Whether you are looking for a new spot after a stint in the residence halls or you feel like adjusting your current living situation, you’ll find an array of off-campus housing options throughout Missoula.
Securing off-campus housing is not easy, per se, but with some due diligence and patience, you’ll find the process manageable and rewarding. And with so many options out there, you have several choices for your preferred lifestyle. As a reminder, traditional first-year students with fewer than 30 credits are required to live on campus unless they meet certain requirements. Learn more about housing exemptions here.
Continue reading to discover all the off-campus options in Missoula and the deets on how to secure your new spot.
Hot Tip: UM’s housing portal is a great resource for applying to both the University Villages, Residence Halls on campus, and the Lewis and Clark Village.
Lewis and Clark Village
Students applying to the Lewis and Clark Village for housing must either have at least 60 credits from the University of Montana or at least a 2.5 GPA with between 24 and 59 credits. The bus line UDash regularly stops at the Lewis and Clark bus transfer center for commuting students.
Lewis and Clark Village has 10 residential buildings, lettered from A-J, each with its own laundry room. There is an abundance of bike racks for students to utilize, as well as stations with basic tools and a bike pump if needed. There is a community center for events, and an office if issues arise.
University Villages
The University Villages are available to students taking a minimum of 6 credits. Housing priority is given to students who have dependent children, students who are married and students with disabilities. Single graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty and staff, may also live in University Villages. The three apartment buildings available are Craighead-Sisson Village, Elliot Village, and Toole Village. These apartments are unfurnished and range from studio to four four-bedroom living spaces. There are also childcare and family resources available.
The University Villages are close to the university’s campus and a short car or bus ride from Missoula College. Because of this, the University Villages are a great option for students living a car-free lifestyle. You can apply anytime and must put down the earliest possible move-in day available to you. The University Villages are a very popular option and can be competitive to get a spot. Applying early is always the best bet.
Greek Life
There are 3 Panhellenic Sorority Chapters at UM: Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, and Kappa Alpha Theta. To join a sorority, students go through a five-day recruitment process where they meet current members of the sorority. Each student is connected to a recruitment counselor for assistance with joining. Students are able to join after their freshman year of on-campus living.
For the 4 IFC Fraternity Chapters (Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Nu), students meet with current members of all four fraternity Chapters during a multiday process. Many councils will have minimum GPA requirements for students to meet in order to be recruited.
ROAM Student Living
ROAM Student Living is an independent apartment complex in downtown Missoula catering to students attending the University of Montana. ROAM has many benefits, one of the main ones being its location, remaining in close proximity to all of downtown, and a short bike ride or walk from the University. For students with a car, ROAM has a parking lot for residents.
With other perks such as modern floor plans, private rooms, in-unit laundry, and gyms on every floor, ROAM is a great housing option for busy students. With all their amenities, students can get a workout in and do laundry stress free, having it all be in the same building. There is also high WiFi speed to optimize studying for students.
Private Property Housing
With housing prices on the rise in Missoula, it can be challenging to find an apartment for rent outside of the University that’s close to campus. However, some great options still remain available for students. With the university being near a residential neighborhood, the options closest to campus are renting residential houses with multiple roommates.
By sharing a house with multiple roommates, you can cut the rent price into multiple parts depending on how many people will live there. This can be a great option for students either with a few other friends they’d like to live with or students who would like to join an existing house to fill a spot and make friends.
Religious Houses
Another great housing option for students looking to build a community is living with Emmaus Campus Ministry. While living in Emmaus housing, students will help out around the house to make it the welcoming place it strives to be.
Residence Halls
And, of course, students can always choose to live in a residence hall. If none of the options above work for you, living on campus can always be an option. Whether that’s coming back as a student and living in a different-style residence hall or choosing to be an RA to get more of a leadership role while living on campus.
For more information on residence halls on campus, their pros and cons, and what makes each one special, check out my other blog, Your Guide to UM’s Residence Halls.
Madison Knapp is a student at the University of Montana who majors in creative writing and minors in French. She is an out-of-state student from Bellingham, Washington, and is thoroughly enjoying her time at UM. She is also a DHC student and a proud member of the Grizzly Marching Band. Madison lived in Turner Hall her first year at UM and now lives off-campus with friends in an apartment.
