This page provides basic information about housing related issues; for more comprehensive information, see the Housing section of this website.

Housing in Boston
Boston is a very diverse city, and is home to a large number of colleges and universities. There are innumerable cultural, historical and recreational opportunities, including musical venues of every genre imaginable, many museums, theaters and parks.

Because of the high number of people entering colleges, Boston is in the midst of a great housing shortage. Apartments are harder to find, and because of this rents are considerably higher than normal. Whether you plan to live in Berklee's Residence Halls or in an off-campus apartment, you should allow yourself time to arrange housing in deciding when to apply to the college, and which semester you choose to begin your studies.

The Residence Halls
Berklee houses about 800 students in three Residence Hall buildings. Each building has a different character, ranging from large and bustling with activity to small and quieter. The Residence Halls are dedicated to providing a safe, convienient environment to serve as a base for students to conduct their studies and to experience Boston and the Berklee community.

The general housing situation in Boston has had a profound effect on the demand for space in the residence halls. Since fewer on-campus students are moving out to apartments, residence hall spaces are becoming available in smaller numbers. This means that residence hall space fills up very quickly, and not everyone who wants to secure on-campus housing will be able to do so.

The housing application process is separate from application to the college, and residence hall space is not guaranteed. If you wish to live in the Berklee residence halls, you should pay close attention to the housing application process, and specifically the schedule of when housing applications will be mailed to entering students to ensure you don't miss your opportunity.

Off-Campus Housing
The majority of Berklee students live in apartments in the area or in outlying communities. While Berklee's Housing Office is mostly concerned with on-campus housing, we have put some information in these pages which will help guide you through your search.

Apartment hunting in Boston is not easy, especially trying to get started when you're far away from the city. You should expect an apartment search to take several days of actual looking in the area, involving a certain amount of walking and phone calls. Any planning you do beforehand will make the process go smoother, and leave you more satisfied with the results.

This information will give you some ideas about what research you can do to prepare beforehand, some important questions to ask yourself about your needs and your resources, and suggestions on how to conduct the search itself. Also included are lists of resources such as temporary places to stay while you search, and area realtors.