A Parent’s Guide to Life at State Columbia

What’s Included

Furnished bedrooms

Each bedroom includes a full-size bed, nightstand, dresser drawers, desk with chair, walk-in closet, and ceiling fan. Students have the main pieces they need for sleeping, studying, and storing their things from day one.

Furnished shared spaces

Living areas include a couch, coffee table, media center, and additional seating in select apartments. Some layouts also feature a porch swing and a half-bath for guests, giving roommates a little extra room to hang out and make the space their own.

Full kitchens

Kitchens include modern appliances, granite countertops, custom cabinetry, and barstool seating in select layouts. Whether your student is meal-prepping for the week or making something at midnight after a long study session, the basics are already in place.

Private bathrooms

Bedrooms are paired with private bathrooms featuring a large vanity with cabinetry and a tub and shower combination. That means fewer roommate negotiations when everyone is getting ready for an 8 a.m. class.

In-home laundry

Each apartment includes a washer and dryer, so laundry stays close to home and off the weekend to-do list.

Wi-Fi

High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the community, making it easier for students to move between coursework, streaming, video calls, and everything else that keeps them connected.

What Families Should Still Plan For

Monthly installments

Families should plan for their student’s monthly installment as part of the overall housing budget. The amount will vary based on the selected floor plan, bedroom, lease term, and availability.

Required fees

Families should also budget for a one-time application fee and recurring Conservice, technology, valet trash, green, and utility charges. Electricity is billed based on usage, and additional fees may apply.

Renter’s insurance

Renter’s insurance is required. Students may provide their own qualifying policy or enroll in the community’s available coverage.

Parking

Surface parking is available for residents, with a one-time parking fee at the beginning of the lease. If bringing a car is part of your student’s plan, it is worth factoring parking into the budget early.

Personal expenses

Groceries, toiletries, cleaning supplies, school materials, dining out, transportation, clothing, and other personal purchases should also be part of the monthly plan. A little budgeting upfront can make the semester feel a lot less like, “Wait, where did all my money go?”

Pool & Outdoor Recreation

State Columbia has several outdoor spaces that make it easy for students to get outside when the weather cooperates.

Amenities include:

• Resort-style swimming pool
• Hot tub
• Tanning shelf
• Poolside lounge seating
• Fire pit
• Picnic and grilling area
• Sand volleyball court
• Basketball court
• Cornhole

The mix of pool space, courts, games, and grilling areas gives residents options for both laid-back afternoons and a little friendly competition.

Fitness

The 24-hour fitness center gives residents the flexibility to work out around classes, labs, jobs, and other commitments. Fitness amenities include:

• Strength training equipment
• Cardio equipment
• Cycling bikes
• Yoga studio

Students can fit in a workout before an early class, later in the evening, or whenever they find an open hour in the day.

Study Spaces

Students have access to private study pods, group study spaces, free printing, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a dedicated computer room with workstations.

Private study pods can be useful when students need a quieter place to focus, while group spaces give classmates somewhere to meet for projects or exam prep without crowding around the kitchen table.

Pet Amenities

State Columbia is pet-friendly and includes a dog park with agility obstacles, a fenced play area, a dog wash station, and sidewalks throughout the cottage-style neighborhood.

Students planning to bring a pet should contact our leasing office before signing to review pet policies and any applicable requirements or costs.

Packages & Deliveries

Residents have access to Amazon Hub package lockers and centralized mail pickup.

Package lockers give students a designated place to retrieve deliveries such as textbooks, school supplies, clothing, and other orders without planning their day around leasing office hours.

Before Move-In

Students should focus on bringing personal and household essentials such as:

• Bedding and pillows for a full-size bed
• Towels
• Toiletries
• Cookware
• Dishes and utensils
• Cleaning supplies
• Laundry products
• School supplies
• Clothing and hangers
• Electronics and chargers
• Decorations and personal items

Students living with roommates should coordinate shared kitchen and household items before move-in. Deciding who will bring cookware, dishes, cleaning products, small appliances, and other shared essentials can help avoid duplicates and make packing a little easier.

On Move-In Day

Once your student receives access to the apartment, they should take a few minutes to walk through their bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and shared living areas before unpacking.

Students should confirm that the expected furniture and appliances are in place and report anything that needs attention to our community team.

It also helps to start with the basics. Bedding, toiletries, chargers, medication, clothing, and a few kitchen essentials are usually the things students will want first after a long move-in day.

Roommate Conversations Worth Having Early

Students sharing an apartment should talk through a few everyday expectations before the semester gets busy.

Helpful topics include:

• Cleaning responsibilities
• Shared groceries and supplies
• Kitchen use
• Guests
• Noise
• Shared purchases
• Common-area expectations
• Pet responsibilities, if applicable

A quick conversation at the beginning of the year is usually easier than trying to establish expectations once everyone is already arguing about whose turn it was to buy paper towels.

Getting Familiar With the Community

During the first few days, students should take some time to learn where the study spaces, fitness center, package lockers, pool, dog park, parking areas, and leasing office are located.

Knowing where to find the things they will actually use makes the start of the semester much easier than discovering everything one forgotten package or last-minute study session at a time.

