Summer & Temporary Housing
Once your internship is all set to go, it’s time to find somewhere to live. Be prepared to do some research and legwork to find a place that fits your needs. Short-term housing options vary widely depending on location. To begin your search:
- Check in with the hiring manager. The chances are good that they have a list of housing resources.
- Ask friends and family. Someone may have a room to rent for the summer or know someone in the region where you’ll be working.
- Network with Grinnell alums.
- Research rents in the area so you’re not caught off-guard. If you find a listing that sounds too good to be true, it very likely is.
- Consider your budget. Factor in the cost of utilities, transportation, and food when determining how much you can spend on housing.
- Think about location: Decide how close you’d like to live to your internship and what kind of neighborhood you’d like to live in. Consider grocery store access, safety, and things to do along with transportation options.
- Tour before you buy. If at all possible, see the place before you sign your lease and put down a deposit. If it’s not possible to go there in person, ask the landlord for a live video tour or a friend or family member to go take a look for you.
- Read your lease carefully. If something doesn’t seem clear or fair, be prepared to negotiate or move on to another situation.
- Start early if possible. Housing can be very competitive, especially in popular cities. The early you start your search, the more options you’ll have.
A number of colleges and universities make dorms available in the summer for short-term rentals. Our list might help get you started.
Atlanta
- Emory Off-Campus Housing Finder – Postings of local off-campus housing information, includes contributions by a variety of sources, from local homeowners to apartment complexes.
- Emory Student Intern Housing
Austin
Boston
- Boston Globe Online– read apartment listings
- Bostonapartments.com – Listings for apartments, as well as roommates.
- Craig’s List – Boston – Apartments in all areas and prices.
- Emerson College – Off Campus Housing
- Suffolk University – Internship Housing near Beacon Hill.
- Boston Neighborhood Guide
- University Housing Resource from Harvard’s Career Center
Charlotte
- Queens University – Housing near Myers Park.
Chicago
- The Buckingham – Affordable housing for interns living in Chicago for the summer.
- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Intern Housing
- University Center – Housing in downtown Chicago with short, flexible leases available.
- University of Illinois Chicago Intern Housing
- Co-Living Chicago
Dallas
Des Moines
Houston
Iowa City
Los Angeles
- Craigslist – Apartments in all areas of LA as well as a price range that fits your needs.
- UCLA Community Housing Office – Rentals that range from apartments to homes in all areas and price ranges.
- UC Irvine Student Housing*
New York
- City Habitats New York
- Columbia University*
- 92Y Residence – An international community of undergraduate and graduate students, young professionals and professional or summer interns. Check out their website for complete information about this opportunity that maintains: “We’re not just a residence, we’re an experience!”
- Educational Housing Services – Housing in a variety NYC locations for college students with a variety accommodations and prices.
- Hostels.com, New York
- International House
- Iona University Intern Housing
- The New School Intern Housing
- NYC Interns – Apartments in Midtown or Ludlow.
- NYC Apartment Sublets
- NYU Summer Housing
- NYU Law Summer Living in New York Program
- Sarah Lawrence Summer Intern Housing (new 2025)
- Student Intern Summer Housing
- StreetEasy
- The New York Times’ Real Estate Section
- The Village Voice Classifieds
- Webster Apartments – Housing in Midtown for women with a variety of amenities.
- June Homes
- University Housing Resource from Harvard’s Career Center
Philadelphia
San Francisco
- Bay Area Rental Guide – Roommates and housing in the Bay Area.
- University of San Francisco Off-Campus Living
- University Housing Resource from Harvard’s Career Center
Washington DC
- American University Summer Intern Housing
- Catholic University of America
- Craig’s List DC – Find apartments in all areas of DC as well as a price range that fits your needs.
- DC Pages
- George Washington University Summer Housing
- Georgetown University Off-Campus Housing Referral Service
- Georgetown University Law Campus Summer Housing
- Georgetown University Main Campus Summer Housing
- International Student House of Washington DC
- Roll Call Classifieds
- Thompson-Markward Hall – A “Young Woman’s Christian Home” located on Capitol Hill within walking distance of Congressional offices.
- Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
- Washington Post– read apartments for rent section
- Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) – Housing in townhouses or apartments in the Capital Hill area.
- University Housing Resource from Harvard’s Career Center
Multiple Locations/National
- Apartment Ratings
- Apartments.com
- Craigslist
- Educational Housing Services
- For Rent
- Found Study: NYC and nationwide student/intern housing
- Furnished Quarters: Furnished apartments in NY, NJ, CT, and MA.
- Hostels.com
- Internhousing.com: Search for roommates and apartments during a summer internship.
- Intern Housing Hub: Find your home away from home
- Pad Mapper
- Places4Students
- Rentable
- Roommates
- Trulia
Interning Outside the United States:
- Search student accommodations through Amber Student
- Check out Coliving.com, offering affordable rentals worldwide
- See worldwide flexible housing options on Habyt.com.
*For those affiliated with university only
Disclaimer: Grinnell College and the Grinnell College Center for Careers, Life, and Service do not endorse any of the sites linked above. This list of resources may be considered when searching for living accommodations for the summer.