Once you reach senior year at Bucknell, your sense of independence hits an all-time high. Parking passes come easily, class registration priority is finally yours and you get first pick for housing. But that choice comes with a major decision: where to live during your final year at Bucknell.
For many, the South Campus Apartments or the new Bucknell West complex are popular choices – offering modern amenities and the comfort of university-managed housing. Yet, each year, a group of seniors take the leap beyond campus boundaries and move into downtown Lewisburg.
Bucknell is a residential university with a four-year housing requirement, meaning all undergraduates are expected to live in university-owned or -affiliated housing. Only a limited number of rising seniors are granted permission to live off campus each year through an application process managed by Housing Services.
To be approved to live off campus, students must be in their fourth year, have a clean conduct record and, for fraternity or sorority members, their chapter living spaces must be filled to capacity before members can move downtown. Those approved are responsible for finding their own rental properties, signing leases and managing utilities– no small feat in a town where demand for student housing is high.
With Lewisburg borough regulations limiting the number of unrelated tenants to three per residence, finding an ideal location can be competitive. Students often start looking for their senior houses before they even begin junior year, as leases for the following academic year are signed quickly, especially for houses closest to campus.
Despite the extra responsibility, many students describe living downtown as one of the most rewarding parts of their Bucknell experience. The move offers not just a taste of independence, but also a deeper connection to Lewisburg and its community.
“Living downtown has been great so far!” said Jordyn Weber ’26. “I really enjoy having a place to go off campus after classes and my extracurricular activities because it lets me reset and escape how hectic my life on campus can be sometimes. I also really enjoy being so close to Market Street because it has allowed me to explore all the area has to offer a little more in my last year and to see and try new places I hadn’t gotten to in the past three years.”
For many students, the downtown experience is defined by this balance: a short walk from classes and the library, but far enough to feel like a true change of pace. Most off-campus houses are within walking distance of campus, scattered along streets like Sixth, Seventh, St. Catherine’s, St. Louis and Market. On any given evening, you might see off-campus seniors chatting on their porches or enjoying a meal together in their backyards.
Ava Kowalski ’26 shared that her favorite part of living off campus has been the sense of connection, both with other students and with the Lewisburg community. “Living downtown has given me a greater appreciation for the Bucknell community,” Kowalski said. “Being able to sit on my porch and engage in friendly conversation with my neighbors truly highlights the kind and vibrant community that Bucknell has, where everyone is happy to chat with anyone.”
She added that the atmosphere downtown reminds her of her first year at Bucknell, when students were eager to meet new people. “It almost feels like freshman year again, with everyone so eager to get to know their neighbors and stop by one another’s houses so freely. My favorite part of the experience is having my house as a meeting place for my friends all around campus. I love having an open-door policy with friends, where they feel welcome to stop by whenever they want, even if it’s just to say hi.”
This “open-door” culture is one of the defining features of downtown living. Houses become social hubs, where classmates and friends gather for dinner, game nights or study sessions. For many seniors, it’s a chance to create a home that feels entirely their own– decorating spaces, hosting friends and learning to manage the day-to-day realities of adult life.
Katie Lash ’26 agreed that living downtown creates a unique bond among seniors. “I would say being downtown gives you such a great sense of community!” Lash said. “You really get to know the people living around you, and it’s like a neighborhood.”
For many, living off campus is a meaningful step in bridging the “Bucknell bubble” that often separates students from the surrounding community. Still, with independence comes responsibility. Students living off campus are, in many ways, representatives of Bucknell to the broader Lewisburg population. The university emphasizes that off-campus residents must uphold Bucknell’s standards and be respectful neighbors.
“Living off campus at Bucknell is a privilege and comes with responsibilities,” reads the university’s housing policy. “When living off campus, the student becomes the face of Bucknell for members of the local community.”
Without Residence Life oversight, off-campus students must also manage logistics independently, from paying rent and utilities to communicating with landlords about any housing concerns. Though approved houses are inspected by the local codes authority, Bucknell does not supervise off-campus residences or provide the same support systems available in on-campus housing.
Even so, many seniors see the tradeoff as worthwhile. The freedom to cook meals, host friends and venture off campus feels like an important transition into post-graduate life. For others, it’s simply about the joy of having a space that feels truly their own.
As Bucknell’s senior class prepares for life beyond Lewisburg, those living downtown are already getting a head start. Their houses have become spaces of connection and growth, a final chapter in their Bucknell experience that blends the comfort of home with the independence of what comes next. That’s what senior year is all about: finding a sense of belonging, wherever you happen to live.
