What Types of Housing Are Available to UM Students?

If you’re looking at apartment, dorm and house listings and wondering, “What’s the difference? How much does each option cost? Which type of housing is right for me?” then you’re not alone. It can be overwhelming navigating all of the options available to you as a college student and it’s important to know about each one to choose your best fit. 

At Rambler, we’ve helped many students find housing at the University of Michigan and we understand that there are a lot of options. 

That’s why we’ve compiled this guide to the types of housing available in Ann Arbor so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you, including: 

• Residence Halls
• Cooperative Housing
• Greek Life Housing
• Student Housing Apartments
• Traditional Apartments
• Traditional Houses
• Comparison of Housing Types

Read Next: How to Find the Perfect Apartment in Ann Arbor, MI

Residence Halls

UMich on-campus residence halls house nearly 11,000 students across 18 different buildings. While some universities require freshmen to live in these houses their first year of college, the University of Michigan does not require this. However, underclassmen make up the majority of the dormitory demographic.

There are many perks to living in university housing, including the location close to classes. However, one of the biggest perks that UMich residence halls offer to students living on-campus is the inclusion of a meal plan in their housing contract. As well, each dormitory comes furnished and has a community center where students can hang out, get any of their questions answered and rent appliances like vacuums. 

For students coming to UMich after Fall 2026, Wolverine Village will offer five new residence hall options. Each building within Wolverine Village will include front desk service, a laundry facility, a community kitchen and a computer center. Additionally, there will be a learning kitchen in Wolverine Village offering interactive cooking and cultural experiences for residents. 

Housing contracts typically cover one fall and spring semester. These lease prices can vary depending on room type and building but they typically fall on the high end of student housing pricing. As of January 2026, residence housing yearly rent can cost anywhere from $13,760 for a triple economy or quad standard room to $20,598 for a single premium room. 

As well, UMich offers an all-girls dormitory for 140 freshman through graduate students. Students can apply for housing at Martha Cook and enjoy the resident-only dining hall and special events, like Friday Teas. Designed to empower female leaders and foster an all-girls community on-campus, students can learn more about Martha Cook at their Michigan Housing Official Page.

If you’d like to learn more about residence hall pricing and rates for Martha Cook, see UMich’s Room and Board Rates page.

Read Next: A Student Guide to Finding a Roommate at Michigan

Cooperative Housing

In addition to on-campus residence halls, the University of Michigan offers 16 cooperative living houses operated by the Inter-Cooperative Council at Ann Arbor. Located a short walk from campus, these houses provide an affordable community living option for UMich students. 

Because members set the budget democratically each year and price varies by house, Co-Op rent can fluctuate. However, because food and utilities are included in rent and members participate in household chores to keep costs down, cooperative living is generally seen as the most affordable option for student living. As of January 2026, most Co-Ops offered rent $200 less than residence hall prices per month, adding up to a total of about $2,400 saved per year. 

For girls looking for a female-only experience, the University of Michigan also offers a university-operated cooperative called the Henderson House. Open to sophomores through graduate students, the Henderson House holds space for 28 female students located a short walk from Central Campus. As of January 2026, rent at this Co-Op ranged from $9,930 per year to $11,730 per year.

To learn more about each individual Co-Op operating outside of the University of Michigan, visit the Inter-Cooperative Council at Ann Arbor’s page. To learn more about the female-only cooperative housing offered by the University of Michigan, visit the University of Michigan Henderson House page.

Read Next: What’s the Cost of Living Near Michigan in Ann Arbor?

Greek Life Housing

Greek Life housing at the University of Michigan is a requirement for many panhellenic associations on campus. All sororities require that their houses are full, so many chapters will require certain members to live in-house. This usually consists of newer and younger members and chapter officers. 

Because new member and active member costs differ, the average housing costs for living in-house at a sorority depend on membership status. As of 2026, new member semester totals usually average around $1,474 and active members average $907. This is added to the median live-in cost of $7,221 per semester. To learn more about individual sorority cost differences, you can visit the Panhellenic Housing page.

