Living Off Campus FAQs
Getting Started
A great place to start is our housing search website. There you can look at listings and sort by lease type, price, number of bedrooms, and so much more. It's a great way to start seeing what's out there.
Students can log in using their UNCW credentials to gain full access to the website. Parents and families are encouraged to create guest accounts, to gain partial access.
A shared lease is a single lease agreement signed by all roommates. The household is collectively responsible for paying the full rent each month, so roommates must coordinate rent payments and often set up and manage utilities on their own.
An individual lease is a separate lease agreement for each roommate. Each resident is responsible only for their own rent payment and lease obligations. Utilities are often included in the rent, reducing the need for roommates to coordinate bills.
In summary: With a shared lease, roommates share responsibility for the entire apartment and rent payment. With an individual lease, each roommate is responsible only for their own portion of the housing agreement.
We recommend that you request to review a lease before you visit the property. This way you can review the document and come prepared with any questions you may have.
During a visit, you should check the building quality. This way you can see if the building is properly maintained. Living at the beach means we sometimes have hurricanes, it's important that you feel comfortable in any place you live.
Visiting the property at night to ensure you feel comfortable with the exterior lighting. It's important you feel comfortable walking from your vehicle to your home, even in the dark.
Checking your cell phone signal while at the property to make sure you have an ability to call for help when there is an emergency.
Renters insurance helps protect your personal belongings in the event of theft, fire, water damage, or other covered losses. Your landlord’s insurance generally covers the building itself, not your personal property. Some landlords may also require proof of renters insurance before you move in.
We strongly recommend purchasing your own renters insurance policy, even if your rental community offers coverage for an additional fee. Having your own policy allows you to work directly with your insurance provider if you need to file a claim.
Renters insurance is typically affordable and available through most major insurance companies. Students whose parents have a homeowners insurance policy may also be able to add coverage through their family’s existing policy or qualify for discounts.
Yes. Students are welcome to schedule a 20-minute consultation with an Off-Campus Student Services staff member. During the appointment, staff can answer questions, demonstrate how to use the housing search website, and help you develop a housing search strategy based on your needs, budget, location preferences, and other priorities.
Please note that staff cannot endorse, recommend, or rank specific properties, landlords, or management companies. Staff also cannot serve as apartment locators or make housing decisions on your behalf.
Schedule an Appointment
Finances and On-Campus Resources
Yes! The financial aid a student receives goes to pay the UNCW bill. There is often extra money left over once everything on the bill is paid; especially if the student doesn't have on-campus housing, dining, and/or the UNCW insurance.
The student will receive that excess money the first week of class through direct deposit or a check, depending on how they set it up through Ebill. The reimbursement will be automatic once the bill is covered.
For example, if the student receives $10,000 in aid, and the bill is $6,000, the remaining $4,000 would be given to the student to cover extra expenses (e.g. off campus housing or other school related expenses).
Other inquiries about the process should be directed to your financial aid counselor.
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 Campus Dining.
Yes! You can still use on-campus amenities, even if you are an off-campus student.
Rooming Info
Our housing search website includes a roommate-matching feature that allows students to create a profile and connect with other students looking for roommates.
You can use filters to narrow your search based on factors such as housing status ("Need a Place" or "Find a Place"), move-in timeline, cleanliness preferences, gender, and more.
Each profile includes information provided by the student, and users may choose to link their social media accounts if they are comfortable doing so.
Because the platform uses UNCW Single Sign-On, you can message potential roommates directly through the website before deciding whether to continue the conversation elsewhere.
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 Off Campus Housing website and use the Lease Length sort option under the Housing section.
You can post your available sublease or rental on the Off Campus Housing website. We direct all students inquiring about off campus housing to this website.
Transportation & Safety
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 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
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. Please note, the 1-mile radius is set by the university and does not follow GoogleMaps.
Off-Campus Shuttle and 1-Mile Radius Map
Find more information on parking permits and shuttle bus routes.
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. View shuttle routes.
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?
For information on crime statistics, call the Wilmington Police Public Information Officer line at 910.343.3602 or visit the Wilmington Police Crime Log below.
Contact Us
Off-Campus Student Services
Phone: 910.962.3119
Fax: 910.962.2284
601 S College Road
DePaolo Hall, Suite 1092
Wilmington, NC 28403-5941
Office Hours:
Starting Monday, May 11 - Friday, August 7:
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
The Office of the Dean of Students provides Off-Campus Student Services.