New international students have a lot of choices when it comes to housing options on campus at Missouri State University and off campus in the community of Springfield, Missouri.

Temporary Housing

If you plan on arriving in the United States before you make off-campus housing arrangements or prior to the on-campus residence halls opening on August 14, you will need to request temporary housing on the airport request form. Even if you don’t need transportation from the airport, this form will let us know that you’ll need accommodations once you arrive and our Welcome Crew will contact you to help you make temporary housing arrangements on campus or at a nearby hotel. Missouri State students receive a discount at a few hotels near campus, including University Plaza and Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven. You have to let them know when you make your reservation that you’re a Missouri State student in order to receive a discount.

On-Campus Housing

All new students under 21 years of age with less than 30 hours of college credit are required to live on campus. That’s a good thing! Living on campus helps you meet new people, get involved in campus organizations, and focus more on your studies. Research shows that students who live on campus maintain better grades, too!  You can submit your housing contract online at your my.missouristate.edu account, but first, learn more about the types of residence halls available at http://reslife.missouristate.edu/.

Off-Campus Housing

You have lots of off-campus options within walking distance to Missouri State, and even a few that offer shuttle services to campus. We put together a Community Guide for international students that includes a section on off-campus housing, and we suggest starting your search there. Carefully consider the condition of the apartment, terms of the lease agreement, transportation and parking, payment options, price, and what’s included in the cost of your monthly rent. Some apartments will include utilities like electric, water, and sewer services into the lease agreement, while others leave that responsibility to the student. Make sure you’re a good tenant – review our International Student Guide to Apartment Living if you’re not sure what that means.