M.A/M.Sc from Illinois Institute Of Technology [IIT CHICAGO], Chicago - Fees & Admission Details 2026

• I found my accommodation near Illinois Institute of Technology through student WhatsApp and Facebook housing groups, where seniors and existing students regularly post available apartments and roommate openings. I stayed in a shared apartment with roommates, which made the overall cost more affordable. My monthly rent was around USD 380-420 per month, excluding some utilities.
• The apartment included facilities like Wi-Fi, laundry, kitchen access, heating, and basic furnished/common living spaces. The location was also convenient for commuting to campus through public transportation.

• My family helped me look for accommodation, so I did not use external platforms. However, for new students, I strongly recommend using official university housing options or contacting the leasing office directly, rather than relying on online groups, Discord, or Telegram, as many scams target international students. Careful verification of all sources is essential.
• Monthly rent varies by location and type of accommodation, with a bare minimum of $350–$450. Additional expenses, such as utilities and Wi-Fi, are around $50 per month, and food costs range from $50–$100, making the total bare minimum approximately $500–$600 per month. Students should plan carefully and prioritize trusted channels to avoid scams.

• It’s totally Off- campus and I would not recommend On-campus for the sole purpose of being expensive.

• The accommodation was comfortable, affordable, and student-friendly, with good connectivity to campus and essential amenities. Sharing housing also helped with cost savings and social interaction, especially as an international student. I found accommodation through WhatsApp groups for around 500 to 800$ per month.

• Cost of accommodation: We did not stay in dorms; we stayed in houses near the campus, which are relatively cheaper. A housing crisis exists since lots of students and very few accommodations. I paid around 400-600$(shared space).

• I opted for off-campus accommodation; on-campus was too costly and not available immediately
• I found my place mostly through Facebook groups and Telegram groups, and some listings from online rental platforms also
• monthly rent was around 800–900 USD, included basic furniture, internet, and sometimes water/electricity, partly included
• Challenges were many… landlords sometimes fake photos, some places are too far from campus, negotiation also takes time
• A few places require a deposit of 1–2 months, and  sometimes they ask for extra charges for utilities
• Based on my experience, I recommend starting to search early, joining local student groups, and visiting the place before paying anything
• Also, negotiate for rent and check neighborhood safety before finalizing
• My accommodation was around 25–30 mins by bus from college, sometimes 15–20 mins if the traffic is good
• Most Indian students prefer staying closer to downtown or near CTA lines for easy commuting
• Shared apartments are common, cheaper, and better for meeting new people
• Some friends stayed in nearby suburbs, which are cheaper but have longer commutes
• Overall off-campus experience is manageable, but you need patience and carefulness while finalizing
• On-campus dorms are convenient but very expensive and have less freedom
• transportation cost adds extra if you stay far, so plan accordingly
• Also check the grocery, laundromat, and food options near the accommodation before taking place

• I found accommodation by connecting with people over ISA WhatsApp, the College's Discord and telegram groups.
• Rent is 1705 USD monthly, including gas and service utilities (excluding wifi and electricity), which is divided to be shared by 4-5 people.
• The challenge was to find & group up with friends of the same courses and like-mindedness. I contacted even the Amber students to connect with the LM PS apartment management.
• Recommendation would be to post messages in groups for all the preferences you want, like number of people, veg-non veg, courses, semesters, ethnicity, etc.
• My accommodation is 20 20-minute walk away from college. Most Indians stay here only

• I used discord and my consultancy shared some numbers of those who were in my university. My monthly rent includes $325 with utilities like a fridge, gas and water. The only challenging part was not being able to be in touch with the broker or owner. Because of the time difference, it took quite a long time to finalize a house. So I suggest you find it as soon as possible.
• I would say search on linkedin; reach out to seniors and ask them if they have any leads and they might share whatsapp group of accommodations. And my house is like 10 minutes away from uni by walking.

Nearby college, two options are very famous if you want to stay off campus. First is Prairie Shores and second is Lake Meadows. In the comparison of both most are the same but Prairie Shores requires a guarantor for the lease application and Lake Meadows does not require it, students can easily sign the lease. You can see the availability and rent of the house and other details on their website and do all processes online. In my point of view, these are the best options for international students if they want to stay off-campus.

I enrolled in this university as this was a private university and had a rank of 23 all over the world in the field of computer science. My overall experience with the university was pretty good and I got to learn new technologies and new subjects.