Choosing student housing near University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an in-depth process that involves carefully weighing all of the details that shape everyday life, from how close each community is to campus to what the floor plans, study spaces, amenities, parking, and policies are offered at each complex. This FAQ page brings those details into one place so students, parents, and guarantors can get a clearer picture of what living at The Cottages at Illinois looks like before signing a year-long lease.
Set in Urbana, IL, just minutes away from campus, The Cottages at Illinois stands out with cottage-style townhomes, two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts, furnished options, private bedroom and bathroom availability, and amenity spaces built for both downtime and productivity. Whether the priority is staying close to the Fighting Illini campus or finding U of I off-campus housing with more room to spread out, this page covers the questions students usually ask before deciding where to live.
1. Location & Proximity to Campus
The Cottages at Illinois is located at:
905 Welch Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
The community sits on the southeast side of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign area, giving students a practical home base for getting to class, campus events, and everyday errands.
The Cottages at Illinois is 0.16 miles from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, placing it very close to school without putting students in the middle of the busiest campus core. That location works well for students who want student housing near University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a shorter trip to academic buildings, recreation, and game day venues.
Several major UIUC landmarks are close to The Cottages at Illinois, including:
- Ikenberry Commons – 0.3 miles
- Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) – 0.4 miles
- State Farm Center – 0.6 miles
- ACES Library (Funk Library) – 0.6 miles
- Memorial Stadium – 0.7 miles
- Gies College of Business (Business Instructional Facility) – 0.8 miles
- Main Library – 0.9 miles
- Krannert Art Museum – 0.9 miles
- Foellinger Auditorium – 1 mile
- Krannert Center for the Performing Arts – 1.1 miles
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology – 1.1 miles
- Lincoln Hall – 1.1 miles
- Illini Union – 1.2 miles
- Altgeld Hall – 1.2 miles
- Grainger Engineering Library – 1.3 miles
- College of Law – 1.3 miles
- Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science – 1.4 miles
This location puts a wide range of academic buildings, student resources, campus landmarks, and Fighting Illini event venues within easy reach.
Yes. Campustown is 1.2 miles away, which puts Green Street dining, nightlife, and shopping close by for quick meals, coffee runs, and weekend plans. That makes The Cottages at Illinois a strong option for students looking for an apartment near UIUC with access to both campus routines and popular off-campus spots.
The Cottages at Illinois is close to several convenient shopping and errand destinations. Downtown Urbana and Lincoln Square are 2.5 miles away, Downtown Champaign’s Neil Street corridor is 2 miles away, and Market Place Shopping Center is 4 miles from the community. This mix puts local shops, everyday essentials, and larger retail options within a reasonable distance of the property.
The area around The Cottages at Illinois includes a mix of outdoor spaces, local events, arts destinations, and weekend getaway spots. Meadowbrook Park is 2 miles away for trails and open green space, while Market at the Square in Urbana is 2.5 miles away on Saturdays from May through November. Krannert Art Museum is 0.9 miles away, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is 1.1 miles away, and Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve and Allerton Park offer additional options for getting off campus and spending time outdoors.
2. Floor Plans & Furnishings
The Cottages at Illinois offers two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments in a cottage-style layout. These floor plan options give residents a range of shared-living setups, whether their preferred student lifestyle involves lots of roommates, a private two-bedroom setup, and anything in between.
Yes. The apartments include a furniture package for both the common area and the bedrooms. This setup helps simplify move-in and gives residents a more complete living space from day one.
The common area furniture package includes a 55-inch Smart TV, coffee table, dining table with four chairs, entertainment table, sofa and chair, and a TV stand. These pieces are designed to support both everyday living and shared time at home.
Each bedroom includes a queen-size bed, a desk with chair, dresser, and nightstand. The bedroom setup covers the main essentials students usually need for sleep, storage, and study throughout the entirety of the school year.
