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If you’re married, apartment housing offers a quiet refuge from the bustle of campus life. Almost all college communities offer a mix of privately owned properties and university-sponsored apartments reserved for married students. University-owned apartment buildings may be located on or off campus.

In most cases, there are more similarities than there are differences between private and university-owned married housing. One distinction between the two is that you pay an apartment manager when residing in a private building, and the university's business office when your school is the landlord.

Rent and service fee breaks

You are likely to find that rent prices are competitive when comparing medium-priced private apartments with the married housing properties run by a college. Universities, however, may be more inclined to negotiate bulk procurement discounts with service providers that result in savings for students. These include group service contracts for phone, cable, and high-speed Internet.

Sometimes you can find specific information about price breaks for students by checking the FAQs on your school's Web site. You can also call the student housing office to ask about service discounts. If cable and Internet service prices have been reduced for dormitory residents, there's a good chance that married students receive the same benefit.

Additional fees and utilities

The following additional expenses may apply to apartment housing for married students:

• Security deposit: Often the equivalent of one month's rent, and sometimes more.
• Gas and electric: Paid either to your local utility or to the student business office.
• Water and trash pickup: Ask if the apartment property owner or university picks up these charges.