Before your student signs a lease, make sure they can answer these questions.

Where your student is in the housing timeline

WashU now requires freshmen and sophomores to live on campus, so for underclassmen, the question is which dorm, not which apartment. First-years rank preferences across six room types: modern or traditional, and single, double, or triple. Modern dorms are newer builds with suite-style bathrooms. Traditional halls have the classic corridor layout with communal bathrooms. Neither is better — it depends on your student's personality and sleep schedule.

Rising sophomores rank the same preferences, with one extra choice: South 40 or the Village (WashU's primary housing area for sophomores and juniors).

Proximity's campus hub has verified student reviews filtered by room type — actual opinions from students who've lived there. Find it at useproximity.org/CampusHub.

Junior year is when it gets more complicated. WashU charges up to $19,500 per year for on-campus housing, up 15% in just three years. Off-campus students consistently pay $9,600 to $12,000 annually. The gap can be $7,000 or more per year.

Off-campus housing near WashU falls into four categories. Units by Delmar Loop are small and walkable. Loop complexes are purpose-built apartments with amenities like pools and gyms. Neighborhood complexes in areas like the Central West End or Clayton have the nicest finishes but are farther out. Scattered houses offer the most space and character.

The financial case for going off-campus is strong. But the savings only hold if your student signs a good lease, in a well-managed building, with a landlord who actually shows up when something goes wrong.

The checklist

We surveyed 500+ WashU students on how they find housing. Most sign a lease without ever hearing from someone who's actually lived in the building. Before your student does, make sure they can answer these.

Have your student screenshot this or save it on their phone before their next apartment showing.

Questions for the landlord

• Who handles maintenance requests, and what's the typical response time?
• What's the policy if something breaks?
• Is the landlord local, or is this managed by a property company?
• Which utilities are included, and which aren't?
• What does the lease say about subleasing? (if applicable)
• How much is the security deposit, and what's the typical return amount?
• Is a guarantor or co-signer required, and who qualifies?
• What's the building's entry and security setup?

Questions for anyone who's lived there

• How was the landlord when something actually went wrong?
• Is the neighborhood safe?
• Were there noise, pest, or building issues that weren't mentioned upfront?
• How ready was the apartment on move-in day?
• Would they live there again?