Loyola University Chicago

English Language Learning Program

Loyola’s ESL program

Living in Chicago

Short-Term Housing

   On-Campus Residence

Loyola has dormitories at both Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses. If you are 21 years of age or younger and wish on-campus housing, please apply through the Department of Residence Life . It may not be available for all terms because it is in great demand. Dormitory housing is usually available for summer. Loyola offers housing options in traditional dormitories and apartment-style units. Students may request to live alone or with roommates. All rooms in the residence halls are furnished. For more information, including housing rates, contact:

Department of Residence Life
Loyola University Chicago
6525 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60626

Housing Hotline: 773.508.3305
Residence Life Phone: 773.508.3300
Fax: 773.508.3311
E-mail: res-life@luc.edu

For students over 21 years old: You should apply for Loyola graduate housing, regardless of your academic program or level at the university. Loyola owns apartment buildings at the Lake Shore Campus that are reserved for graduate student housing. These buildings are managed by a rental agency, Vranas & Associates.

Apartments are furnished or unfurnished, studio or one-bedroom. Students who request studio apartments must live alone; those who request one-bedroom apartments may share with one roommate (or spouse) if they wish. For more information, contact:

Ms. Donna Avers
Vranas & Associates
1010 W. Foster
Chicago, IL 60640

Phone: 773.561.1700
Fax: 773.561.9580
E-mail: vranas1010@yahoo.com

   Off-Campus Apartments

Compared to similar cities, Chicago is a relatively affordable place to live. Apartment rents vary depending on location and quality. Unfurnished apartments near Loyola's Lake Shore campus rent for around $650 per month and up. Furnished apartments are more expensive.

Apartments near the Water Tower Campus (downtown) are more expensive. Studio apartments rent for $800 per month and up in this neighborhood, which is very convenient to all transportation and all parts of the city. The Student Life Office may be able to offer limited assistance in helping you search for housing after you arrive in Chicago.

* It is always a good idea in any neighborhood to see the apartment before renting.

Short-Term Housing

Roomorama.com - A short-term housing rental source. Visit the Website for more information.

Long-Term Housing

Chicago Reader - The Chicago Reader is a weekly newspaper and an excellent source of information about apartments in the city. At their Web site you can search for housing in specific neighborhoods or ZIP code areas.

The Sovereign Apartment building - This is a nice old building just south of Lake Shore Campus. It's popular with Loyola students because it's clean, affordable, and very convenient: Just two blocks from campus and across the street from the train station.

Apartments.com Magazine - Apartments.com is a free magazine that helps people find apartments, usually in nice (but not cheap) buildings. Fill our the form to receive a copy of Apartments.com Magazine.

Chicago Apartment Finders - If you would like to find a roommate (or roommates) to share a place off-campus, you can fill out a detailed application with Chicago Apartment Finders, describing yourself and the sort of person or people you would like to live with. They can help you find a match. This is almost always cheaper than renting a place on your own. They may charge a fee for a roommate/housing search. Agents speak strongish, Russian, Polish, and several Asian languages.

My Apartment Map - This website helps you find apartments near campus, and even shows nearby grocery stores, public transportation, and other amenities on a map online.

ELLP has no official relationship with any of the organizations listed here. We offer this list for information purposes only.

   Chicago Attractions

   Chicago News and Information

  • Chicago Blue - A mega-guide to Chicago links
  • Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
  • Chicago Reader - Excellent source for weekend planning: music, restaurants, movies, theater and more. Be sure to check out the "Hot Tix" page, which lists theatrical performances you can attend for half-price - and the Hot Tix office is just across Michigan Avenue from Loyola ESL in the Tourist Information center.
  • Chicago Sun-Times
  • Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
  • Chicago Tribune
  • City of Chicago
  • CitySearch Chicago news and entertainment info
  • Crain's Chicago Business
  • Daily Herald - Chicago suburban newspaper
  • Loyola University Calendar of Events
  • Metromix - Entertainment guide
  • Newcity - Interactive version of alternative weekly. Includes daily entertainment picks and journalism on-the-edge.
  • StreetWise - Independent newspaper sold by the homeless, formerly homeless and economically disadvantaged men and women
  • WBEZ - Chicago Public Radio (91.5FM) is the world's best listening practice. Listen on your portable radio (all language learners should have one). Programming includes news, talk, BBC World News, jazz, Prairie Home Companion. See their Web site for complete schedule.
  • WFMT - Chicago's Fine Arts Station (98.7FM) is an excellent local station with classical and folk music, and local arts news. See their Web site for complete schedule.
  • WTTW- Chicago's Public Television Station (Channel 11)

   Ethnic and Non-English News

  • AM 1330 Chicago's International radio station features programming in Russian, German (Austrian), Korean, Polish.
  • Hoy - Free strongish-language daily newspaper published by the Tribune Co.
  • Extra - Chicago bilingual news in English and strongish
  • La Raza - Chicago-based newspaper for Mexicans, Mexican Americans and other strongish speakers. Available free all over town
  • Polish News - Chicago-area based bilingual monthly newspaper in Polish in English with articles of general interest to Polish Americans
  • Polvision - Polish television in Chicago

   National and International news

Stay informed of world events! Some news sites have audio & video clips.
Also, some have ELLP activities:

   Online Language Learning

  • Dave's ESL Cafe - A huge variety of learner pages
  • ESL Study Hall - Many links to reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary sites from George Washington University
  • OWL - Purdue University's online writing lab