Auburn University estimates $18,424 for housing and food for a student living on campus in 2026–27, against $16,124 off campus. Housing is not guaranteed to first-year students, and the housing application needs a $100 non-refundable fee and a $250 non-refundable pre-payment. This guide covers the Auburn residence hall types, the new Concourse Hall, off-campus options and Alabama’s deposit rules. I could not verify individual hall prices, because Auburn’s rental-rates pages are closed to my tools, so I have not quoted any.
Details come from Auburn’s 2026–27 cost of attendance sheet and University Housing pages, Auburn’s admissions blog and the Code of Alabama, checked on 23 October and 9 November 2026. The cost figures are living-expense estimates for Alabama residents and non-residents alike, so your own bill will vary with where you live and how you spend.
Cost at a glance: what to add up
Before you compare the prices on this page, check what each figure actually covers:
- Rent period: per week, month or semester, and per person or per room.
- What is included: utilities, internet, contents insurance and any meal plan.
- One-off costs: deposit, application or booking fee, and any first-month payment.
- Getting to campus: travel passes, or the extra cost of living further out.
- Currency: prices here are in the local currency. Convert them at your bank’s current rate and add the transfer fee. Rates change daily, so we do not publish rupee figures.
Anything we could not confirm from an official source is flagged on this page as “could not verify”, so read those notes before you rely on a figure.
Auburn housing and food estimate, 2026–27
| Living arrangement | Housing and food (estimate) |
|---|---|
| On campus | $18,424 |
| Off campus | $16,124 |
The $2,300 gap between the two figures is Auburn’s own estimate, not a quote from any landlord or hall.
Auburn residence halls and communities
Auburn’s bulletin says the university has 29 residence halls across five residential communities. It names the Hill, Quad, Cambridge and Village communities, plus South Donahue Hall and 160 Ross, and does not name the fifth community. Auburn’s admissions blog (January 2026) describes three styles of housing.
| Style | Where | What the blog says |
|---|---|---|
| Suite | The Hill, The Quad | Two students share a room, and a connected bathroom is shared with two others. There are no kitchens in individual rooms, so students use their meal plan. |
| On-campus apartment | South Donahue, The Village | Each student has a private room. Apartments house four people, or two in some layouts, with one shared bathroom, a common living area and a kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator and sink. |
| University affiliate housing | 160 Ross, The Union, 191 College | Off campus but managed by Auburn housing staff, with resident assistants. Furnished apartments with private bedrooms, a shared kitchen with a stove and oven, and amenities such as pools and in-unit washers and dryers that cost extra. |
Residents of the affiliate buildings should expect to walk or use Tiger Transit more than on-campus residents. I could not verify Tiger Transit routes or fares.
Concourse Hall, new for Fall 2026
Auburn describes Concourse Hall as its newest residence hall, co-ed and opening in Fall 2026. Each suite has two double-occupancy rooms connected by a bathroom, and the rooms come furnished with an extra-long twin bed, a desk and chair, and two stackable dressers per resident. The page lists 371 beds for approximately 370 undergraduates and shows first-year students as the 2026–27 residents. It gives no rates and no meal plan information.
Applying for Auburn housing
- No guarantee: Auburn’s bulletin says first-year students are not guaranteed housing, and that admission does not automatically include a room reservation. It does not say first-years must live on campus.
- Fees: a $100 non-refundable application fee and a $250 non-refundable pre-payment are required with the housing application. The bulletin does not state its year, so confirm the current amounts.
- Rates: the bulletin sends readers to the University Housing website for rental rates.
I found no application dates, priority rules or contract terms, so I cannot say how early you need to apply. Because places are not guaranteed, treat the housing application as time-sensitive and check University Housing for the current cycle.
Renting off campus in Auburn
Auburn’s admissions blog lists apartment complexes, house rentals, townhomes and mobile home parks in Auburn and Opelika, and says an off-campus home may be closer to some classes than an on-campus assignment. Auburn runs a student rental listing site at offcampushousing.auburn.edu. I have no verified rent figures for Auburn, and I have not ranked neighbourhoods or listed private blocks, because I could not check prices or area details against reliable sources.
Alabama security deposit rules
The Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Code of Alabama, title 35, chapter 9A) governs residential rental agreements across Alabama, and local councils cannot override it on landlord-tenant matters (section 35-9A-121). Under section 35-9A-201:
- Maximum deposit: a landlord may not demand or receive more than one month’s periodic rent as security, with exceptions for pets, changes to the premises and increased liability risks.
- Return: the deposit is due within 60 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back possession. Posting it to your written forwarding address within that period counts.
- Deductions: a landlord who keeps any part must give you an itemised list of the amounts withheld within the same 60 days.
- Late return: the text I read says a landlord who misses the deadline must pay double the original deposit.
Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing before you move out. View any room in person or on a live video call, get a written lease and never pay before you have one.
What I could not verify
I could not verify residence hall rental rates, meal plan prices or housing application dates, because Auburn’s rates and community pages are closed to my tools. The bulletin that gives the application fees does not state its year, and the 29-hall total does not name the fifth community. I found no Auburn rent figure, since Apartment List’s Auburn page showed none. I read the deposit sections of the Alabama Act on a legal-code site rather than the official Code, so check the official text before relying on the exceptions.
Talk to us about your budget and city
Not sure which option suits you or your family? Send us your city, budget and room type, and we will point you to the right guide and the next steps to check. Students and parents are both welcome to ask.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Auburn estimate for housing and food?
$18,424 for students living on campus and $16,124 for those living off campus in 2026–27. These are estimates, not hall prices.
How much do Auburn dorms cost?
I could not verify hall prices, and Auburn’s bulletin points to the University Housing rental rates page. Use the $18,424 estimate for housing and food as a budgeting guide only.
Is Auburn housing guaranteed for first-year students?
No. Auburn’s bulletin says first-year students are not guaranteed housing and that admission does not automatically include a room reservation.
What does it cost to apply for Auburn housing?
The bulletin lists a $100 non-refundable application fee and a $250 non-refundable pre-payment, both due with the application. It does not state the year, so confirm the current figures.
What is Concourse Hall at Auburn?
It is Auburn’s newest residence hall, a co-ed hall opening in Fall 2026 with 371 beds in suites of two double rooms. Its 2026–27 residents are first-year students.
What is the maximum security deposit in Alabama?
One month’s periodic rent, with limited exceptions for pets, changes to the premises and increased liability risks. The landlord must return it, with an itemised list of any deductions, within 60 days.
Comparing Deep South options? See our guides to student accommodation in Tuscaloosa, Atlanta and Nashville, or browse all US student accommodation guides.
Sources
- Auburn University: 2026-27 estimated cost of attendance
- Auburn University Bulletin: University Housing
- Auburn University Housing: Concourse Hall
- On The Lawn: Auburn Housing 101 (16 January 2026)
- Code of Alabama section 35-9A-201: security deposits
- Code of Alabama section 35-9A-121: territorial application
Checked 23 October and 9 November 2026.
