For Graduates & Professionals

Most students live off-campus. Many students with families live on campus in Hasbrouck.

Best time to start searching

Ithaca's housing situation is super competitive! Many students + few houses → so for a small town, the prices get inflated.
For fall intake:

  • By February or March, still plenty of options

  • By May, most places that are owned and operated by a property management company are probably sold out. Can still get housing options from individual landlords, subleases (people looking to transfer their rental contract) and people looking for roommates

Ithaca's General Renting Terms

This is just a general picture because different places may have different rules

  • Generally, I recommend renting apartments/houses that are owned or operated by a property management company rather than individual landlords/owners, as they have clearer terms and regulations

  • Period: Usually only available for a full year (from summer/fall), a few places may be willing to reduce this by a couple of months (summer months)

    • If you want to cut the lease short, you will be responsible for finding your own subletter

      • Transferring the lease to a subletter may or may not incur additional fees

  • Security Deposit: May or may not be required, usually equal to a month's rent

  • Insurance: Some places require that you buy your own monthly renter's insurance. I have used these 2 before:

  • Furniture: varies. Some places are unfurnished

"Tried and Tested" living places

i.e. tempat-tempat yang sudah beberapa kali ditinggali kami-kami orang Indonesia, run by property management companies

  1. Hasbrouck (on-campus, north campus area) → family-centered

  2. Ithaca Renting Company (downtown area) → rame dengan orang lokal, banyak resto
    1. Commons West
    2. Colonial Building
    3. Cityview Apartments
    4. Ivy Broadcasting Building
  3. Collegetown Terrace → rame undergrads, banyak resto, modern building with gym

  4. Maplewood → sepi, calm, modern building with gym

  5. Fairvew → sepi, calm, mirip Maplewood but older buildings and no gym

  6. Be a housing mentor in an undergraduate housing → get free housing and meals. Not sure how to do this but a friend has done this. Try searching online at the Cornell housing website...

How to search for individual landlords/people looking for subletters/roommates

  1. Cornell University Housing, Sublet, and Roommate Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567221950234112

  2. Cornell University Sublet and Roommate mailing list: Subscribe here — Type Join in the subject line and leave the body of the email blank. 

  3. Cornell off-campus housing listing: https://listings.offcampusliving.cornell.edu/listings?search=&priceMin=483&priceMax=4950&bedroom=10&pets=any&likes=false&view=map&safety=false

    1. [Luna] This is how I found my first flatmate & kos-kosan. We are great friends til now and I spend a few holidays with her family. A highly recommended American experience!

  4. Cornlet - Listings from students: https://www.cornlet.com 
    1. Never personally used, but you can contact students and request tours. 


For Undergraduates

As of March 2024, freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus (with exceptions).

Newest dorms (freshmen only, as of March 2024): Barbara McClintock Hall, Hu Shih Hall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall.

Balch Hall (all-female dorm, all years) is being renovated. 


General helpful links

They have contacts that you can reach out to for help as well.

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