FAQ | University Plaza

Double occupancy means two residents share one furnished bedroom within an apartment. Each person signs an individual lease, so you're only responsible for your own rent. Rates shown are per person. Prefer your own space? Ask about our Private Bedroom options in DeKalb. 📞 Contact our leasing office today for current availability!

University Plaza offers a limited number of on-site resident spaces in outdoor surface parking areas. A one-time parking fee of $160 applies. Contact the leasing office at (815) 768-3554 to confirm availability, the period covered by the fee, vehicle-registration or permit requirements, space-assignment rules, and visitor-parking arrangements.

All applicants are screened and must either provide a lease guarantor or pay a security deposit, depending on application qualifications. Deposits vary by floor plan. 📲 Call our DeKalb leasing specialists to learn more about your options!

An individual lease means you're responsible only for your rent—not your roommates’. This gives you more freedom and peace of mind, especially compared to traditional joint leases used at many apartments in DeKalb, IL.

No worries! At University Plaza, we offer roommate matching based on your habits, lifestyle, and preferences. Just fill out the Roommate Matching Form when you apply, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Not at all—walk-in tours are always welcome! Our leasing team is available throughout the week to show you around and answer your questions about living in DeKalb’s premier student apartments.

Yes. We require each resident to carry an active tenant liability policy with at least $100,000 in general liability coverage. We also recommend adding personal property insurance to protect your belongings.

If you are a past resident, please visit Resident Portal (https://uplaza.residentportal.com/resident_portal/?action=view_login&module=authentication).

EPA Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home Brochure (01.2026): https://medialibrarycf.entrata.com/16984/MLv3/2026/06/11/020943/6a2b160799762817.pdf

Yes! University Plaza is all-inclusive student housing in DeKalb, IL. Your rent covers: ✔️ Water ✔️ Sewer ✔️ Electricity ✔️ Trash removal ✔️ High-speed internet (free!) There is just a one-time utility setup fee of $75 at move-in.

Rent is due on the first of the month and you can use either a check or money order. Payments are accepted in our on-site management office during office hours. You can also pay online using our Resident Portal (https://uplaza.residentportal.com/auth).

Yes. University Plaza welcomes cats and dogs with prior approval. There is no pet weight limit, but breed restrictions apply. The pet policy allows up to two pets per apartment, or one pet when a resident leases a single bedroom in a shared apartment. Pets must be registered with the leasing office. Pet charges include a one-time $350 pet fee and $30 monthly pet rent. Review the pet policy and confirm the charges applicable to your pet before adding it to your lease.

No. University Plaza welcomes all qualified applicants, including undergraduate and graduate students from Northern Illinois University (NIU), Kishwaukee College, and other colleges and universities, as well as university employees, young professionals, and families. You do not need to attend NIU or be enrolled in college to apply.

University Plaza is located at 900 Crane Drive in DeKalb, near Northern Illinois University (NIU — 0.6 miles by car). The community is also within walking distance of campus. Kishwaukee College in nearby Malta is another regional college option. Students attending NIU, Kishwaukee, and other colleges and universities are welcome to apply.

Students who are not subject to NIU’s residency requirement, or who receive an approved exemption permitting their planned living arrangement, may lease at University Plaza, subject to the community’s application and qualification requirements. NIU requires certain first-year students to live in university residence halls. Confirm your eligibility and any required exemption with NIU Housing and Residential Services before signing a private off-campus lease. Signing a lease does not waive the university’s requirement.

University Plaza is a privately operated off-campus apartment community. Residents apply and sign a lease directly with University Plaza rather than through Northern Illinois University’s residence-hall housing system. NIU students should separately confirm that their housing choice complies with any university residency requirements that apply to them.

DeKalb Public Transit’s Route 3 stops at Russell Road and Crane Drive and connects the area with NIU’s Holmes Student Center. Overnight Route 11 also serves the nearby Annie Glidden Road and Crane Drive stop. NIU OneCard holders ride fixed-route services free. Check the current route maps, timetables, and live tracking for the appropriate stop and any changes during weekends or university breaks.

University Plaza offers furnished one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 320 to 755 square feet. Options include the A1 through A6 one-bedroom layouts, B1 through B5 two-bedroom layouts, and C1 three-bedroom layout. A3 and B5 are designated double-occupancy layouts. Availability varies by floor plan, occupancy option, and lease term.

Bathroom arrangements depend on the floor plan. The B3 has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with one bathroom connected to a bedroom and the other accessed from the hallway. The B1, B2, B4, and B5 two-bedroom layouts share one bathroom. The C1 three-bedroom layout also has one shared bathroom. One-bedroom apartments contain one bathroom, which residents share when choosing double occupancy. Review the specific drawing and occupancy option before applying.

University Plaza provides three on-site community laundry facilities with washers and dryers. Residents use shared laundry rooms within the community. Contact the leasing office for access instructions, payment methods, and machine charges.

