Tatum Spencer | staff writer

Despite having a full-time job at UPMC Children’s Hospital, Duquesne University nursing student Emma Shuttleworth said it was not possible for her to keep up with rent.

“I was working full time at Children’s hospital,” Shuttleworth said. “While I’m in school, I had to take out a private loan that pays for rent.”

From South Side to Oakland, Duquesne is surrounded by students living off campus on their own. But lately, some students have said this independence comes at a price — a price that’s been rapidly increasing.

The cost of living in Pittsburgh for a renter is 0.3% higher than the national average, according to Apartments.com.

Since living off campus, Shuttleworth has received no financial help from her parents, and has worked a part-time job in addition to her full time one to pay for housing.

Shuttleworth said she thinks that the price of things are “ridiculous these days” and her gas and water bills have gone up over the past few years. She said that she has been more conscious of what she’s spending her money on because of this.

“I definitely have had to watch where I’m spending money and not buy whatever I want all the time,” Shuttleworth said. “I have to budget my groceries and only buy necessities from time to time.”

Kim Crawford, regional manager of the property management division at Steiner Reality, said that she has noticed these issues as well, and that many of them are a result of larger economic supply chains.

“As those prices go up, it all trickles down to the renter to absorb the cost,” she said.

Crawford said because of the costs of things like gas and physical supplies, landlords have to raise their prices to keep up.

“We definitely have to meet the cost, but we try to be mindful of the renter and make it as affordable as we can within the market,” Crawford said.

Taylor Holloway, a fifth-year speech language pathology major at Duquesne and a Mount Washington resident, said she has not only noticed this with her rent, but has also had to be more conscious of other things she spends her money on.

“When I go to the grocery store, I make sure to have a list of what I need to buy because otherwise I feel like I’m not being beneficial, and I may spend money on things I don’t necessarily need,” she said. “I think living off campus has made me realize how much money I’m spending and how much money I could be saving.”

Holloway also said living on campus is very convenient at times because everything she needs is there.

“Especially with classes, it’s sometimes difficult to get the energy to drive to campus and attend class,” Holloway said. “But it has been nice separating school from home life.”

Some students have decided to avoid the costs of living off-campus altogether, like junior psychology major Alana Pinto. To combat housing costs, Pinto is a Resident Assistant in Duquesne Towers.

Pinto said that being an RA sharply decreases the cost of going toDuquesne, and she is thankful she got the position because she knew it was going to be very stressful on her trying to afford housing if she hadn’t gotten the job.

“I think those elements definitely incentivizes me to come back because it’s such a huge burden that’s lifted from me,” Pinto said.

As a property manager, Crawford said there are things that students who decide to live off campus can do to set themselves up for better pricing.

The first is to thoroughly read through their lease before singing on. Crawford said that students often miss hidden fees or utilities, so having this knowledge up front can help them prepare better for what’s to come.

In addition to this, she said students should work to establish credit to make themselves better candidates to renters.

“As a first time renter, you want to come out of the gate strong,” Crawford said. “So the things you do today will impact you down the road.”

Kim Crawford, regional manager of the property management division at Steiner Reality, said that she has noticed these issues as well, and that many of them are a result of larger economic supply chains.

“As those prices go up, it all trickles down to the renter to absorb the cost,” she said.

Crawford said because of the costs of things like gas and physical supplies, landlords have to raise their prices to keep up.

“We definitely have to meet the cost, but we try to be mindful of the renter and make it as affordable as we can within the market,” Crawford said.

Taylor Holloway, a fifth-year speech language pathology major at Duquesne and a Mount Washington resident, said she has not only noticed this with her rent, but has also had to be more conscious of other things she spends her money on.

“When I go to the grocery store, I make sure to have a list of what I need to buy because otherwise I feel like I’m not being beneficial, and I may spend money on things I don’t necessarily need,” she said. “I think living off campus has made me realize how much money I’m spending and how much money I could be saving.”

Holloway also said living on campus is very convenient at times because everything she needs is there.

“Especially with classes, it’s sometimes difficult to get the energy to drive to campus and attend class,” Holloway said. “But it has been nice separating school from home life.”

Some students have decided to avoid the costs of living off-campus altogether, like junior psychology major Alana Pinto. To combat housing costs, Pinto is a Resident Assistant in Duquesne Towers.

Pinto said that being an RA sharply decreases the cost of going to Duquesne, and she is thankful she got the position because she knew it was going to be very stressful on her trying to afford housing if she hadn’t gotten the job.

“I think those elements definitely incentivizes me to come back because it’s such a huge burden that’s lifted from me,” Pinto said.

As a property manager, Crawford said there are things that students who decide to live off campus can do to set themselves up for better pricing.

The first is to thoroughly read through their lease before singing on. Crawford said that students often miss hidden fees or utilities, so having this knowledge up front can help them prepare better for what’s to come.

In addition to this, she said students should work to establish credit to make themselves better candidates to renters.

“As a first time renter, you want to come out of the gate strong,” Crawford said. “So the things you do today will impact you down the road.”

Tatum Spencer can be reached at spencert3@duq.edu