncie): 5 minutes away
- Concannonâs Bakery Cafe: 5 minutes away
Here are some more popular places that people like to visit while theyâre in town:
- Cardinal Greenway: 5 minutes away
- Minnetrista: 3 minutes away
- National Model Aviation Museum: 12 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Sports are a little prominent in this school
- There are more members of sororities than fraternities
11.Regent University, VA
Double & Triple dorms for fall 2023 – spring 2024: $2,517
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $5,034
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
University HQ – #22 in Most Affordable Paralegal Programs
Research – 11 Best Value Colleges in Virginia in 2023-2024
College Simply – #67 in Best Value Colleges in Virginia
About RU Housing
In eleventh place we have a private school in Virginia called Regent University. The cheapest housing at this school are apartments called Regent Commons. They have double and triple occupancy rooms that both cost $5,034 a year to stay in. The double room is 370 sq ft. (floor plans) and the triple room is 600 sq ft. (floor plans).
Both of these living spaces have a streaming service, full kitchens with appliances, a/c and 1 mailbox per room. Each hall has one RA and two life group leaders. Everyone who lives in Regent Commons also has access to the Student meeting rooms, fitness center, outdoor volleyball court, free laundry rooms and the outdoor grilling area. Itâs also worth mentioning that this school was ranked #17 out of 1,363 for the best college dorms in America by Niche.
Other Aspects of RU
When it comes to the admissions rate of this school, itâs a lot lower than some of the other universities on this list. Only 41% of everyone who applies is admitted. Those who do get in usually choose to study psychology, business or communications. However, this university was ranked #21 out of 378 for the best colleges for religious studies in America by Niche.com.
When youâre ready to go explore and have some off campus fun, here are some places to check out:
- Breakout Games – Virginia Beach: 14 minutes away from main campus
- Tribal Axe: 12 minutes away
- Top Golf: 9 minutes away
When you get hungry in between, try these off campus food options:
- Honoka Teriyaki Express: 6 minutes away
- Dolcinea: 5 minutes away
- Sakatomo Sushi: 7 minutes away
After youâre full and happy, get back to having fun at these popular attractions:
- Chesapean Outdoors: 19 minutes away
- Military Aviation Museum: 25 minutes away
- Virginia Beach: 18 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Students have a lot of school pride
- Students feel very safe on campus
- Sports aren’t really paid attention to
- There are a lot of online students
- Thereâs no Greek life
12.Florida Gulf Coast University, FL
Fall 2024- Spring 2025: $2,531
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $5,062
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
University HQ – #10 in Most Affordable Legal Studies
College Simply – #105 in Best Value Colleges in Florida
Research – 266 Best Value Colleges in the South in 2023-2024 US
About FGCU Housing
In twelfth place we have the public school called Florida Gulf Coast University. The cheapest living space that youâll find here will cost you $5,062 in total for the year. For this price, youâll be staying in an apartment (yes, an apartment, not a dorm) called North Lake Village that has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room thatâs about 147.56 sq ft., two bedrooms that are about 121.94 sq ft. and two bathrooms. Youâd be sharing this apartment with three other students and two of you will sleep in each bedroom. Here is the floor plan to the living space.
When it comes to amenities, all of the residents have access to the outdoor fire pit, boardwalk, tennis courts and recreation fields, hammocks, swimming pool, kitchen, sand volleyball court, gas grills and computer/study center. Youâll also have lakefront dining that has Starbucks, Pizza by Design and a restaurant-style menu. Additionally, youâll have a private spot for swimming and sunbathing thatâs not open to the public. Itâs no wonder this school was ranked #35 out of 1,363 for the best college dorms in America by Niche.com.
Other Aspects of FGCU
Now that weâve talked about the dorm rooms, letâs talk about the rest of the school. The admissions rate to Florida Gulf Coast University was 89.2% as of 2021. According to Niche.com, theyâre ranked #54 out of 1,387 for the best college campuses in America. Most of the students who get to have this impeccable college living experience end up majoring in liberal arts and humanities, business and psychology, according to Niche.