Yes. University Plaza offers furnished apartments with bedroom furniture and shared living-area furniture. Packages include beds, desks and chairs, dresser storage, and living-room seating, with tables and dining furniture varying by layout. Standard packages commonly include full-size beds, while the A3 and B5 double-occupancy packages list twin-size beds. Confirm the furniture package and mattress size for your selected apartment and occupancy option before move-in.

Residents should bring personal belongings and household essentials such as bedding, towels, cookware, dishes, utensils, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and personal electronics. University Plaza provides a furniture package, so review the pieces and mattress size for your selected apartment before purchasing additional furniture or bedding. Bring laundry supplies for use in the community’s shared laundry facilities.

Both types of pricing can appear, depending on the space option selected. An option labeled “Furnished Per Person” shows the rental installment for one resident, while “Entire Unit Furnished” shows the rate for the whole apartment. Double-occupancy listings also distinguish shared-bedroom and private-bedroom options. Shared-bedroom rates are per person. Check the exact space-option label and lease term before comparing prices.

University Plaza offers 12-month lease options. Exact start dates, end dates, and availability depend on the leasing period and selected apartment. Review the available terms on the floor-plan page or contact the leasing office at (815) 768-3554 to confirm options for your preferred layout and whether another lease length is available.

Select Apply Now on the University Plaza website and create an applicant account to begin. You can save your progress, return to complete your application, and check its status online. Co-applicants and guarantors should use the application invitation sent to their email rather than creating a separate applicant account through the main application form.

Yes. University Plaza offers online photographs and 360-degree virtual tours of the clubhouse and amenities, the A4 one-bedroom apartment, and the B1 two-bedroom apartment. Students and parents can explore these spaces remotely before arranging an in-person visit.

Contact the University Plaza leasing office at (815) 768-3554 with your preferred roommates, apartment layout, and occupancy arrangement before completing your housing plans. The leasing team can explain available options and whether your requests can be accommodated. Roommate matching is also available for applicants who do not already have roommates in mind.

Begin your housing search once you know when you need an apartment. Reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, so completing the leasing process early gives you more opportunity to choose your preferred layout and occupancy option. NIU students who are subject to the university’s residency requirement should confirm their eligibility to live off campus before signing.

Contact the leasing office at (815) 768-3554 to ask about other layouts, shared or private bedroom options, different lease periods, and whether a waiting list is available. Ask how future openings are communicated and confirm availability before making plans around a particular apartment.

Yes. University Plaza provides secured access to its residential buildings. Contact the leasing office for building-entry instructions, guest-access procedures, and information about reporting an access problem.

Yes. University Plaza offers a 24-hour computer lab, private study rooms, and conference space. Free printing is also available. Residents can use these spaces for assignments, independent study, and group work. Follow the community’s access instructions, room-use procedures, and printing guidelines.

Yes. University Plaza offers a 24-hour fitness center and aerobics room, with cardio and strength-training equipment and Peloton bikes. Residents should follow the community’s access instructions and equipment rules.

Yes. University Plaza has an indoor swimming pool with poolside seating. Residents should follow the posted pool hours, access instructions, and rules. Pool access should not be assumed to follow the fitness center’s 24-hour schedule.

Yes. University Plaza offers a game room with billiards, table tennis, and shuffleboard, along with resident lounge seating and shared social spaces. Contact the leasing office for access hours and any reservation or guest-use procedures.

Yes. University Plaza provides bike-rack and storage facilities. Contact the leasing office for storage locations, access instructions, and any bicycle-registration requirements.

Yes. University Plaza is a smoke-free apartment community. Residents and guests should follow the community’s smoke-free policy.

Yes. University Plaza provides 24-hour on-call maintenance. For an urgent maintenance issue, follow the community’s emergency-reporting instructions. Contact the leasing office at (815) 768-3554 for routine service-request instructions and the appropriate after-hours contact information.

University Plaza provides Amazon Hub package lockers. Contact the leasing office for delivery instructions, registration or access requirements, and package-pickup procedures.

Residents who need to leave before their lease ends should contact the leasing office at (815) 768-3554 before arranging a sublease, lease takeover, or replacement resident. Any arrangement must follow the resident’s lease agreement and obtain any required management approval.

Residents considering an early move-out should review their lease agreement and contact the University Plaza leasing office at (815) 768-3554. The leasing team can explain applicable notice requirements, potential charges, and any available options for the resident’s situation.

Residents who want to stay for another lease term should contact the University Plaza leasing office at (815) 768-3554 before their current lease ends. The leasing team can explain renewal availability, rates, and lease-term options.

Yes. Residents can remain in their apartments during university holidays and academic breaks that fall within their active lease term. Check your lease’s start and end dates when planning housing for summer or other extended breaks.