Off-Campus Housing Near Regis
Off-Campus Housing Near Regis
About Off-Campus Housing Near Regis College
Regis College is a private Catholic university on a wooded, hilltop campus on Wellesley Street in Weston, Massachusetts, about 12 miles west of Boston and just off Route 128. About 3,500 students are enrolled, and a large share are graduate and online students, especially in nursing and health sciences, which is what Regis is best known for. On-campus housing is limited, so the undergraduate residential community is small and close-knit, while many undergrads and most grad students commute. Weston itself is one of the wealthiest towns in Massachusetts, mostly large single-family homes on big lots, with very few apartments. So students who rent off campus look to the neighboring cities and towns: Waltham, just north, is the go-to for affordable-ish apartments and a lively Moody Street; Newton and Wellesley are pricier but close; and Framingham and Natick to the west offer more space for the money. The whole area is Boston-metro expensive, and Massachusetts renter protections apply, including limits on up-front charges. Transit to campus is limited, since Weston is car country, so most off-campus students drive. Commuter rail lines run through Waltham and Wellesley if you also need to get into Boston.
Regis College Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Regis refers to a residency requirement that students satisfy before they're eligible to live off campus, but its public pages don't spell out how many years it covers or whether first-years commuting from home are exempt. Plenty of Regis students commute. Check with Regis's Office of Residence Life for the current rule before you decide.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Students who have met the residency requirement can move off campus. Grad students, who make up a big part of Regis, typically live off campus, and Regis has had limited graduate housing, so ask Residence Life about availability.
Lease Timing
Boston-area leases overwhelmingly start September 1, and that's true in Waltham and Newton too. In Massachusetts, a landlord can only collect first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month's rent, and a lock-change fee up front. Since August 1, 2025, whoever hires the broker pays the broker fee. Ask about heat, parking, and whether the unit allows pets before you sign, since those vary a lot between towns.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Regis College before signing a lease.
When to Start Looking for Housing Near Regis College
Early Searchers
For a September 1 lease in Waltham or Newton, start looking in February or March. Those markets are shared with Brandeis and Bentley students and young professionals, and the best-priced units go early. If you're a graduate nursing student, think about where your clinical rotations will be, since that can change which town makes the most sense. Starting early also gives you time to compare driving versus the commuter rail.
Peak Demand Window
April through June is the crunch for September leases west of Boston. Have your proof of income or guarantor ready and be prepared to apply the day you tour. Because most leases start the same day, waiting too long really narrows your options. Many landlords in this area also run credit checks and want to see steady income, so line up a guarantor if you need one. Tour with your roommates so you can sign on the spot if a place works.
Last-Minute Options
If you're still looking in July or August, focus on rooms in existing shared apartments and on towns a bit farther out, like Framingham, Natick, or Watertown, where there's more turnover. A car makes these options far more practical. Short-term furnished rooms are also an option while you look for something longer. Just make sure any place you pick has parking, since you'll likely be driving to Weston.
Neighborhoods Near Regis College
Waltham
The closest real rental market, Waltham has lots of multi-family houses and apartment buildings, a busy restaurant strip on Moody Street, and commuter rail. It's the most common choice for students renting near Regis. It's about a 10-minute drive to campus.
Newton and Auburndale
Newton's villages, including Auburndale, are close to campus and have older houses and some apartments, with Green Line and commuter rail access in parts of the city. Expect higher rents. It's a short drive to Regis.
Wellesley and Natick
Wellesley is upscale and quiet with limited rentals, while Natick, a bit farther west, has apartment complexes along Route 9 and more options for the money. Both are an easy drive to Weston. Both work well for students with cars. Natick also has its own commuter rail stops.
Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Campus Housing Near Regis College
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A room in a shared apartment in Waltham or Newton usually runs about $1,100 to $1,600 a month, and a one-bedroom is roughly $2,300 to $3,000. Weston itself has very few rentals.
Regis has a residency requirement students must meet before moving off campus, but many students commute from home. Confirm the current rule with Residence Life.
Mostly in Waltham, Newton, Natick, and Framingham, since Weston has almost no apartments.
Most off-campus students drive. Weston has limited public transit, though commuter rail runs through nearby Waltham and Wellesley.
Start in February or March for a September 1 lease. The best places in Waltham go by late spring.
Most start September 1. Landlords can only charge first month, last month, a security deposit up to one month's rent, and a lock-change fee up front, and you don't pay the broker fee if the landlord hired the broker.
The towns around Regis are mostly quiet suburbs. Check your specific street, look at parking and lighting, and ask classmates where they've lived.
Sometimes heat and hot water are included in older buildings, but electricity and internet usually aren't. Ask how the unit is heated and what winter bills run.
Classmates in your program are the best bet, especially in nursing and health sciences. Shared houses in Waltham are common.
Regis sits in one of the most expensive, least rental-friendly towns around Boston, so off-campus students live a town over and usually drive in.
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