Frequently Asked Questions

How many students live off campus?

How can I find a roommate?

How long is a lease for?

Can I park on campus if I live off campus?

Can I still purchase a meal plan if I live off campus?

What is the 1-Mile Radius Rule?

Are there shuttle buses that run to off-campus apartments?

How safe is off-campus housing?

Where should I look for off-campus housing?

Can I use my financial aid for off-campus housing?

Can I still use on-campus amenities if I live off campus?

I have a place available that I am looking to sublease or rent out to students, where can I list it?

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How many students live off campus?
Approximately 60 percent of UNCW students are commuter students.

How can I find a roommate?
The PERCH Off-Campus Housing website has a roommate finder feature that allows UNCW and CFCC students to fill out a profile and search for a roommate.  This is a safer way to search for a roommate because you must have a UNCW or CFCC email in order to access this feature on the website.

How long is a lease for?
Typically leases last for 12 months, but there are several places in Wilmington that offer short-term or flexible leases.  To view some of these places, visit the PERCH Off-Campus Housing website and use the Lease Length sort option under the Housing section.

Can I park on campus if I live off campus?
If you live outside of the 1-mile radius of campus, you may purchase a commuter student parking permit.  If you live within the 1-mile radius of campus, you can only park on campus if you purchase a night and weekend parking permit.  A night and weekend permit allows for students to park on campus during weekends hours and during the week between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:00am.  Many students living within the 1-mile radius choose to walk, bike, skateboard, or carpool to campus.  There are also free shuttle buses that run throughout the 1-mile radius and bring students to campus.  View the 1-Mile Radius Map (PDF) or visit the Parking Office website for more information on parking permits and shuttle bus routes.

Can I still purchase a meal plan if I live off campus?
Yes, commuter students may choose to purchase an on campus meal plan, but they are not required to do so.  For more information about on campus meal plans, visit the Campus Dining website.

What is the 1-Mile Radius Rule?
Off-campus students who live within the 1-mile radius of campus may not park on campus unless they purchase a night and weekend parking permit.  A night and weekend permit allows for students to park on campus during weekend hours and during the week between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:00am.  Many students living within the 1-mile radius choose to walk, bike, skateboard, or carpool to campus.  There are also free shuttle buses that run throughout the 1-mile radius and bring students to campus.  View the 1-Mile Radius Map (PDF) or visit the Parking Office website for more information on parking permits and shuttle bus routes.

Are there shuttle buses that run to off-campus apartments?
Yes, there are shuttle buses that run throughout the 1-mile radius of campus and bring students to campus.  Many of the stops along the routes are directly in front of or across from off-campus apartments.  These buses, as well as all of the Wave Transit buses, are free for UNCW students to ride.

How safe is off-campus housing?
For information on crime statistics, call the Wilmington Police Public Information Officer line at (910) 343-3602.  If you are concerned about safety, ask the places you are interested in what safety measures they have in place.  For instance, do they have alarm systems?  Is it in a gated community?  Are there security guards on patrol?  How well-lit is the neighborhood?

Where should I look for off-campus housing?
Visit the PERCH Off-Campus Housing website and look under the Housing section.  You can view apartments, houses, condos, etc. that are available to rent.  Use the different sort options on the right-hand side of the page to sort by price range, number of bedrooms or bathrooms, lease length, pet allowances, neighborhood location, and more.

Can I use my financial aid for off-campus housing?
Yes, the financial aid cost-of-attendance budget includes a room and board allowance.  The room and board allowance is the same for students, whether they live on or off campus.  Completed financial aid credits to student accounts to take care of university charges.  Anything left is refunded to the student.  Students may use refunds to pay rent and living expenses off campus.  Keep in mind that financial aid refunds are not available to students before classes begin each semester so plan accordingly; you may have some deposits and fees that are due before you will receive your aid.  For more information on financial aid, visit the Financial Aid website. 

Can I still use on-campus amenities if I live off campus?
Yes, you can still use on-campus amenities, even if you are an off-campus student. 

I have a place available that I am looking to sublease or rent out to students, where can I list it?
You can post your available sublease or rental on the PERCH Off-Campus Housing website.  We direct all students inquiring about off-campus housing to this website.  Students can also post their available sublease on the PERCH Facebook page.