College students typically end up living in dorms on campus or nearby apartment buildings. As Ember Braun reports, rent prices in Reno are steep for overworked college students.
AJ Dossey and Emma Staffenburg are both third year college students, getting ready to move into their first apartment.
Currently, the couple lives in a neighborhood near UNR with Dossey’s parents - not their ideal situation.
They’ve been packing up their belongings with what time they have leftover from work, school and other responsibilities.
They’re both elated to have their own place - but the cost of rent, and only being able to work part-time with classes, is proving to be a struggle.
Stauffenberg is a student researcher at UNR and cleans houses on the side. She says she’s excited to be moving out, even if rent prices are intimidating.
“It’s 1150 dollars for a 380 square foot studio," she says. “I think it's going to be ok, but I do think rent is outrageous in Reno and that was one of the cheapest places. Why are we expecting students to pay 700+ dollars?”
Dossey, a student-worker at Truckee Meadows Community College and a part-time tutor at Kumon, is able to laugh at the situation.
“We’re gonna be pretty broke, very broke, but we’re going to donate plasma for food, so it’s gonna work out,” he said.
Some students look forward to working full-time, because of the benefits it comes with.
Olivia Braun is one of those students. She’s a senior at UNR, working at the University Studies Abroad Consortium, or USAC, as a Student Ambassador.
As she drives to campus on a weekday morning, she gets frustrated over the traffic that might make her late for class. Housing further away from the university can be cheaper.
“I’ve been in traffic since Red Rock!” she exclaims.
Braun, my sister, has similar frustrations for the renting situation in Reno.
“I feel like it's harder to find housing for college students in Reno because everything is so expensive, especially if you’re a full time student. Especially if you don’t have roommates. It’s almost impossible,” she said.
She says that when she graduates, working full-time will better support her.
As for me, I have a 28-hour per week job and pay 536 dollars a month in rent. I get by, but I don’t have extra income that allows me to do things outside of paying bills and buying groceries. Seemingly a common struggle for us college students.
Even for recent students, challenges remain.
Elliot Schifferdecker is a graduated Arizona State University student, now working full-time for Perenn Bakery in Reno.
He and his partner pay 1350 dollars in rent for a one bedroom apartment in midtown.
Although working full-time has been helpful, he says that rent prices are intimidating.
“I think working full-time makes it easier for sure, but I could see it continuing to go up. Right now I’m more comfortable than I was,” he said.
“Once you’re out of school there’s a lot more opportunity to get a place of your own.”
His advice for college students? Get comfortable with having roommates.