Living & Learning in St. Louis
As a Brown School student, the city of St. Louis will become more than your temporary location.
St. Louis will be a place where you work, learn, celebrate and build community—both inside and outside the classroom. We love our city, so when a Forbes article declares us “vibrant, diverse and hip as it gets” or Southwest magazine calls St. Louis “the city you’re missing,” we are really proud that others are recognizing what we already know. The amenities and opportunities in St. Louis lend themselves to a dynamic (and affordable) life outside of the classroom, and we hope you’ll reach out to talk with current students about their experiences in St. Louis.
As a Brown School student, you may also join us in being active partners in addressing the deep racial, social, economic and health inequities that continue to exist in St. Louis. Through practicum and field-based coursework, you’ll find opportunities to engage directly with these issues. You can also get involved with the Brown School’s many community partnerships and community-based initiatives, each of which are dedicated to addressing structural inequalities within the region. Learn more about our commitment to community engagement.
Select Viewing:
A Day in St. Louis: This short video shows you some of our city’s amazing attractions and accolades.
Take a tour of St. Louis’ specific highlights (arts scene, music, outdoor recreation, cuisine) with the help of famous St. Louis natives. These fun videos feature Sterling K. Brown, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, John Goodman, Andy Cohen and more.
Virtual Information Session: Living, Learning and Practicing in St. Louis (Hosted in January 2019)
Select Related Reading:
“What to do Around WashU Map” (Google Maps)
“STL Welcome Kit” (St. Louis Public Radio)
“St. Louis Is as Welcoming as It Is Budget-Friendly” (The New York Times)”
“36 Hours in St. Louis” (The New York Times)
“An Insider’s Guide to the Magic of St. Louis, Missouri” (Vogue)
” 5 Reasons a Writer Should Move to St. Louis” (Literary Hub) We think this is a good list for any young professional.
“St. Louis: The City You’re Missing” (Southwest: The Magazine)
“U.S Travel: 25 Best Places to Visit in 2020” (Forbes)
Housing Resources
Washington University in St. Louis graduate students live off-campus in privately-owned or University-owned properties.
The Brown School is located on the university’s Danforth Campus. We are bordered by one of the most beautiful urban parks in the nation, Forest Park, and the cities of St. Louis, Clayton and University City. Students live in a variety of the neighborhoods around campus, and each neighborhood has its distinguishing characteristics. Most students access commute from their home to campus by foot, bike, car or St. Louis Metro Transit’s bus or light rail lines (free for students through the U-Pass Program).
We created a Guide to St. Louis Neighborhoods to help you determine the most popular destinations for Brown School students among the city’s 79 neighborhoods, each with a distinct feel.
Helpful Resources:
Apartment Referral Services (ARS) is a university-managed service that provides assistance in locating off-campus housing, planning and budgeting, finding a roommate, safety and security concerns, understanding tenant rights, contracts, maintenance concerns, transportation schedules, utility set-up, and related housing matters.
Quadrangle Housing is Washington University’s off-campus housing affiliate and manages a variety of University owned properties located in the heart of Washington University in St. Louis’ neighboring communities.
Additional resources for international students are provided by the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).
Off-campus crime prevention and safety resources, including helpful tips for apartment safety are provided by the WUPD.
Guide to Missouri’s Landlord-Tenant Law and the rental process assists you in knowing your tenant rights and responsibilities.
St. Louis Visitors Commission provides a number of maps of St. Louis city and surrounding neighborhoods.
Additionally, there are many rental search engines that feature privately owned properties for rent. These include stlouis.craigslist.org, zillow.com, trulia.com, and rentcafe.com, among many others.