Is it better to live at the school your attending, rent an apartment near them, or just live at your house?

It's a personal decision. Some colleges require students to live on-campus freshman year to create a sense of school community and to teach you interpersonal skills. I do think it's valuable to spend at least 1 year living at school so you learn how to live away from home and gain independence. You will also learn valuable skills about negotiating and living with others. After that first year, many students then live near campus with friends, as on-campus housing is not always guaranteed or desired. Living at home can be cheaper than either of these options, though also potentially farther from school (making your day longer). The decision really comes down to what makes the most sense for you financially and personally. Is it going to cut down on loans significantly to live at home, for example? And can you get along with your parents if you stay at home? Are you willing to sacrifice some of the social benefits of college if you're living at home, away from your friends? There is no one right answer to any of these questions, but I hope this answer gives you some useful information as you think more about it.

I would recommend living on campus for at least one year if you would like to get the full effect of college life. You are more engulfed in the daily school activities and you'll get to interactive with different clubs that peak your interest.

There are many perks to living on campus besides the social aspect. You are that much closer to your classes, professors, facilities. Everything you need is right on campus. The time you save by living on campus is invaluable.

Some colleges in the US are "commuter schools" where a large portion of the students don't live on campus, or they may not even have a residential campus. If you go to one of those schools, living nearby should be fine. However, most colleges and universities in the US do have a majority of freshmen living on campus. At those schools, lots of student activities and social circles form around the resident population and the fact that they're all living together on campus. Clubs and organizations plan based on that, too. If you live off campus, even a short distance away, you can easily be left behind without noticing what you're missing. At least for your first year, I think there's a huge advantage in living on campus if you're attending a school where most students do.

One gray area is at some urban universities, where dorms and "off campus" apartments may be hard to tell apart. If you live in an apartment next to school and school-owned housing, and eat your meals at college dining halls, it can be just like living on campus.

I think having the full college experience where you live on campus is one of the most exciting things you can do in your life. You can always live at home if you want to continue your education to earn a graduate level degree but I would suggest you live on campus initially.