Unlike dorms and campus apartments, cooperative houses are independently owned and run by an outside organization. The students who live in the cooperative house are shareholders in the property, and together, they have decision powers over the rules within the house.
Students transition in and out cooperative homes, so nonprofit organizations like College Houses Cooperatives manage the properties to maintain continuity.
Because cooperative houses are independently owned and operated, the communities may have religious, cultural, political or economic affiliations. Cooperative houses tend to be communities of like-minded students who share principles or a commitment to a cause such as environmentalism.
CampusGrotto reports that on-campus housing at some universities can cost as much as $9,000 for an eight-month academic year. By renting a room off campus for $500 per month, a student can save $4,000 per school year in housing expenses.
According to "U.S. News & World Report," co-ops also can be less expensive than other college housing. College co-ops tend to have a community feel with like-minded residents and themes. In 2007, more than 240 cooperative houses operated near at least 50 university campuses.
To become part of a cooperative house, students must go through an application and interview process. Co-op applications will ask basic questions about a student's rental history and personality. Of these applicants, a number will be invited for interviews.
The cooperative house may appoint a committee to evaluate and interview applicants. Some co-ops require prospective tenants to meet with each individual in the house.
Admission to some co-ops is selective and competitive. According to "U.S. News & World Report," certain co-ops have as many as four applicants for each bed.
Members of each co-op may be assigned a particular household chore. Some students may wash dishes while others may cook or garden.
Some co-ops choose to grow their own food, and in these houses, individual students will be assigned tasks to ensure that the food grows properly. Other tasks include emergency prevention, scrubbing toilets and laundry.
Members of a co-op may have more than one chore. Usually, people in co-ops are not able to trade chores for at least one year.
Some cooperative houses choose to create their own meal plans. Co-op residents will pay monthly or annual dues for a food budget, and the house as a group will purchase catered meals. In these cooperative houses, students do not need to cook or pay for their own food since meals are planned and shared.
Other cooperative houses may have a meal schedule with planned dishes. Student residents may need to take turns cooking and cleaning for these meals.
Meal plans for cooperative houses will depend on the house and its residents.