Northwestern University (NWU)

I own my house, so my housing costs are manageable. For students looking to rent appartments in Chicago, check out the Chicago Reader which can be found in most cafes and bookstores. Their listings are also online at www.chireader.com. The neighborhoods close to Northwestern's downtown campus, the Gold Coast, Streeterville and Old Town are very expensive. Lincoln Park is popular with young professionals and students, but it is also pricey ($1200/month for a modest apartment). Compared to New York City, Chicago is an affordable place for students to live if you look for housing in the less gentrified areas, such as Humboldt Park, Logan Square or Pilsen although these neighborhoods have been getting more expensive lately. In my neighborhood, Logan Square, a few one-bedroom apartments can be found for under $700/month.

Too many restrictions on schedule