If you ever get the urge to have some fun off-campus, here are three places to check out:
- Congo River Golf: 17 minutes away from main campus
- Prado Stadium 12: 20 minutes away
- Tropic Escape Room: 26 minutes away
Even though this school has amazing food options, here are some places to try when you wanna spice things up:
- FK Your Diet Fort Myers: 11 minutes away
- Mattâs Red Hotts: 15 minutes away
- El local: 15 minutes away
Here are a couple more places to have fun while youâre off-campus too:
- Sports Challenge America: 24 minutes away
- Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs: 25 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Students have a lot of school pride
- Students feel very safe on campus
- Sports are a big part of this schoolâs social scene
- There are more sororities than fraternities
13. University of Florida, FL
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024: $2,553
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $5,106
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
- Academic Influence – #1 in 10 Best Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2024
- US News – #83 in Best Value Schools
- Forbes – #20 in America’s Best Value Colleges 2019
About UF Housing
The thirteenth college with the cheapest dorm rooms is a public school called the University of Florida. For $5,106 a year, youâll be staying in a quad dorm in Thomas Hall. I canât provide floor plans for this dorm because the living space is in the historic district, making each room different from one another. Inside the hall, each student has access to the laundry room, study lounge game room and a kitchen with a stove and microwave on every floor.
Even though you can cook for yourself, the campus and off campus dining options are still pretty close to this hall. This living space is also near the student recreation center, the hub, newell hall, and library west. The Inside of this hall is also home to a community called the âFirst-Generation Living Learning Communityâ, which provides a support system for students who are the first in their family to go to college.
Other Aspects of UF
This school is one of the harder ones on this list to get into, seeing as the acceptance rate is 30%. When you check out the schoolâs rankings, itâs not hard to see why admissions are so limited. According to Niche, UF is #2 out of 150 best colleges for agricultural sciences in America. Itâs also ranked #1 out of 1,344 best college athletics in America. Even though sports are very popular at this school, the most popular majors are psychology, biology and business.
When youâre ready to take a break from the football games and the academics, here are some fun places to check out off campus:
- Escapology: 6 minutes away from main campus
- Hippodrome Theater: 5 minutes away
- Gainesville Escape Game: 4 minutes away
Here are some of the closeby off campus food options I mentioned earlier:
- Plantology: 2 minutes away
- Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen: 5 minutes away
- Grill Express: 3 minutes away
Here are some other popular attractions to check out after youâre done eating:
- Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation: 27 minutes away
- Florida Museum of Natural History: 3 minutes away
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: 11 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Students here have a lot of school pride
- Football games are huge here
- Sports are a pretty big part of campus life
- Greek life is a pretty big part of campus life here
- There are more members of sororities than fraternities
14. University of Georgia, GA
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024: $2,639
Cheapest housing per year without included fees: $5,278
Other Website Rankings Based on Overall Price (Tuition, Housing, Etc.):
- US News – #138 in Best Value Schools
- Research – #9 Most Affordable Colleges in 2023-2024
- Academic Influence – #1 out of 10 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia 2024
About UGA Housing
Last, but not least, we have the public University of Georgia. The cheapest dorms on this campus are located in Brown Hall which has three floors that house 190 total students. Itâs a co-ed living space that comes with an elevator, laundry rooms, study lounges and community kitchens. A microwave and fridge are also provided in every dorm.
Other Aspects of UGA
This schoolâs acceptance rate is 40% as of 2021 and, according to Niche.com, is ranked #5 out of 1,249 schools for the best colleges for business in America. Most students who study here choose to major in biology, finance or psychology. When it comes to off campus fun, here are some places that people like to checkout in their free time:
- LumberJaxe: 5 minutes away from main campus
- Escape the Space: 10 minutes away
- Showtime Bowling Center: 11 minutes away
Even though this schoolâs on-campus dining options are popular, here are some equally popular off-campus foods to try:
- The Place: 1 minute away
- Ahi Hibachi and Poke: 3 minutes away
- Maepole: 8 minutes away
When it comes to tourist attractions, here are some places people like to visit when they come to Athens:
- Georgia Theater: 3 minutes away
- Bear Hollow Zoo: 12 minutes away
- Downtown Athens: 3 minutes away
Notable qualities:
- Students here have a lot of school pride
- There are more members of sororities than fraternities
- Sports are prominent in this school
- On-campus dining is highly rated
- Greek life is a pretty big deal here
Related Questions:
Is it better to live in a dorm or an apartment?
Itâs better to live in a dorm if youâre okay with living close to campus and other people, a small living space, and less expensive housing. However, choose an apartment if youâre okay with living further from the main campus, having more privacy, a bigger living space, and spending more on housing.