As of Fall 2020, Freshmen are not required to live on campus at USF. Historically, The University of South Florida did require Freshmen to live on campus! Some of the University's programs may require students to live in dormitories on campus. Before signing a lease for an off-campus apartment, you should double check with a Freshman advisor on the latest requirements.

Every student has a unique personality and needs, so you should make the decision to live on-campus VS. off-campus based on your personal lifestyle. Some benefits of off-campus apartment living might include: more lenient rules at off-campus apartments, having your own private bedroom and bathroom, and many off-campus apartments allow you to have pets.

The biggest difference between dormitories and apartments is the amount private living space in the floor plans. In an off campus apartment, you'll only share the apartment's common areas such as the living room, kitchen, and patio/balcony with your roommates, so a maximum of 2-4 other people. In a dormitory, you might share the kitchen and common spaces with your entire floor.

If you have a group of friends that are interested in living with you, be sure to tell the community you choose that you want to live together. They can work with you and your friends to get your lease(s) set up in the same apartment. Don't have a roommate in mind? No need to stress -- there are quite a few student communities near campus that offer roommate matching. Their team will give you a questionnaire to fill out and match you with a roommate with a similar lifestyle and interests.

There are a lot of student apartments near campus that offer fully furnished apartments. You can expect to find a bed, nightstand, dresser and desk with a chair in most bedrooms. Most common areas include a small dining table and chairs or bar stools at the breakfast bar and a couch, coffee table, and end table. Some apartments even include TVs. Be sure to ask the leasing team about their furniture package as each community can vary slightly.