Types of Housing

Sherman Hall
Sherman Hall, Graduate dorm 		 

Students attending the IEI have a wide choice of housing options on campus and in the local community.  These are basically of three types:

  • Dormitories
  • Apartments
  • Homestays

 

Dormitories: Dormitories: Although some dormitories have single rooms, most often students in dormitories share a room with another student. Dormitories usually have shared bathrooms and they offer a cafeteria in which students can eat.  The University of Illinois has some dormitories for undergraduates and others for graduate students and undergraduates who are at least 20 years old or older.   Students can request a particular dormitory or a single or double room but the University of Illinois dormitory application states that "the student agrees to accept any accommodation the University assigns..." This means that they will try to give students the kind of room they requested but it is not always possible to do so.

The cost of the dormitory depends on the particular dormitory, whether the room is a single or a double, and whether the student also has a meal contract. There is no cooking allowed in the dormitories so it is a good idea to have a meal contract. Meal contracts are required in the undergraduate dormitories and an option in the graduate dormitories.   Details on the cost of dormitory rooms and meal contracts for a specific term can be found elsewhere.

Apartments: Apartments range in size from efficiencies (where the bedroom and living room are the same room) to larger apartments with 1 -4 bedrooms. Some have one bathroom while others have as many as four. Students in apartments have kitchens in which they can cook their own meals. Some apartments provide roommate matching services and individual leases while in others you have to find your own roommate.

Homestays:  The IEI offers a Homestay program through OvECS (a private company) for students wishing to live with American families in Champaign-Urbana while they are studying intensive English. This is not a hotel or a bed and breakfast. Instead, this is an opportunity for students to experience living in an American home.  Host families provide a private bedroom and private or shared bath plus breakfast and dinner. "Host families" can be families with children, couples without children, or single people.   Some have pets and some do not; some live close to campus and some do not.   Students who choose the homestay option pay $180 for the homestay placement fee (non-refundable) and then $600 per month for the room and meals.

At the University of Illinois you will find:
  • 22 undergraduate and 2 graduate dormitories
  • 5 privately owned dormitories
  • 2 university-owned apartment complexes for students with families or single graduate students
  • Numerous private apartments and houses located near campus.
To decide what kind of housing is most appropriate for you, compare the information on the chart below. If you already know what kind of housing you would like, go on to our Making Housing Arrangements page to find out specifically how to get the housing you want.

  Undergraduate dorms Graduate dorms Apartments
Atmosphere Most provide social activities. Emphasis on building a community on the floor. Academically focused. Some social activities planned. Generally more isolated, but depends on the apartment complex. Some have shared facilities like game room, work out room, community center etc.
Food options You must have a meal plan. There are 6 meal plans available. No cooking in rooms. Meal plan is optional. No cooking in rooms. No meal plans, but you can cook.
Roommates You will have a roommate. Most students in undergrad dorms are 18-22 years old. You will not know your roommate before you move in. Single and double rooms available. Students living in grad dorms are generally over 21. You can choose a roommate or go into an apartment complex where you can be matched with a roommate.
Bathrooms Large bathrooms are shared by several rooms. Single and double rooms are available with private or semi-private baths. Depends on apartment complex. Some have private bathrooms for each person, in others, people in apartment share a bathroom.
Contracts One or two semester contracts available. One or two semester contracts available. Generally, most private apartments have year contracts. Students are responsible for finding replacements when they leave. A few have contracts by semester.
Estimated Costs per semester Fall/Spring: $4107.00 - double room with meal plan in university dormitories. $2350.00 - $5364.00 - for a double room with meals in a private university-approved dormitory.

Summer: $22.00/night + $350.00 for meal plan from June 9-August 2, 5 night minimum- double room with meal plan in university dormitories. $1800-$2000.00 - for a double room with meals in a private university-approved dormitory.		 Fall/Spring: $2129.00 - $2560.00 - depending on whether you have a double room or single room. These rates are with no meals in university graduate dormitory. Adding meal plan will add $915.00 - $2814.00 depending on the meal plan.

Summer: $$22.00/night - double room with no meal plan in graduate dormitory . 5 night minimum. 		Fall/Spring: $1960.00 - $2400.00 per person for the semester for a two bedroom apartment with two roommates sharing.

Summer: $800.00-$1000.00 per person for the summer semester for a two bedroom apartment with two roommates sharing
Holidays Closed during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, and May holiday breaks. Open all year. Open all year.
Close to campus All undergrad dorms are on campus. Most are 5-10 minutes walking distance from IEI classrooms. All grad dorms are on campus. Most are 5-10 minutes walking distance from IEI classrooms. Varies widely. Most are within 5-10 minute walking distance of campus. Those that are farther away have public bus access.