Neighborhoods

University of Missouri students typically look to rent apartments near the Columbia campus. Down the street from Mizzou, there are multiple options on South Rock Quarry Road. There's The Arch, which offers a private shuttle straight to the nearby campus. A bit further down, there's The Point, which offers pet-friendly apartments and private shuttles to and from campus.

There are also off-campus apartments at The Den located off Grindstone Parkway. Located less than two miles from campus, this complex also offers students a private shuffle to and from the University of Missouri campus.

Many students also opt for off-campus housing at options down Old 63 S. The Reserve at Columbia is a popular choice that offers residents private shuttle service to and from Mizzou. Campus Lodge Columbia, Grindstone Canyon and Copper Beech Townhomes are also located on this street full of off-campus apartments.

Other students look at off-campus apartments located along South Providence Road. There's Forest Village and Woodlake, which is just a short drive away from the University of Missouri. For students looking for a quieter living area, there is the River Birch. They are a bit more costly and are targeted at Mizzou students looking for a calm and serene living situation.

For those looking for housing further away from campus and something more upscale, there are the Aria Apartments, which often hosts events exclusively for their residents.

Dining

There are plenty of restaurants around Columbia and close to off-campus apartments near the University of Missouri.

Just down the street from off-campus apartments, like The Den, there are multiple options to fit a college student's budget. There's McDonald's and Panera Bread for quick, easy bites or Buffalo Wild Wings, Shakespeare's Pizza, HuHot Mongolian Grill, and Sophia's for more variety. Further down South Providence Road, there's The Grind Coffee House for students looking for a place to hunker down and study.

For those 21 and older, there are plenty of options available to grab a drink at. Southside Pizza & Pub is a sports bar where students can play at the many pool tables or eat pizza and drink. Just across the street, there is Deuce Pub & Put, a sports-centric pub complete with bar food and happy hours, perfect for the college crowd looking to wind down.

There's also Tropical Liqueurs, Flat Branch Pub & Brewing, Silverball, and International Taphouse.

Transportation

Many off-campus apartments near the University of Missouri offer shuttle access to and from campus for residents, making it easy to get to campus without a car.

The University of Missouri offers the Tiger Line, which is a free shuttle service that serves Mizzou community members. It offers routine transportation throughout the entirety of the campus with access to select off-campus locations.

Mizzou students can get real-time tracking on Tiger Line buses using the GoMizzou app, available for IOS or Android.

There's also STRIPES (Supportive Tigers Riding in Pursuit of Ensuring Safety), a student-run safe ride program. Through STRIPES, Mizzou students and their guests may call for a free and safe ride home on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights starting at 10 PM and ending at 3 AM.

Parking

Students living in off-campus apartments near campus may opt to drive to and from campus instead of using shuttles or a bike. The University of Missouri offers permits to those parking on campus on a semester basis.

For students looking to have cars and live in off-campus apartments, they can purchase a semester permit from the University of Missouri for $72 each.

Safety

When it comes to safety, the University of Missouri uses MU Alert for its emergency notification system. The university also uses Rave Guardian, a free mobile app that allows students to use their phones as a personal safety device.

Students can invite their friends and family (even if they have not downloaded the app themselves) to be their “guardians.” The students can have one or more of their guardians virtually walk with them on or off-campus. Through a timed trip, Rave Guardian shares a student's real-time location to a selected guardian, along with their intended route, so they can follow along their journey. Should they not make it at their expected time or run into an issue, the guardian is alerted, and authorities can be called through the app.

Shopping

University of Missouri students have plenty of options when it comes to shopping near their off-campus apartments. For grocery shopping, there's Hy-Vee at the Rock Bridge Shopping Center. There's also ALDI and a Walmart Supercenter across from off-campus apartments, such as The Den.

As far as retail therapy goes, there is the Columbia Mall, which offers plenty of shopping and dining options. Nearby, there's also Target, Hobby Lobby, and Marshalls to fit every students' shopping needs.