Whether it’s a dorm room, an apartment or a house, many WSU students are on the hunt for a place to call home during the school year. Fortunately, Pullman offers a variety of on- and off-campus housing options, many of which are well-connected by public transportation. With the Pullman Community Transit bus serving key areas like Apartment Land and Downtown, commuting to campus is convenient—even as parking remains a challenge.
While off-campus living has its perks, it also comes with trade-offs that students should consider
With grocery stores like Walmart and Rosauers nearby, students without their own cars or forms of transportation can take the bus to the grocery store and back from their dorms.
“Walking to class can be kind of a pain sometimes,” said Aniah Clausell, a senior at WSU. “Taking the bus every day is better, but it can be late sometimes.”
Clausell lives in an off-campus house near downtown Pullman, where she describes the walk to class as lengthy, especially on rainy days. She said that the walk to campus is around 15 minutes, but the bus takes about five.
Location is a large factor for students deciding on their next step. Many prefer to stay close to campus, as it feels safer and more convenient, while others enjoy having distance between home and class. This factor depends on personal preferences, such as whether you prefer walking or commuting to class.
Addie Bentley, a junior at WSU, lives at the Greystone Church apartments on Maple Street. Bentley mentioned the convenience of the location, although she runs into oddballs occasionally.
“Sometimes I’ll run into an oddball on the street, but besides that, I haven’t found any issues living off campus,” said Bentley. “It is such a good location and getting to class is way easier than, per se, living at The Retreat, or somewhere else off campus.”
On the other hand, many students living in dorms and older houses report mold as an issue, as well as outdated housing features.
According to Zillow, the average rent in Pullman is $1,395 per month. Most students choose to live with roommates to cut living costs, especially in houses. Many houses in Pullman are older, having been built in the 1900s. Appliances and insulation can be outdated, but some properties update them. The apartments are fairly new, with developments like University Crossing, which was built in 2023.
Pricing near campus can vary, as the closer you are, the more expensive the rent may be. This also depends on the building amenities, as more recently built establishments tend to have higher costs due to modern appliances, in-unit laundry and air conditioning.
For options further from campus, many apartments tend to be more affordable. Coug Housing offers multiple locations and units, ranging from $499 to $1,014 per month. The lower ranges are further from campus, while the more expensive options are at a location closer and more convenient for students.
However, the pricing also varies depending on the amenities offered. With newer buildings, rent can be over $1,000 due to the updated appliances and utility costs. This applies to arrangements further from campus as well, such as The Grove and Aspen Village.
Whether you are living downtown, on campus or in Apartment Land, WSU students are constantly weighing trade offs between cost, location and amenities in their search for a place that feels like home.
