Student Housing in the USA: Dorms, Leases, Deposits, No SSN

In the USA, most first-year students live in dorms (residence halls), and many colleges require it. After that, students usually rent off campus, mostly on 12-month leases. There is no national limit on security deposits: California and New York cap them at one month's rent, while Texas and Florida set no cap but strict return deadlines. You don't need a Social Security number to rent; international students usually show their passport, visa and proof of funds, or use a co-signer. And never wire money or pay with gift cards or crypto for a place you haven't seen.

Dorms or off campus?

About 3 million people lived in college and university housing in 2024. Each college sets its own rules: many require first-year students to live on campus and buy a meal plan, sometimes for two years.

What colleges reported as average food and housing charges for 2024–25, for full-time first-year undergraduates:

Where you live	Public 4-year college	Private nonprofit 4-year college
On campus	$12,726 a year	$12,896 a year
Off campus, not with family	$13,673 a year	$13,299 a year

NCES (IPEDS) averages reported by colleges — not what students actually paid.

For off-campus rent, the national median gross rent (rent plus utilities, all renters) was $1,487 a month in 2024; student towns vary a lot, so check local listings and your college's off-campus housing office.

Leases: read the type before you sign

Most leases run 12 months, even in college towns. Academic-year (9–10 month) leases exist but are much rarer.
Joint and several lease: every tenant is responsible for the whole rent. If a roommate leaves, the others can be made to pay their share.
Individual (by-the-bed) lease: you are responsible only for your own rent and room, plus the shared areas.
Subletting depends on the state and your lease. In California it is allowed unless the lease forbids it without consent; in New York (buildings with four or more units) the landlord can't unreasonably refuse, and no answer within 30 days counts as consent. You usually stay liable for the subtenant.

Security deposits in the big student states

There is no federal limit. The rules in some of the states with the most students:

State	Maximum deposit	Deadline to return it
California	One month's rent since 1 July 2024 (two months for some small landlords)	21 days, with an itemized statement
New York	One month's rent (deposit or advance)	14 days, with an itemized statement
Texas	No limit	30 days after you leave (give a written forwarding address)
Florida	No limit	15 days, or a written claim within 30 days
Massachusetts	One month's rent, plus first and last month's rent	30 days; must be held in a separate Massachusetts bank account
Pennsylvania	Two months' rent in the first year, one month after	30 days, with a list of damages
Illinois	No statewide limit	Itemized statement within 30 days, refund within 45

In California, landlords must also take photos of the unit at move-out and, for tenancies starting from 1 July 2025, at move-in. In New York you can ask for an inspection before you move in and before you move out.

Application fees

New York: at most $20 or the actual cost of the background and credit check, whichever is less, and the landlord must give you a copy.
California: the screening fee is capped and adjusted each year ($68.96 in 2026), and since 2025 landlords may only charge it with written screening criteria.
Colorado: landlords must accept a reusable screening report up to 30 days old, and then can't charge a fee.
Massachusetts: landlords may not charge application fees.

Renting without an SSN or US credit history

A Social Security number is not required to rent an apartment. Most international students don't have one at first, and a US credit history takes time to build. What students usually offer instead:

passport and visa details, and your I-20 or admission letter;
proof of funds: bank statements, a scholarship or sponsor letter;
a co-signer (guarantor), or a rental support letter from your college's international student office;
a larger deposit or rent in advance — but only where the state allows it (New York, California and Massachusetts limit these).

An ITIN is not a way to rent: the IRS issues it only for tax purposes, and it isn't an ID. In California, a landlord can accept a passport instead of an SSN and may not ask about your immigration status.

If a landlord asks for a co-signer or a bigger deposit because of a tenant screening report, that counts as "adverse action": you must be told, you can get a free copy of the report within 60 days, and you can dispute errors.

Renters insurance

Renters insurance is not required by law, but many leases require it, and each roommate needs their own policy. The national average premium was about $173 a year in 2023.

Discrimination is illegal

The Fair Housing Act bans discrimination by race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status. You can report it to HUD online or on 1-800-669-9777, within one year. Some states protect more: California also protects citizenship, immigration status and primary language.

Rental scams

The Federal Trade Commission warns about these signs:

a listing copied from another site, or a rent far below the area;
an "owner" who is abroad or keeps finding reasons you can't see the place;
pressure to decide and pay fast;
requests for your SSN, driver's license or pay stubs before you have agreed to rent;
payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency — that is like sending cash, and you probably won't get it back.

Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the site that ran the ad, to local police and to your state attorney general. Our guide to renting safely has more warning signs.

Moving in

Do a walk-through with the landlord, write down every scratch and stain on a checklist, take dated photos and both sign it. In Washington State a landlord can't take a deposit without a written lease and a signed move-in checklist. Agree in writing which utilities (electricity, gas, internet) you pay.

Use the free currency converter to budget in your home currency, and the bill split calculator to share utilities with roommates.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. State and city rules change — check the official pages below, and ask your college's off-campus housing or international office.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an SSN to rent an apartment in the USA?

No. A Social Security number is not required to rent. International students usually show a passport, visa, I-20 and proof of funds, or use a co-signer.

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?

It depends on the state. California and New York cap it at one month's rent; Texas and Florida set no limit. Massachusetts allows one month's deposit plus first and last month's rent.

What does "joint and several" mean in a lease?

Every tenant is responsible for the whole rent and the whole lease. If a roommate stops paying, the landlord can ask the others for the full amount.

Is renters insurance required for students?

Not by law, but many leases require it. Each roommate needs their own policy; the average is about $173 a year.

How do I spot a rental scam in the USA?

Be wary of rents far below the area, owners who can't show the place, pressure to pay fast, and requests to pay by wire transfer, gift card or crypto. Never pay before you have seen the place and signed a lease.

Sources

Calculators in this guide

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Student Housing in the USA: Dorms, Leases, Deposits by State and Renting Without an SSN