If you’re involved in Greek life, Greek Housing may be a good option even if you’re not required to live in-house. Many chapters offer scholarships to help with housing costs, cook in-house meals and have programs designed to help their members succeed. As well, living in-house can help strengthen your bonds with fellow chapter members, so be sure to look into housing if you’re interested in Greek life.

Student Housing Apartments

Generally the most popular option for University of Michigan students is student housing apartments. These purpose-built apartments are designed to fit student needs and offer a unique array of amenities meant to offer an alternative to on-campus housing. 

While there are many student housing properties in Ann Arbor, a few notable examples include Foundry Lofts, Verve Ann Arbor and Six11. 

Most student housing offers fully furnished units, individual leases, study rooms, printers and high-speed wifi with students in mind. Additionally, many amenities include fitness facilities, pools, spas and sports or recreation facilities to provide additional comfort to UMich residents.

Student housing apartment complexes in Ann Arbor also commonly offer individual, 12-month leases by the bedroom. This is perfect for students who may have to sublease their apartment for study abroad purposes or when they move home for the winter or summer. 

While price varies based on which room you choose, whether you have features like an on-suite bathroom and which property you choose to live at, purpose-built housing usually falls in the mid-to-high end of the student housing price range. On average, rent usually costs between $1,600 to $2,400+ per month. 

This cost includes high-end amenities, a community focused on student needs and leases tailored for individuals. Student housing is popular with first year students all the way to graduates, so if you’re looking for the perks of living in residence halls with the independence of living in a traditional apartment, explore your Ann Arbor student housing options today.

Traditional Apartments

Some UMich students, particularly graduate students and upperclassmen, choose to live farther from campus for affordability or quieter neighborhoods. While less likely to offer the amenities that purpose-built student housing has, traditional apartments tend to fall on the low to mid end of the student housing price range.

Graduate students often prefer private apartments or townhomes where they can maintain a work-life balance. While these options typically require a car or longer walk to campus, they provide more space and privacy. A one-bedroom traditional apartment typically averages around $1,650 per month as of January 2026 while four-bedroom apartments can range between $2,600 to $11,200 per month. 

Traditional apartments typically offer traditional leases, meaning the rent cost is for the apartment as a whole rather than individual bedrooms. As well, traditional apartments typically require their residents to manage their own utility bills individually. For this reason, roommates have to determine how to split rent and who will pay the landlord for the entirety of the rent and specific utilities.

Read Next: A UMich’s Student Guide to Renter’s Insurance

Traditional Houses

Traditional houses are an excellent off-campus living option for students who prefer a little more breathing room. These houses are typically owned by an individual or a property group who manage the rent.

As with traditional apartments, utilities are separate from rent. Residents are expected to sign up for services like gas, wifi and trash in their name and pay these individually. As well, traditional houses offer traditional leases rather than individual leases like student housing apartments. 

Some houses might have a pool or hot tub but the majority will not include any amenities. Houses typically come unfurnished, so budget for furniture if you’re looking at renting one of these properties. 

Houses typically fall in the low-to-mid end of the student housing price range. Rent ranges depending on the property, but as of 2026, renting one bedroom in a traditional house can cost as low as $700 while the total rent for a 5-bedroom property can be around $4,000. 

Comparison of Housing Types

To summarize the typical offerings of each housing type, we have put together this convenient table to help you compare your options:

Ultimately, University of Michigan students have a wide variety of options to choose from when it comes to finding housing. 

Whatever your living preference may be, you are certainly not low on choices. We hope this article helped educate you on the types of housing Ann Arbor has to offer and you can determine which option is best for you.

If you want to learn more about the housing options or need help on your housing journey, contact our leasing team at Rambler. We would be happy to assist you in all of your housing needs.

Alexis

Alexis is a Property Marketing Intern for Rambler Ann Arbor. She's a sophomore at the University of Michigan, majoring in Communication and Media Studies. Her favorite drink to order is a Blueberry Dream matcha!

Published On: March 23, 2026

Last Updated On: April 8, 2026

Finding Housing Near UMich