Incoming undergraduate students at CIM are required to live on campus for their first three years of collegiate study. Undergraduates beyond their third year and graduate students rent apartments or houses within University Circle and in nearby neighborhoods, or can elect to remain in 1609 Hazel if space is available. There is a free annual lottery to randomly select interested CIM students who wish to live in the Hazel, but are otherwise not required to do so (if space is available). Although it's the student’s responsibility to secure suitable housing off-campus, the CIM Student Affairs team is here to assist with the search.
On-Campus Housing
CIM’s state-of-the-art student housing complex is located at 1609 Hazel Drive, just steps from CIM’s main building in University Circle. The five-story facility includes 22 acoustically isolated practice rooms on the main floor, residence space for first-, second-, and third- year CIM undergraduates as well as limited rental units for upper-class and graduate students at CIM on the second and third floors. In general, first-year students live in six-person suites with double occupancy bedrooms, and returning and older students live in four-person suites with single occupancy bedrooms.
Amenities include:
- Deluxe, fully furnished units, including in-suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi, laundry and full kitchens
- 19 individual practice rooms available around the clock for CIM Hazel residents and 3 additional chamber music-sized practice rooms
- Secure, controlled access and 24/7 support for urgent concerns and emergencies
- Exercise studios
- Spacious, relaxing lounges and a classroom
- Individually controlled heating and cooling
For those planning to live in CIM's student housing complex, you must complete CIM's Housing Contract Contract and the Housing Preference Form. You can also read or download our packing list to help prepare you for the move.
Off-Campus Housing
Please be advised: CIM is not affiliated with or endorsing any apartment complex, community, business, or entity. CIM encourages students to further research the resources below before signing lease agreements or making purchases of any kind.
Most fourth-year and graduate students choose to live off campus in apartments or rental houses located in University Circle (Hessler Road, East 115th, or Uptown apartments) or in neighborhoods bordering campus (Little Italy, Coventry and Cleveland Heights), which are an easy commute by bicycle or on foot. You'll have access to a public transportation pass to help you commute and get around the city.
Finding Housing Off-Campus:
- CWRU’s off-campus housing listing service
- Euclid3: Apartments near CWRU
- Triangle Towers: Apartments near CWRU
- Lumos Apartments: 1866 East 93rd street, Cleveland
- RENT Cafe: Apartments near CIM
- Hazel 8: Hazel 8 is across the street from CIM
- Uptown Cleveland Apartments: Apartments near CIM and CWRU
- CIM Student Facebook Group: Connect with students to find the best places and management companies to rent from
Leasing Tip:
Do you know what to look for in a lease, and the kinds of questions you need to ask a prospective landlord? Learn all you need to know about the basics, including security deposits, inspections, and overall maintenance and security. The Center for Online Education provides a Student Guide to College Housing regarding important facts to keep in mind as you look at off-campus housing options.
FAQs
CIM residents of 1609 Hazel will have 24-hour access to the 22 top-end Wenger practice rooms (19 individual rooms and 3 chamber-sized rooms). CIM students living off campus will also have access to the practice rooms with some time limitations. Building access is structured so that practice rooms are available only to CIM students and CIM residents.
The other two residential floors are leased to our partner and neighbor, Case Western Reserve University. CWRU students will have access only to their floors; they will not have access to the practice rooms or the CIM floors, with the exception of shared access to both exercise studios across Institutions, located on the 2nd and 4th floors across from the elevator.
Incoming undergraduates must live in CIM housing for the first three years of collegiate studies. Transfer students may be eligible to live off campus depending on their transfer level; most transfer students will be required to live on campus for at least one year. Graduate students and students beyond their third year may choose to live on campus if space is available and they are selected through our annual free lottery. This lottery is usually held in late May or early June.
Students can apply for an exemption from the 3-year housing requirement. This request is found within the Housing Preference Form. Exemptions are approved on a case-by-case basis, but have previously included: medical accommodations, students that already live nearby with family, incoming undergraduates who will be 21 years of age before the first day of classes, and others.
For an undergraduate student, living off campus will change the budget used to calculate your financial aid package. If you are receiving any grant money in your package, living off campus could affect the amount you receive. Check with the Office of Financial Aid prior to requesting a release. Financial aid for graduate students living off campus should not be affected.
