Dorming at Century Park South buys senior Meadow Smith breathing room from Hattiesburg’s unpredictable rental market— she noted that a semester’s fixed bill trumps the dread of endless apartment utilities and rent.
But that buffer ends next year. As a fifth-year double major, her scholarships will run out, making the full lump-sum bill — even in installments — a tougher deal amid tuition hikes and her 18-hour course load. She’s been considering an apartment instead; rent may fluctuate, but the switch feels more practical.
For Smith, the issue goes beyond making ends meet; it’s the feeling of paying too much for little comfort.
“I’m paying more for a dorm that I’m not very comfortable in, plus a meal plan that I’m not particularly satisfied with, than I would pay if I were to just find an apartment,” she said.
Yet shifting from a fixed campus bill to unpredictable off-campus costs is one of her biggest worries.
“The fears and the worry that comes from not knowing if I’ll have enough time for classes versus not knowing if I’ll have enough money for rent — it does drag on me quite a bit,” Smith said. “It’s something I think about way too often… whether or not I have the financial ability to even continue school sometimes… And it does scare me.”
Now, with her aid expiring, Smith is already eyeing work to bridge the gap.
“But as soon as the summer hits, I’m going to be working a job to replenish any savings that I’ve used from this semester,” Smith said. “And going forward… I will have to take on a part time job or a full time job moving forward.”
Though Smith hasn’t faced Hattiesburg’s rental market yet, her fears mirror a harsh reality for many students after scholarships expire — off-campus housing often costs far more than expected. Zumper data show average rents near Southern Miss are climbing 3 percent from last year at $925, with one-to-two-bedroom units ranging $710 to $995.
Managing these rising housing costs has become a shared challenge, and, for many Southern Miss students, a shared expense. Junior Luis Wegner follows that approach, splitting a $900 apartment evenly with his roommate — a move that helped when recent car troubles hit.
“I definitely wouldn’t have been able to pay for that if I would have had to pay more on rent,” Wegner said. “So, it just allowed me to invest that kind of money into other things that are important to me.”
That financial breathing room has made a noticeable difference for Wegner, who says sharing rent not only eased the pressure of unexpected expenses but also gave him a comfortable, stable place to live.
“I live in an apartment complex… with a balcony, dedicated parking, pool and gym—water’s even included, which is huge as a student,” Wegner said. “We don’t have to pay for water, which is nice because that’s something you need and that definitely, especially if you’re living with multiple people, it’s basically constantly running.”
That financial cushion has given Wegner more than peace of mind — it’s let him find a place he genuinely enjoys.
“I’m very happy… the rent has been stable for almost two years,” Wegner added. “The only thing we had trouble with at the beginning was that we both weren’t of age, so we needed someone to put onto the lease.”
Still, he acknowledges that not everyone fares as well, like one of his friends.
“The only people that struggle with rent that was because of roommates they didn’t get along with or that moved out and they couldn’t replace them,” Wegner said. “So, they had to pay more than originally.”
