Student Housing

On-Campus Housing

Living on campus can be an important part of the American university experience. Benefits include:

• Comfortable accommodations
• Classes within walking distance or a short commute
• Opportunities to make friends and get involved in campus activities

Reserve on-campus housing

When you sign a housing contract with the Residential Life office, you are committing to the full academic year. If you will be in Kansas City for only one semester, contact Residential Life to discuss your options.

Required vaccination

Students living on campus must submit record of meningitis and MMR vaccinations. Exemptions are permitted for health and religious reasons. Students who exempt themselves from immunization for either reason must sign a University of Missouri waiver form (parents must sign for students under 18). For medical exemptions, the form must be completed by a physician. For their own protection, students who have not received the meningitis or MMR vaccinations may be required to leave campus in the event of an outbreak.

We recommend speaking with your physician or health care provider before you arrive to ensure you meet this requirement.

Off-Campus Housing

UMKC partners with CollegePads to help you find off-campus housing. In addition to apartment listings, you can learn about renting in the United States, including landlord and tenant laws and what to look for in a lease.

Explore off-campus options

When looking for off-campus housing, please keep these guidelines in mind to avoid getting scammed:

• Avoid sending money through apps like Venmo or Zelle. Most apartments in the U.S. receive payments through secure rental portals like Appfolio or Rentcafe.
• Use reputable apartment searching websites.
• Check Google Reviews for apartment properties.
• If you know someone in the area, see if they can tour a property for you.

For more guidance, watch the Apartment Hunting in the U.S. recording from UMKC's Financial Wellness Center (June 23, 2025).