Off-Campus Housing Near Queens College
Off-Campus Housing Near Queens College
About Off-Campus Housing Near CUNY Queens College
Queens College sits on Kissena Boulevard in Flushing, Queens, on a green, 80-acre campus with a view of the Manhattan skyline from the Quad. It's one of CUNY's larger senior colleges, and it's known for strong programs in music, education, accounting, and the sciences. Queens College is overwhelmingly a commuter school. Most students live at home in Queens, Nassau County, and the rest of the city and ride buses or drive to campus. The college's only residence hall is The Summit, an apartment-style building in the middle of campus with just over 500 beds, and the posted housing costs include furniture and all utilities. That's a small option for a very large student body, so most students who need their own place rent in the surrounding neighborhoods. The area around campus, including Kew Gardens Hills, Flushing, and Fresh Meadows, is residential, diverse, and full of two-family homes, apartment buildings, and co-ops. Downtown Flushing, a short bus ride away, has the 7 train, the LIRR, and one of the best food scenes in the city. Because Queens is part of New York City, NYC's FARE Act applies to broker fees, and New York State's caps on deposits and application fees apply too.
CUNY Queens College Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Queens College has no requirement for first-year students to live on campus. It's a commuter school, and most students live at home. The Summit, the college's residence hall, is open to students at any CUNY college, and the housing fee covers a furnished apartment and utilities. For current availability and deadlines, check with the Office of Housing & Residence Life.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Since there's no live-on requirement, you're free to rent off campus at any time. The main hurdles are cost and paperwork. Many NYC landlords ask for income of about 40 times the monthly rent, so students often need a guarantor or a guarantor service. If you're in The Summit and want to move out, review your housing license first.
Lease Timing
Most Queens leases run 12 months and can start any month, with summer the busiest season. New York State caps security deposits at one month's rent and application fees at $20. Under NYC's FARE Act, effective June 11, 2025, whoever hires the broker pays the fee, so if the landlord hired the broker, you don't pay it.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with CUNY Queens College before signing a lease.
When to Start Looking for Housing Near CUNY Queens College
Early Searchers
If you want a room in The Summit, apply as early as you can, since there are only about 500 beds and students from other CUNY schools can apply too. For private rentals, NYC apartments are usually listed about 30 to 60 days before move-in, so start seriously looking about two months ahead. Before that, set a budget, find roommates, and gather documents: ID, bank statements, a guarantor, and proof of enrollment. That prep lets you move fast when you find the right place.
Peak Demand Window
June through August is the busiest time in Queens, when students, new grads, and families all look at once. Apartments close to campus and near the 7 or the E and F trains go quickly. Tour in person, ask which utilities are included, and check the bus ride to campus at the time you'd actually be commuting. Never pay for a place you haven't seen in person or on a live video tour.
Last-Minute Options
If you're searching late, look at rooms in private homes, which are very common around campus, and at shared apartments in Flushing and Forest Hills. Make sure any basement or attic unit is legal and safe before you sign. Widening your search along the 7 train into Corona, Elmhurst, or Woodside can also turn up more options. Winter is usually the cheapest time to sign a lease in NYC.
Neighborhoods Near CUNY Queens College
Kew Gardens Hills
Just south of campus, Kew Gardens Hills has two-family homes, garden apartments, and small buildings, plus shops along Main Street. It's walkable to campus and quiet, and many students rent rooms or floors in private houses.
Flushing
North of campus, downtown Flushing has the 7 train, the LIRR, and a huge variety of restaurants and shops. It has lots of apartment buildings, including newer high-rises, and is a short bus ride down Kissena Boulevard to campus. Rents vary widely by building.
Forest Hills
A short bus ride southwest, Forest Hills has prewar apartment buildings, the Austin Street shopping strip, and express E and F trains to Manhattan, plus the LIRR. Rents are often higher, but it's a popular pick for students who travel into the city often.
Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Campus Housing Near CUNY Queens College
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A room in a private house near campus often runs roughly $900 to $1,400 a month, and a one-bedroom apartment in the area often runs around $1,900 to $2,600.
No. Queens College is a commuter school with no live-on requirement. The Summit residence hall is available for students who want it.
Most live at home and commute from Queens, Nassau County, and other boroughs. Others live in The Summit or rent in Kew Gardens Hills, Flushing, or Forest Hills.
No. Buses along Kissena Boulevard connect to the 7 train in Flushing, and other buses reach the E and F trains. Many commuters do drive, though.
About 30 to 60 days before you want to move in. Apply for The Summit early if you want campus housing.
Not if the landlord hired the broker. Under NYC's FARE Act, effective June 11, 2025, whoever hires the broker pays the fee.
The neighborhoods around campus are mostly residential and quiet. Use normal city sense at night and check blocks before you sign.
In rooms in private homes, utilities are often included. In apartments, heat and hot water sometimes are, but electric usually isn't. The Summit includes utilities.
Yes. Room rentals in private homes and shared apartments are common. Get any sublet approved in writing by the landlord.
It's a huge commuter school with a single residence hall, so most students who need housing are renting rooms in the neighborhood rather than competing for dorms.
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