Commuters
Off Campus vs. On Campus Costs
The transition to college life is a big one, but Housing and Residence Life is geared to make college convenient, affordable and comfortable for any type of student. Housing and Residence Life wants residents to enjoy the safety of campus living, caring staff, easy access to dining and a quality of living not found in off-campus apartments. With the numerous amenities and access to dozens of on-campus resources, living on-campus is worth every penny.
| Off Campus | On Campus | |
| Housing | $7,3001 | $3,7802 |
| Utilities | $2,900 | All Included plus trash services |
| Internet | $740 | High Speed & Wireless Service Included |
| Laundry Services | $240 | Washers/Dryers Free for residents |
| Food | $3,840 | $4,7403 |
| Gas/Trans. | $680 | No Commute |
| Deposits | $980 | No Deposit Required |
| Academic Year Total | $16,681.70 academic year | $8,520 academic year |
| Semester Total | $8,340.85 per semester | $4,260 per semester |
1 Based on the average rate for apartments within Tahlequah city limit ($730/month
rent).
2 Based on the 2024-2025 rate for a traditional residence hall room ($1,890 semester
rates).
3 Based on the 2024-2025 rate for the most popular residential meal plan (180 meal
block w/ 175 flex plan).
Commuter Information
Commuter Exemption Request Form (Login Required)
Commuter Meal Plan (Login Required)
Retrieve you NSU Username if this is your first time logging in.
On-Campus Housing offers a variety of residence halls, staffed with highly qualified professionals. Because it is the University's philosophy that on-campus living is essential to the success of undergraduate students, incoming students who have not completed 30 hours prior to the beginning of the Fall term will be required to live on campus for the academic year.
All first-time freshman students (under 30 hours before the beginning of fall semester) who are unmarried, without dependents, and under the age of 21 are required to reside in campus housing during the academic year. Students residing with their parent/guardian may be exempt if they are living within a 30-mile radius of the NSU Tahlequah campus determined by permanent address zip code. Students requesting to commute must do so through the housing portal by selecting and completing the Commuter Exemption Form. All exceptions must be granted by the Director of Residence Life, or his/her designee, in conjunction with a review committee.
The Director of Resident Life will form a committee to review first time freshmen requests to commute from a permanent address outside the 30-mile campus radius.
The initial request to commute will be submitted on-line and will be automatically reviewed by the RMS Housing Software system. Those inside the 30-mile radius, based on their zip code, will be accepted; those outside the 30-mile radius will be denied.
Individuals who are denied may submit an appeal request, in writing, for an exception to the policy to the Director of Residence Life. The Director will initially review these requests and approve exceptions to the policy based on the information provided, gain additional information from the student, and review any additional information needed to corroborate the student's request.
All remaining requests will be reviewed by the Commuting Distance Exception Committee.
- The Committee will consist of 5 faculty and staff members selected to sit on the committee.
- A quorum of three members must be present to meet and make a decision.
- The decision set forth by the Committee will be final.
- The Committee will meet on an as-needed basis as determined by the number of requests.
- The high volume time for review will likely be over the summer and the few weeks leading into the fall semester.
Exceptions to the policy during review are considered for such things as financial strains created by adding the cost of on campus housing, medical and psychological situations that make on campus living an obstacle, and other unforeseen and unique circumstances. Each student's success and well-being serves as the foundation for all exception decisions.