The interiors include open-concept layouts, LVP flooring throughout, hardwood-style flooring in common spaces, Smart TVs in the living room, and in-unit washers and dryers. Select layouts also include walk-in closets, private balconies, and private bedroom and bathroom options.
The kitchens include decorator cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. Each apartment comes with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and an in-unit washer and dryer for added convenience.
Yes. Every bedroom at The Cottages at Illinois is private, individually keyed, and paired with its own en-suite bathroom. Depending on the floor plan, each townhome has between 2.5 and 4.5 bathrooms, but every resident has a private bathroom connected to their bedroom.
Yes. Balcony units are available, and some rooms also include private balconies. Availability varies by floor plan and unit selection.
Some layouts include walk-in closets, and the open floor plans provide a more spacious feel in the shared living areas. Bike racks are also included in every unit, which is a useful feature for students who ride to class or around Urbana-Champaign.
Yes. Premium units are available at The Cottages at Illinois. Students who want details on what is included with a premium unit should contact the leasing office for current availability and unit-specific features.
3. Amenities & Lounges
The Cottages at Illinois includes a broad amenity package built around student life, with spaces for studying, working out, relaxing, and spending time with friends built into the community. The Cottages feature a two-story fitness center, computer lounge with free printing, private study rooms, a game lounge, resident clubhouse, coffee bar, heated resort-style pool, hot tub, cabanas, hammocks, and bag toss, just to name a few of our most popular amenities.
Yes. The property includes private study rooms and a computer lounge, giving residents dedicated places to focus outside their Urbana student apartment. Free printing is also available, which adds convenience for classwork, projects, and day-to-day school needs.
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois has a two-story fitness center with equipment for both cardio and strength training. The fitness center includes treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, spin bikes, stationary bikes, a rowing machine, cable machines, free weights and barbells, benches, plyo boxes, and a TRX training system.
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois has a heated resort-style pool, hot tub, cabanas, hammocks, bag toss, grilling areas, a covered patio, and a fire pit. These outdoor spaces give residents several places to relax, socialize, and spend time outside without leaving the community.
The Cottages at Illinois includes a resident clubhouse, game lounge, coffee bar, and other shared spaces for hanging out and spending time with friends. These areas give residents comfortable places to relax, meet neighbors, and enjoy time outside their apartment.
Yes. Our apartment community boasts wide-range high-speed internet across all of our apartments and community spaces.
4. Safety, Security, & Transportation
The Cottages at Illinois includes FOB-controlled building access for residents, FOB-controlled access to amenity spaces, individually locking bedroom doors, and security cameras throughout the property. These features support both community access control and privacy within each home.
Yes. The community has an on-site security guard Friday through Sunday nights. This added coverage supports a more secure environment during weekend hours.
Yes. Bedrooms are individually keyed, which adds privacy and an extra layer of security within the shared apartment layout.
Yes. Gated garage parking is available for $20 per month. Parking is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and guest parking is also available on the property.
The Cottages at Illinois has a walkability score of 63. Its location near UIUC and several campus landmarks also supports a more practical day-to-day routine for students getting to class, campus facilities, and nearby destinations.
Yes. With a transit score of 63, residents of these student apartments near U of I can expect easy access to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) bus system, which provides frequent service around the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. Pickups and drop-offs run every 10 minutes from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM, and the Illini 22 shuttle is free for U of I students.
5. Pet Policies
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois is pet-friendly, so residents can live with approved pets in the community.
A maximum of two animals is permitted per apartment. Students who plan to bring more than one pet should make sure both animals are disclosed and approved before move-in, and arrange with their roommates to ensure that no one else plans on bringing a pet.
Yes. The community does have breed restrictions as part of its pet policy. Aggressive breeds are not permitted, including Chow Chow, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Mastiff breeds, Staffordshire Terrier breeds, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Cane Corso, Akita, Siberian Husky, Dogo Argentino, Alaskan Malamute, Wolf-hybrid, and mixes of these breeds.
