Where and with whom you live definitely influences your university experience, for better or worse.

Whether you’re an undergraduate student or graduate student, the Office of International Affairs strongly encourages new international students to live On Campus their first year at Fontbonne University.

However, some students will find off campus living is a better fit for them. Before YOU make that decision, please consider the following questions.

1. How much can you afford to pay for monthly rent and utilities such as gas, electricity, water, Internet, cable/streaming services? Most places in the United States are not all inclusive, each bill is the renter’s individual responsibility.
2. Do you have enough money for first month rent, last month rent, and a deposit to pay upfront?
3. Do you have enough money for fees associated with establishing utilities?
4. How much is renter’s insurance?
5. How far will you commute to campus and what form of transportation are you willing to use?
6. If it is a far commute, how much is public transportation daily? Do the lines run regularly or only sporadically during the times you need to come and go from campus?
7. How much will purchasing, licensing, paying sales tax (once) and personal property tax (yearly), and insuring a car be? How much will you spend on gas for the commute?
8. Will you be dependent on someone else with a car? Do they have a similar school schedule to you?  Are they involved and interested in the same things you are On Campus?
9. How suitable is your housing for daily life – grocery shopping, public transportation, entertainment, distance from university, et cetera?
10. Can you afford to buy furniture and household goods? How will you transport them to your apartment if you do not have a car or truck? Most off-campus housing is not furnished.
11. Where will you launder your clothes? Some apartments provide a washer and dryer but most do not.
12. Are you willing to maintain the property? For example, if you rent a house, you may be expected to shovel the snow or mow the lawn.
13. Do you (or any of your potential roommates) have a social security number? Most landlords will want to do a credit check prior to approving your application to rent an apartment.
14. Do you feel safe in the neighborhood you are thinking about living in?
15. What is the maximum occupancy of the dwelling you and potential roommates are thinking about living in? Many students think it is okay to have many people living in a cheaper place, however, if occupancy rules are violated, the students could end up with very large fines and be evicted from the dwelling.

Public Transportation

Saint Louis has a good public transportation system called Metro Transit with a bus (Metro Bus) and light rail system (Metro Link).

To plan a trip anywhere that Metro Transit goes, please use the Trip Planner and plan your trip by what time you need to ARRIVE. The planner will tell you how to get from your starting location and what time you have to leave in order to get to your ending location at or before the time you need to arrive.

Fontbonne’s nearest Metro Link stop is Blue Line-University City/Big Bend.

Fontbonne’s nearest Metro Bus route is the Red Line #2 stopping on Wydown Boulevard.