Planning for Move-Out

Students should review move-out requirements before the final weeks of the lease. Families may want to keep track of move-out dates, cleaning expectations, personal property removal, key return procedures, and other lease requirements together so nothing gets lost in the end-of-semester rush.

Driving to Mizzou

Mizzou is about a seven-minute drive from State Columbia.

Students who plan to drive regularly should account for both residential parking and their campus parking arrangements. Surface parking is available at our community, and residents should contact our leasing office to confirm availability.

Biking to Mizzou

Biking gives students another way to travel between home, Mizzou, and destinations around Columbia. The city has designated bicycle routes and trails, while Mizzou has bike racks and self-service repair stations around campus.

Students who plan to bike regularly should look at their likely campus destinations and route options ahead of the semester so they know which trips make the most sense by bike.

Tiger Line

Tiger Line is Mizzou’s campus shuttle service for students, faculty, and staff. Shuttles operate on continuous loops while classes are in session, with routes connecting different parts of campus and university parking areas.

Students can use Mizzou’s live Tiger Line information to review routes, locate stops, and check upcoming shuttle arrival times.

Tiger Line is particularly useful once students are on or near campus and need to get between academic buildings, parking areas, Mizzou Health Care locations, and other university destinations.

Go COMO

Columbia’s public bus system, Go COMO, is another option for students traveling around the city. Go COMO is fare-free and serves destinations throughout Columbia, including campus and downtown areas.

Students can use route maps and live transit information to plan trips for groceries, errands, appointments, work, or destinations around town that are less convenient to reach on foot.

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft operate in Columbia and can be useful for trips when students do not want to drive or when public transit does not match their plans.

Families may want to talk with their student about transportation plans for late evenings, airport trips, appointments, and other situations where they may want another option beyond driving themselves.

What Students Should Handle Directly

Maintenance requests: If something in the apartment needs attention, students should contact our on-site team. Our team is on call during the day and after hours, and Community Concierges are available on-site 24 hours a day.

Payments: Monthly installments can be paid through the Resident Portal. Students should know when their payment is due, how to log in, and whom to contact if they have a question about their account.

Community updates: Residents should regularly check emails, portal messages, and community communications for information about payments, events, maintenance, and important dates.

Roommate communication: Everyday conversations about cleaning, guests, shared purchases, noise, and common areas should generally begin with the residents sharing the apartment.

Lease questions: Students should keep access to their lease and reach out to our community team if they have questions about a policy, deadline, renewal, or other housing matter.

How Parents Can Stay Involved

Parents and guardians can still be involved while giving students room to handle their own apartment responsibilities.

Before move-in, families may want to discuss:

• Who will make monthly installment payments
• Which housing and personal expenses the student will manage
• Whether the student will bring a car
• When parents should be contacted about apartment concerns
• How roommate disagreements should be approached
• Renewal and move-out dates
• How frequently everyone wants to check in during the first few weeks

These conversations give students a clearer understanding of what they are managing while keeping parents informed about the bigger decisions.

How close is State Columbia to Mizzou?

State Columbia is about a seven-minute drive from the University of Missouri campus and about eight minutes from Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.

What floor plans does State Columbia offer?

We offer fully furnished two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. Each layout includes private bedrooms and bathrooms along with shared kitchen and living spaces.

Are the apartments furnished?

Yes. Bedrooms include a full-size bed, nightstand, dresser drawers, desk with chair, walk-in closet, and ceiling fan. Shared spaces include a couch, coffee table, and media center, while kitchens include modern appliances, granite countertops, and custom cabinetry. Apartments also include washers and dryers.

Are leases individual?

Yes. We lease by the bed rather than by the full apartment. Each resident signs their own lease and is responsible for their own bedroom space and monthly installment.

Does State Columbia offer roommate matching?

Yes. If your student does not already have a roommate or roommate group in mind, they can participate in our complimentary roommate matching program. Students complete a profile with information about their interests, study and sleep habits, academic major, and other living preferences. Our team then uses that information to help pair students with roommates who may be a good fit.

How does my student pay their monthly installment?

Residents can make payments through the Resident Portal. If your student has questions about a payment or their account, they can contact our leasing office for assistance.

What happens if my student needs help after hours?

Our on-site team is available during regular hours, and after-hours assistance is reserved for emergency maintenance situations. Community Concierges are available 24 hours a day to help residents understand where to go when something urgent comes up.

For life-threatening emergencies or situations requiring immediate police, fire, or medical assistance, residents should always call 911 first.

What is a Community Concierge?

Community Concierges are on-site members of our community staff who are available around the clock. They give residents someone at the community to contact with questions or concerns that come up during the day or after the leasing office has closed.

Is State Columbia pet-friendly?

Yes. State Columbia is pet-friendly and includes a fenced dog park with agility obstacles and an on-site dog wash station. Students planning to bring a pet should contact our leasing office to review the applicable pet policy and requirements before signing.

Is parking available?

Yes. Surface parking is available for residents. Families should contact our leasing office to confirm availability if their student plans to bring a vehicle.

Is renter’s insurance required?

Yes. Residents are required to carry renter’s insurance. Students may provide their own qualifying policy or enroll in the community’s available coverage for an additional monthly fee.