Student Housing Kalamazoo, MI

Getting yourself into student housing in Kalamazoo is easy with University Living. Search for genuine student residence options at Kalamazoo, compare the room type, cost, amenities, distance from Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College, and book your desired room on the website with expert booking help. Some of the sought-after properties are 58 West and Campus Court at Knollwood, which provide fully-furnished rooms along with modern amenities and proximity to the university campuses.

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There are various options available when it comes to student housing in the United States of America, depending on your financial capacity and preferences. Especially in Kalamazoo, you can either go for a furnished student house near Western Michigan University or a non-furnished apartment if you prefer living on your own.

Student Housing: Also known as Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, such residence option is built only for students and provides fully furnished rooms complete with all facilities such as places for studying, gyms, free WiFi internet access, laundry machines, and social spaces. Most PBSAs also include utility bills along with rent and are near Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College.

• Shared Apartments: These student apartments in Kalamazoo are popular among students who prefer to live in cheap apartments in social surroundings. Each occupant will have their own bedrooms but will have to share common areas like the kitchen, the living room, and bathrooms.

• En-Suite Rooms: Such student rooms in Kalamazoo offer a combination of privacy and living in a community as it includes a personal bedroom with an attached bathroom, while students use the common spaces such as the kitchen and lounge area. It is quite popular among many domestic and international students.

• Non-En-Suite Rooms: These student homes in Kalamazoo provide some of the most affordable housing arrangements in Kalamazoo. The room consists of the private bedroom while students share the bathroom, kitchen, and other common spaces with their flatmates. It is perfect for those trying to lower monthly housing costs.

• Studio Apartments: This student accommodation in Kalamazoo consists of the self-contained unit including the personal bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area all in one layout. It is ideal for those who enjoy privacy and independence.

Private Apartments: The student apartments in Kalamazoo provide personal bedrooms and personal living spaces, which make it appropriate for students, couples, and even professionals. They provide greater independence, flexible lease options, and are available in various neighborhoods across Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo, located in Michigan, is an exciting city in the Midwest with over 261,000 people residing in its metro area. Ideally positioned between the cities of Chicago and Detroit, Kalamazoo has a mixture of industrial heritage and an arts and culture community. The city has a reputation of having craft breweries, local festivals, and the historic Kalamazoo Mall that dates back to 1959 and has become the first pedestrian shopping mall in the USA. Being a young city, with the median age of 26.9 years, Kalamazoo is considered very inviting.

Besides being a hub of learning, where nearly 30,000 students enroll, Kalamazoo has a number of reputable universities, such as Western Michigan University (WMU), a public research university, boasting around 17,605 students and known for its programs in aviation, engineering, and business. Another university found in Kalamazoo is Kalamazoo College, a private institution providing education to about 1,376 students who are enrolled in the K-Plan curriculum. Lastly, there is Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC), which provides career programs and associate degrees, as well as transferring opportunities to other universities.

The rent for Kalamazoo student housing ranges between $404 to $1,799 per month depending on the lifestyle, location and accommodation type. These residences for students include fully furnished rooms, living area, wardrobe, garage, closet, dishwasher, laundry, balcony, parking and more. Here are some of the best student housing options in Kalamazoo:

• 58 West

• Campus Court at Knollwood

• The Tate on Howard

• Redwood Comstock Township

Note: Find affordable student housing in Kalamazoo with University Living and book your ideal home near campus before the best rooms are gone!

The cost of living in Kalamazoo can vary anywhere from $1,080 to $2,465 per month depending on your lifestyle and the type of accommodation you choose. The monthly expenditure includes housing rent from $450-$1,250, food bills from $280-$400 a month, utility bills from $90-$180 a month, internet and cell phone from $60-$110 a month, transportation from $0-$45 a month, entertainment costs from $100-$250 a month, education costs from $30-$80 a month, and other miscellaneous expenses from $70-$150 a month. By choosing affordable student housing Michigan options close to universities, you can substantially decrease your living costs.

Note: Students should note that these are estimated costs and actual expenses vary based on lifestyle, accommodation type, and location. For a more accurate estimate, students can use University Living's Cost of Living Calculator.

The selection of a proper neighborhood in Kalamazoo would not only make your stay more comfortable but also add joy to your student life. Since both Western Michigan University (WMU) and Kalamazoo College are situated here, you will find plenty of student-oriented neighborhoods, providing great transportation services, affordable housing and entertaining venues. No matter what kind of environment you like, there are four perfect neighborhoods for students in Kalamazoo.

