Off-Campus Housing in Cookeville
We know how important it is for you, as a parent, to know that your student has a roof over their head and is in a safe and secure area. If your student is considering moving off campus next semester or looking for another place close by to live, now is the time to start that process. Cookeville is a college friendly town and most of the off-campus options are very student-friendly. Here are all of the ins and outs of living off-campus in Cookeville.
Start looking plenty of time in advance. Cookeville is a college town and leases come and go very quickly. There are always students moving out or graduating, so leases are becoming available around this time. But with many students looking for a lease at the same time, it is not uncommon to see an apartment available one day and taken offline the next. Also, proximity to campus should be considered for students who do not want to drive to campus or may have concerns regarding reliable transportation. It is especially important to look now if your student is planning to stay in Cookeville over the summer for some summer classes or an internship opportunity.
Students typically should not expect to live in luxury. While there are many new and/or renovated housing options in the area, they are in high demand, and come with a higher price point. If you have a limited budget available for your student’s housing or if your student is going to be paying their own rent, make sure they have a good understanding of just how much they can afford each month. Over the summer, they may have a larger budget due to a full-time job or paying internship, but once classes start in the fall, it is unlikely they will have as much to work with.
If budget is an issue, talk to your student about considering having a roommate, or even two or three. It is a lot easier on the wallet to split a utility bill two or three ways than it is covering it all. When having a roommate, communication is key. While your student may be getting some financial assistance from you, their roommate may be solely depending on student loans or a part-time serving job to pay their rent. Make sure they are being considerate of others involved.
How to find off-campus options. Most of the local options are very mindful of students, which is reflected in their rent prices and accessibility to campus. There are a few apartment complexes within walking distance, which can save money on gas. While others are further away and do require transportation to campus, there are plenty to choose from within a 10-minute drive. So, how exactly do you go about finding these places? There are a few ways:
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- Contact Tech’s off-campus housing liaison, Dawn Crabtree. She specializes in helping students find off-campus housing options in the Cookeville area that fit students’ budgets and preferences. She can be reached at (931) 303-1441 or ttuoffcampushousing@gmail.com.
- Apartments.com - this is a great starting point. Most complexes in the area post their availability on this website. Simply type “Cookeville, TN” into the search bar and a whole list will pop up. You can even refine your search to show only those with two-bedrooms or to those that allow pets. Whatever your student needs.
- Talk to friends. Many students have roommates that are graduating at different times. Your student’s best friend from chemistry class may have a roommate that is graduating next month and needs someone to take over their lease.
Some Rental Agencies & Housing Options Located Near Tennessee Tech:
Also remember, just because your student is no longer living on campus does not mean that they won’t have access to on-campus resources. We encourage your student to still have a meal plan to cut down on grocery prices, or even ride the shuttles to different locations on campus to save on gas money. There is also a Financial Hardship page on Tech’s website that your student can reference if they ever find themselves needing additional resources to help them through challenging times.
Source: https://www.lemonade.com/blog/living-off-campus/
