The Short Answer: Yes, But the Experience Looks Different
Commuter students and those living on or near a campus tend to have very different day-to-day lives, but neither path puts you at an academic disadvantage. What changes is access to spontaneous social opportunities, study groups, and on-site resources — not the quality of the education itself. The right choice depends almost entirely on your personal situation, your budget, and how you learn best.
What Living Off-Campus Actually Means for Your Studies
A lot of students assume that staying home or renting an apartment off-campus means missing out on the “real” university experience. That framing is worth questioning. Off-campus students often build stronger time-management habits earlier, simply because they have to coordinate travel, household responsibilities, and coursework without the safety net of a residence structure.
The Commute Factor
The biggest practical challenge is time. A 30-minute commute each way adds up to roughly five hours per week. That is a real cost, and it is worth mapping out your schedule before you commit. Students in Sackville, NB and the surrounding area have relatively manageable travel distances compared to larger urban centres, which makes off-campus living a realistic option for many people here.
One workaround that has become far more common: hybrid and online delivery models mean you do not have to be physically present every single day. At Beal University Canada’s Sackville location, programs are built with working adults and commuters in mind, so the schedule rarely demands that you are on-site five days a week.
Social Life and Peer Connection
Residence life does make casual socializing easier. You bump into classmates at odd hours, study sessions happen organically, and friendships form quickly. Off-campus students have to be more intentional about this. Joining a study group, showing up early before class, or staying for an extra hour after a lecture goes a long way. It takes a bit more effort, but the connections are just as real.
Peer relationships matter for more than just social reasons. Research consistently shows that students who feel connected to classmates perform better academically and are more likely to finish their programs. So whether you live five minutes away or an hour out, making deliberate contact with your cohort pays off.
Cost Differences Worth Knowing Before You Decide
This is where off-campus living gets genuinely complicated. Residence fees at many Canadian institutions can run anywhere from $8,000 to $14,000 per academic year. Renting a room or apartment nearby is often cheaper, especially if you split costs with a roommate. Living at home with family is cheaper still, though it comes with its own trade-offs around focus and independence.
Hidden Costs on Both Sides
Residence fees typically include utilities, internet, and sometimes a meal plan. When you rent privately, those costs land on you separately. Gas, transit passes, or wear on a vehicle also add up for commuters. It is worth building a real monthly budget before deciding, rather than comparing headline numbers.
If cost is a concern, it is also worth checking what financial support is available. The Beal University Canada Scholarships and Bursaries page lists current options, and some of them are specifically aimed at students managing living expenses. External resources like the Government of Canada’s student financial assistance programs can also offset costs regardless of where you live.
What the Data Says About Completion Rates
Some studies suggest on-campus students have marginally higher first-year retention rates, but the gap narrows significantly by year two. The stronger predictor of whether someone finishes their degree is personal motivation and having a clear reason for being there, not their postal code. Statistics Canada’s education data backs this up: students who enter with specific career goals complete at higher rates across all living arrangements.
Related Questions
Do off-campus students have access to the same academic support services?
Generally, yes. Most university services — including academic advising, library access, and tutoring support — are available to all enrolled students regardless of where they live. Many of these services have also moved online, so distance from campus matters less than it did a decade ago. It is worth confirming specifics with your institution during the admissions process.
Is living at home during university something to be embarrassed about?
Absolutely not. The idea that moving away is a rite of passage is mostly a cultural assumption, not an academic requirement. Plenty of students graduate with strong grades, good careers ahead of them, and zero regret about having saved money and stayed close to family during their studies. What matters is showing up, engaging with your program, and finishing what you started.