No. Exotic animals are not permitted at The Cottages at Illinois. This includes birds such as parrots and toucans, reptiles such as snakes, rodents such as ferrets, fish, and insects.
Yes. All pets must be disclosed and approved before move-in. To get your animal approved, applicants must complete a pet profile through the PetScreening application prior to move-in day.
All residents are required to complete PetScreening as part of the move-in process, even if they do not have a pet. This helps the community keep animal records current and document households with no pets, approved pets, service animals, or support animals before move-in.
Yes. All residents with a pet will be charged $35 per month as liability payment against damages and daily wear-and-tear caused by pet ownership.
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois has a pet-friendly setting with outdoor areas around the community, and nearby green spaces like Crystal Lake Park and Busey Woods add more options for dog walks close to home.
6. Management, Maintenance, & Community
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois has an on-site management team that supports residents with day-to-day questions and community needs. The office team can help with lease-related questions, package delivery, maintenance coordination, and general support during office hours.
Residents can contact the on-site team or review their maintenance request online through the resident portal. The community’s staff helps coordinate service needs and address issues in apartments and shared areas.
Yes. The on-site team helps with package delivery along with other day-to-day resident support. That gives residents a reliable point of contact for both practical needs and community questions.
The Cottages at Illinois places a strong emphasis on community connection alongside student living. Its residence life programming is designed to help residents feel involved, supported, and connected to the people around them.
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois hosts resident events that bring people together in fun, low-pressure ways throughout the lease term. Examples include scavenger hunts, giveaways, freebie nights, food parties, and other events tied to academics and holidays.
Yes. The on-site team can help with leasing questions, housing contract support, and general community information. This gives current and future residents a clear place to go for answers about policies, availability, and next steps.
The You Speak, We Listen Program gives residents and parents a direct way to share feedback with the community. It is designed to keep communication open and give the on-site team a clearer picture of what residents need during their time at The Cottages at Illinois.
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois offers Community Rewards, a loyalty platform that lets residents complete actions, earn points, and receive rewards. Residents can access the program through the app or online, which gives them an easy way to participate and keep track of rewards in one place.
RentPlus is an optional program that helps residents build credit by reporting on-time housing payments, while also offering tools that support smarter money habits. Along with credit-building benefits, the program includes budgeting tools, personalized financial education, and added protection tied to secure credit reporting.
Yes. The Cottages at Illinois offers roommate matching through RoomSync. Students who do not already have roommates in mind can use the service to connect with other residents based on shared preferences and living habits before move-in.
7. General Leasing Information
Students can reserve a home by completing the online application, selecting a preferred cottage, and submitting a deposit to hold the space. After move-in, that initial deposit becomes the security deposit.
The Cottages at Illinois offers 12-month housing contracts that begin in August and end in late July. This lease term is set up to align with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign academic calendar.
Yes. The community offers individual housing contracts, so each resident signs for their own bedroom space rather than sharing full financial responsibility for the entire home. This setup is especially helpful for roommate groups who want more individual accountability.
Monthly installment payments are due on the first day of the month. Payments made after 9:00 a.m. on the fourth day of the month are considered late.
Residents can make payments by check at the clubhouse or online through the resident portal’s secure payment option. This gives residents both an in-person and digital payment method during the lease term.
The monthly installment includes high-speed internet, cable, pest control, and access to community amenities. Electricity, water, and sewage are not included in that amount.
Yes. Guarantor forms are part of the leasing process for students who need a guarantor to complete their application. Students and families who want more information on current guarantor requirements should contact the leasing office for more details.
The Cottages at Illinois offers 10 floor plan configurations across two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts. This gives students several options when choosing the home size and setup that best fits their group or preferred living arrangement.
Yes. Residents must either enroll in the Damage Waiver Program for a monthly fee or provide proof of liability insurance before move-in.