• Knollwood: Being situated right next to Western Michigan University, Knollwood is a very popular student-oriented neighborhood in Kalamazoo. Students are able to get to the campus within 0-5 minutes either on foot or using the free Metro Bus. This neighborhood has such an entertainment venue as The Old Goat Tavern, famous for its Michigan craft beers and pub food. There is a lot of shared housing in this vibrant student environment, and average rent per bed is about $400 to $1,100.
• Vine Neighborhood: This is a neighborhood of historic significance frequented by upperclassmen, graduate students, and professional people. It lies a distance of 5-10 minutes by car or 15 minutes by Metro Route 11 from WMU and provides charming Victorian houses. The well-known Kalamazoo Farmers Market provides plenty of fresh vegetables, food trucks, and craft items. Students may expect to pay $950 to $1,550 per month in rent for the property here.
• Downtown Kalamazoo: Students who are looking forward to experiencing life in an urban environment would do well to live in Downtown Kalamazoo, which lies 5-10 minutes away from WMU by car or by bus taking 12 minutes to reach there. There are modern apartments, restaurants, cafes, breweries, and entertainment options available here. Arcadia Creek Festival Place hosts various events all year long. Average monthly rent here is $1,100 to $1,500.
• Oakland Drive / Winchell: With its location right near the university, Oakland Drive / Winchell makes an excellent choice for those students who are looking for somewhere peaceful and beautiful to live. The distance between Oakland Drive / Winchell and WMU is just 5 minutes by car or 10 minutes by bike. The main point of interest of this area is Asylum Lake Preserve, which is a 274 acres natural preserve that is great for walks, hikes, and studying outdoors. Offering a peaceful environment with easy campus access, average monthly rents range from $800 to $1,350.

Students have access to a very reliable and functional transportation network through public transport, bicycle paths, and inter-city train transport. Western Michigan University students can travel around the city in a variety of ways, including public transport that allows them to travel to various destinations easily without the need of a personal vehicle.

• Metro Transit Bus: This is the principal public transport system used by Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University. Students of WMU get to travel using this transport at free cost with a valid Bronco ID, whereas the price of a single adult ticket is $1.50. Buses usually run from 6:15 AM to 10:08 PM on Monday to Saturday and 9:15 AM to 5:15 PM on Sundays. The Kalamazoo Transportation Center (KTC) is the city's main transit hub, connecting students to campus and downtown.
• Bike Sharing & Cycling: As a city that is accommodating to bikes, Kalamazoo provides an affordable form of transport through cycling for students. The Western Michigan University has numerous bike racks while there are cycling trails that link neighborhoods like Knollwood, Vine, and Downtown. Additionally, bike share is available seasonally in specified areas. Cycling is available 24/7 and popular biking spots include the WMU Main Campus and Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.
• Amtrak Rail Service: It serves the Kalamazoo Transportation Center and provides service to major destinations including Chicago and Detroit. Amtrak trains serve the transportation center through two rail lines namely the Wolverine and Blue Water routes, providing four round trips every day. Students aged between 17 and 24 years qualify for 15% off some fares when they book in advance.

Kalamazoo provides a mix of science, history, and natural beauty that makes it an interesting place to discover outside of school. Students and tourists can have access to a number of different sites depending on the season. Below is the list of the most popular places to visit in Kalamazoo.

• Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum: The museum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kalamazoo and a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum offering over 100 air and space treasures. The major feature of the Air Zoo is the only existing SR-71B Blackbird aircraft in the world. At this place, people can experience different flight simulators, 4D shows, and even amusement park rides inside.
• Kalamazoo Valley Museum: This city museum is one of the best small museums in the state of Michigan and has free admission to everyone who visits the museum. It is run by the Kalamazoo Valley Community College and has a Digistar planetarium, a mummy from Egypt that dates back to 2,300 years ago, and science as well as history displays.
• Kalamazoo Nature Center: The center covers an area in excess of 1,100 acres, making it one of the largest nature preserves in the nation. It has over 14 miles of hiking trails through various types of terrain including forests, wetlands, and prairies. The Kalamazoo Nature Center also has the Sun-Rain Room, a three-story facility; a butterfly house; and areas where one can observe wildlife.

Kalamazoo has a broad spectrum of colleges and universities that draw in students not only from all over America but from the rest of the world. From a famous global research university to a highly renowned liberal arts college and an excellent community college, there is a wide selection of academic and professional courses available to the students.

• Western Michigan University (WMU): The largest university in Kalamazoo is Western Michigan University (WMU), and it ranks in the #1201-1400 category on the QS World University Rankings: USA. The university is famous for its programs in the fields of Aviation, Engineering, and Business Administration. Some of the notable graduates of the university are Tim Allen, Luther Vandross, and Loretta Long.
• Kalamazoo College (K College): This is a prestigious private liberal arts college which received national attention from The Princeton Review for the quality of its undergraduate education. Popular classes are in the fields of Business, Biology, and Psychology. Some famous alumni of the college are Steven Yeun, Ty Warner, and Julie Mehretu who excelled in entertainment, business, and art industries.
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC): The college is one of the prominent community colleges providing associate degrees, technical certificates and transferring into universities. Popular fields include Nursing, Culinary Arts, and Computer Information Systems. Ron Kitchen, Margaret O'Brien, and John Schauer are some of the prominent alumni of the college.