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Off-Campus Housing

Housing Services at Carnegie Mellon University recognizes the importance of our graduate students' residential experience, as it contributes to academic success, personal development, and future achievements. We are happy to offer resources to navigate finding off-campus housing and to help create a positive living experience!

Considering Moving Off Campus?

Housing Services offers an off-campus housing marketplace where you can find rental listings, roommates, and resources. Students who live in off-campus houses and apartments in the many neighborhoods surrounding the university have access to public transportation and university shuttle buses as an accessible way to get to campus.

As a disclaimer, Housing Services does not endorse any particular management company, landlord, or individual, nor do we guarantee the quality of service offered by a particular management company, landlord, or individual. Housing Services acts simply in an advisory capacity; students who are aiming to live off-campus are solely responsible for scheduling meetings with the landlords, inspecting the apartments or houses, and making lease arrangements.

This list of questions, as well as the On-Campus and Off-Campus Housing Checklist (pdf), can prevent you from incurring any unforeseen costs or from having any problems with your lease.

  • Is there a security deposit or an application fee?
  • What utilities are included in rent?
  • Is subleasing permitted?
  • If there are issues with the unit, what does the maintenance process look like?
  • Who is responsible for yard maintenance and snow removal?
  • What type of security does the building offer?
  • Is parking included?
  • If the lease needs to be broken, what does that process look like and what financial responsibilities fall on the tenant?

Pittsburgh has a vibrant housing rental market due to the large number of colleges and universities located in the downtown and east areas of the city. Nearly all Carnegie Mellon graduate students live in off-campus apartments. Students are encouraged to start their housing searches as early as possible since the demand for housing in the communities surrounding Carnegie Mellon tends to be very high.

Neighborhoods

Pittsburgh contains a large variety of vibrant neighborhoods - it is a great place to explore! For more in depth information regarding neighborhoods, please check out this page. Learning the local neighborhoods can be helpful when determining where to find off-campus housing, as most places will list the neighborhood the apartment or house in which they are located. Though this is not an exhaustive list of all 90 neighborhoods, these neighborhoods are the most frequently listed in rental postings for CMU students:

  • Oakland - the location of CMU, Pitt, and several other colleges/universities
  • Squirrel Hill - directly to the east of CMU, can easily get there with the 61 bus line
  • Shadyside - directly to the northeast of CMU, can get there with the 64 or 75 bus line
  • Greenfield - directly to the south of CMU, past Schenley park, can get there with the 58 bus line

CMU Off-Campus Housing

CMU's Off-Campus Housing website allows anyone with an @andrew.cmu.edu email address to browse listings. Many students have great success with finding housing from the companies and landlords on the Off-Campus Housing site. Please read the disclaimer above and be aware that Carnegie Mellon does not visit or inspect any of the properties listed on the site.

As you prepare for your move to Pittsburgh, make sure to resolve or accommodate any existing obligations and anticipate new ones. You may find using a checklist helpful.

Some examples of things to consider:

  • Notify current landlord of lease termination
  • Submit change of address form to IRS, DMV and USPS
  • Establish a budget
  • Arrange for utilities and new service hookups
  • Establish moving dates
  • Obtain new renter's insurance

As you search for the right apartment, it is important to also consider information about utilities and residential services. This is one of the major differences between on-campus and off-campus housing; all utilities are included in the price of your room rate for on-campus housing.

The utility company that supplies utilities to your apartment or house depends on the area that you live in. You should ask your landlord or refer to the lease to determine which companies to contact.

Find out which services are included in the rental cost (paid by your landlord) and which are not (paid by you.) For utilities that are paid by you, you are responsible for setting up those utilities with the company and being there during the time of installation or set up.

Electricity

Natural Gas

Water and Sewage

Determined by neighborhood. Ask your landlord.

Garbage and Recycling

Determined by neighborhood. Ask your landlord.

Internet, Phone and TV

Competing companies provide Pittsburgh residents many options:

Most landlords and management companies in the Pittsburgh area require one-year leases for all of their properties and units. However, below are some companies who may be able to provide short-term or temporary housing options.

Management Companies

Hotels

Short-term Rentals by Owner

Graduate Student Assembly and the Undergraduate Student Senate have partnered to offer all Carnegie Mellon undergraduate and graduate students free legal consultations. If you have legal questions regarding your current or future housing situation you can sign up for a consultation on the Student Legal Consultation website.

Helpful Links

For Landlords

Landlord/Listing information