On Campus Living Vs. Commuting – Which is Right for You?

There’s no “right” way to do college. Some students may love living on campus, while others prefer the commuter lifestyle. In fact, 39% of Webster undergraduate students live on campus, while 61% of undergraduate students are commuters! The big question is – which is right for you? Here are a few items to consider when planning housing for your time in college. 

Outside of finances, one of the biggest factors to think about is your social life. Many students say that living on campus their first year allowed them to bond with their peers much quicker. It’s easier to make plans – especially spontaneous ones – when living in the same building (or even room) as your friends. Plus, the shared experience of being away from home for the first time can cause you to connect on a deeper level.  

However, that’s not to say that commuters can’t have a vibrant social life. Milan Henline, a third-year commuter student, shared his firsthand experience at Webster University, saying that getting involved in student organizations largely helped him find his niche on campus.   

“Webster University has countless clubs and events that go on multiple times a week, so if you decide to commute, I recommend getting involved in as many organizations as possible to find your social scene. From just the first weekend on campus during orientation, there are opportunities to put yourself out there and make friends. In addition, there is a commuter student session where orientation leaders talk about their experiences commuting and it gives the freshman commuters a chance to meet each other. Overall, if you plan on commuting and have heard from people around you that it would be impossible to make friends, I would completely disagree. Webster University is a very tight community with lots of opportunities to get involved and meet people from just your first steps on campus.” 

Webster students also cited a daily commute (or not having a commute) as another factor to consider. Residential students agreed that not having to worry about driving and parking were big advantages to living on campus.  

“I chose to live on campus because it's easier to get to my classes, plus I wanted to experience college life,” said Tee Coffman, a second-year psychology student. “Also, it’s easier to attend events, like study groups and movie nights with friends.”  

For others, the commute time isn’t a big deal – they find it as a way of relaxing and de-stressing. They also find commuting to be the more financially rewarding option, in addition to having more separation between their home and school lives. Brian Rubin, a junior majoring in journalism, attested to this.  

“I commute because of a few reasons. One reason was because it was more affordable to commute, and I also like listening to music before class since it helps me relax. I enjoy getting to be with my dog and mentally separating school and home. Granted, I am on campus over 60 hours a week because I like being on campus - I just don't want to live on campus.” 

However, living on campus can be beneficial when it comes to your day-to-day class schedule. Some classes are only offered on specific days and times – making it challenging to find courses during the same time frames. Some students end up having several hours between classes. If this happens, on-campus residents have the advantage of being able to return to their dorms to rest and recharge. 

“One of the benefits to being a residential student is that if you have an hour between classes, you don't have to go sit in a public place,” says Abigail Stone, a second-year student living in East Hall. “You get to go back to your room and take a nap if you want.” 
 
If you are a commuter student, there are plenty of spaces around campus for hanging out between classes. The University Center has several couches and nooks, while the Emerson Library provides a quieter place to study. Most academic buildings on campus also have common spaces for students to hang out in. 
 
Another item to consider is your personal goals during your time in college. Stone explained how living on campus helped her to better learn about herself.  
 
“I wanted to live on campus because I wanted my college experience to be an independent one where I was given the opportunity to be in charge of myself. It helps to separate high school you from college you. If you aren't used to living with others, it can be a big change. A lot of people are probably going to have to share a space with others in their lives, and if you haven't learned how to do that before college, now is a great time to do it. Living on campus has been one of the best decisions I have made to help myself grow and get to know myself when I am in charge of my own life.” 
 
MJ Antenor, a commuter student majoring in game design and computer science, had a different perspective on college housing. 
 
“Living off campus has a lot of perks - you get to have your own space and freedom to do what you want. Having alone time and physically being away from campus helps me to focus on things that aren’t my schoolwork. It’s also great because I get to live with my cat, and I don’t have to share my washer and dryer. I feel I can more fully unwind after a day of stress.” 

Regardless of their choice to commute or live on campus, one piece of advice remained the same among Webster students: get involved on campus.

“When it comes to commuting or living on campus, do what you feel most comfortable with,” shared Rubin. “Whichever you prefer, the advice stays the same: get involved on campus! With over 60 student-run organizations and lots of degrees with extracurricular activities, studying abroad, music, internships, etc. the possibilities are endless so find something that you are interested in and be a part of it.”