Before you let another 3 a.m. fire drill push you out of the NYU dorms for good, make sure you carefully consider your off-campus options. While it’s generally true that on-campus housing is more expensive, remember that you’re giving up a lot of free toilet paper by signing a lease off-campus. That’s not to say, however, that off-campus housing might not be a better option, but keep in mind what matters to you.

NYU Housing:

NYU offers a lot of options – from the single-bedroom gloriousness of Alumni to the floor-to-ceiling windows of Gramercy. On average, a double-bedroom in an upperclassmen dorm will cost about $6,719* per semester, while a more private single bedroom runs from around $7,823 to $8,931. There are also low-cost bedrooms and suites available (meaning that you’d be shacking up with 1 to 8 other students), and, depending on which dorm you select, you’ll be paying anywhere from $4,422 to $5,519.

While you’re busy complaining about what are possibly the best dorms in the country, remember that with the cost of NYU housing, you’re also getting security, electricity, maintenance, cable, and internet.

Do keep in mind that with NYU housing, you’re looking at a moving your stuff come May. Your commitment to NYU housing only lasts through the academic year.

Off-Campus Housing:

There are thousands of options with off-campus housing, so it’s difficult to make a black and white comparison, but housing off-campus generally wins in the price category. With Manhattan 1-bedrooms ranging from around $800 per month to $3,500 per month, it’s possible to get a place off-campus (with a roommate) for around $5,625 per semester each. Most rent includes heat and hot water, but you’ll have to fork over an additional couple hundred dollars a month for cable, internet, and other utilities. Also, don’t be surprised if you have to pay a broker’s fee when renting off-campus, which can add several hundred dollars to the grand total.

If you’re looking to ditch roommates all together, you might want to opt for a studio, which will usually run around $6,750 per semester before any additional fees.

In my search, I’ve found that the more bedrooms (and therefore, roommates) you have, the better deal you’ll get. For example, 1-bedroom flex units (meaning the units either have or are equipped for pressurized walls that cut into the living space with additional bedrooms) in the apartment community Stuyvesant Town will very comfortably house two people for around $7,000 per semester. However, a 2-bedroom flex unit in Stuyvesant Town, which will house three people comfortably, rents for around $6,000 a semester each. Stuyvesant Town also includes all utilities in the price of rent, so the only additional fees you need to worry about are cable and internet.

If you do decide to go off-campus, make sure to ask about things that are important to you, e.g. laundry, pets, 24-hour security, etc. Also, pay close attention to your leasing options. Living off-campus generally means that you’ll sign a yearlong lease, but month-to-month options are sometimes available.

Reasons to Move Off-Campus:

If you want a lot more space, a dog, and fewer fire drills, moving off-campus is your best option. Also, if you plan on staying in the City over the summer, a yearlong lease off-campus will make your life a lot easier. Moving off-campus more than likely means that you get to pick your roommate, which you can’t always do with NYU housing. However, if you pick your roommate and then start fighting over who owns the Diet Coke in the fridge, solving your problems might not be as easy as complaining to your RA.

Reasons to Stay On-Campus:

If you like being surrounded by NYU students and you don’t want to deal with the pests that come with moving off-campus (rats, roaches, landlords), then NYU housing is a good option. NYU also offers some amenities to on-campus students that everyone seems to forget about, like free trash bags and cheaper laundry. Really, if you don’t have any plans to stay in the City over the summer and you don’t mind being a little gypped square-footage-wise, there’s no reason to go off-campus. Also, NYU dorms have elevators. Just. Saying.

What about Brooklyn?

Yes, what about Brooklyn? It might seem icky and far, but Williamsburg is a short 3-stop ride on the L train from Union Square. Also, Brooklyn apartments tend to be cheaper and more spacious than any comparable Greenwich Village digs, so it’s at least worth your consideration.

Will I get bedbugs?

I’m not going to lie – it’s possible. NYU does what it can to keep bedbugs out of its dorms, but the reality of off-campus housing might leave you with an unwanted infestation. Landlords are not always responsible for getting rid of bedbugs, so do your homework before you sign a lease. To find out if the building you’re considering has a bed bug problem, check out the Bed Bug Registry (yeah, it exists) at bedbugregistry.com.

What about my meal plan?

Don’t worry – moving off-campus doesn’t mean you have to miss out on brunch at Palladium. Meal plans are available to off-campus students so that dining is easy when you’re on campus.

Okay, so I moved off campus to get away from noisy NYU students, but now I live next to a crying baby. What do I do?

It happens, and you can’t win them all, but might I suggest some noise-cancelling headphones?

At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. Perhaps you’re allergic to walking, in which case staying as close to campus as possible is your best option. Or maybe you really, really like being within a block of a 24-hour Duane Reade, in which case you can move to pretty much any apartment in Manhattan and be satisfied. Whatever the case, be careful, consider your options, and don’t trust every apartment listing on Craigslist.

*Prices based off the NYU Housing rate lists from the 2010-2011 school year.