COMMUTERS

Students walking towards a building

On or Off Campus, It’s All JWU

From choosing a major to choosing where to live, your college experience is fully customizable at JWU. Many of our students opt to commute to campus — in fact, roughly 60% of our students universitywide are commuters.

Regardless of where you choose to live, you’ll still have the same hands-on, premiere education and access to all the resources JWU has to offer.

95.4% JWU’s Career Outcome Rate

1,450+ Students who gained industry experience through internships

98.5% of on-ground students receive aid

*For an explanation of the career outcomes rate and other information, visit JWU Student Consumer Information.


5 Reasons You Should Consider Commuting to JWU

More than 3,000 JWU students universitywide commute — that’s 60% of our student population. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider if it’s the right move for you.

5 Reasons to Commute to JWU

Gaebe commons during spring. students are walk around campus on a bright sunny day with the flowers blooming.

Visit JWU

There’s so much to do (and see) at JWU! Whether you are exploring the Providence or Charlotte campus, you will get an up-close look at what makes JWU great. Explore where you’ll live, learn, and enjoy all campus has to offer. We can’t wait to show you JWU!

Schedule an In-Person Tour

Selecting a Major

Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or want to explore different areas of interest, the JWU academic search tool will help you do both. We’ve got something for everyone with 100+ undergraduate and graduate program options to choose from.

Majors & Degrees


Submitting Your Application

Building a life you’ll love starts here. Begin your path towards a lifetime of success by completing your application now. JWU offers both early action and rolling admissions options. Whether submitting online or in print, the process takes less than 30 minutes to complete. Get started!

Apply to JWU


AFFORDING JWU

We work to ensure that your education is not just a valuable investment, it’s a financially attainable goal. Our financial aid team helps families invest in an experience that guides students towards success.

Paying for College

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Commuter FAQs

Can first-year students commute to JWU?
First-year students enrolling at JWU for the Fall will be required to live in university housing for their first two years of enrollment on the Charlotte campus and their first three years of enrollment on the Providence campus. Exceptions to this requirement will be made for students who fit one or more of the following criteria:

  • Student will be living at home with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) within 25 miles of JWU’s Providence campus or within 50 miles of JWU’s Charlotte campus.
  • Student is married or has dependent(s).
  • Student has a disability requiring off-campus housing.
  • Student turns 24 years old before the first day of classes of their first enrolled semester.
  • Student is not eligible to live on campus.


Support for Commuters

As a new commuter, are there any support programs available for me?
At the Providence Campus, new commuters are assigned a Pack Leader. A Pack Leader is an upperclassman at JWU who will be your peer mentor for your first year. They will help you navigate JWU and offer their support, advice and guidance to aid in your success at JWU. Pack Leaders are part of Off-Campus Student Services and can be reached at 401-598-4595 during the academic year.

Are there dedicated spaces on campus for commuters?
Both Providence and Charlotte have dedicated lounge areas for commuter students.


Parking and Transportation

If I don’t have a car, are there any other forms of transportation I could take?
Yes, many commuter students get to campus without a car. Some students utilize Lyft and/or Uber to get rides to and around campus. Others utilize the RIPTA public transportation available in Providence and throughout Rhode Island, or the CATS public transit system in the Charlotte area.

Where can I find parking and is there a fee?
Students who bring a vehicle on university property at either campus are required to register their vehicle and have a JWU-issued parking permit for all JWU lots. For more specific information on parking and transportation, select a campus below:

JWU Providence

JWU Charlotte


Financial Aid

Do I still have to apply for FAFSA each year?
If you are receiving financial aid this year and would like to continue to receive financial aid for subsequent years, you will need to reapply each year.

Does being a commuter affect my financial aid?
Your financial aid package is determined by your status living on- or off-campus. For more information on financial aid, contact Student Financial Services at your chosen campus.

Providence Campus:
sfs.pvd@jwu.edu
401-598-1468

Charlotte Campus:
sfs.clt@jwu.edu
866-598-2427 or 980-598-1300


Where can I find an affordable apartment?
Before starting your apartment search, you are encouraged to utilize the resources available on the off-campus and commuter website. Not only can you search for affordable apartments using the links found on this site, but you’ll also find valuable information and resources that will be helpful before, during and after your apartment search.

Are we able to use meal plans? Where do we purchase them?
Yes, commuters at either campus can buy blocks of Wildcat Meals. For more information about available meal plans and where to purchase them, select a campus below:

JWU Providence

JWU Charlotte


How do I register for classes?
Students register for classes via jwuLink > Academics > Class Registration. We strongly recommend that you schedule time with an academic counselor in Student Academic Services to determine classes you should register in order to stay on track.


More Reasons to Choose JWU

Student being helped by faculty

Student Support Services

JWU believes every student should have the tools they need to get a great college education.

Student Support Services

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Scholarships

Our team of financial planners is here to assist you. Explore everything you need to know about scholarships and more.

Scholarships

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Experiential Education

We connect you to employers and professional development opportunities for a successful career start.

Experiential Education

Professor interacting with a student in a Charlotte classroom.

Faculty with industry experience

With JWU’s unique approach to education, you work closely with faculty who have expertise in their own unique disciplines.

JWU Faculty