Lancaster Commons
The 25-26 Graduate Housing Application will open Tuesday, April 1st, 2025.
Lancaster Commons is an off-campus apartment complex reserved entirely for Duke graduate and professional students. Located approximately 2.6 miles from Duke’s West Campus on 2709 Western Bypass, this apartment community is ideal for first-year graduate and professional students who are new to Durham.
(Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate postdocs or visiting scholars.)
Featuring unfurnished 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units.
- Priority applications for first-year international graduate or professional students who are new to Durham, NC.
- All appliances are included in the apartment: stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and washer/dryer.
- Utilities such as water, electricity, and high speed internet are included in the rate.
- Complimentary parking on site
- Duke Transportation bus route direct to West Campus. Also within the Duke Vans service area.
- Pets are not allowed at Lancaster Commons, except for registered service animals.
- Elevators are present at all buildings in Lancaster North (2703, 2705, 2707, 2711, 2713).
- Elevators are not available in Lancaster South (2721, 2723, 2725, 2727), which houses only 1-bedroom apartments.
- You can view photos and floor plans of the apartments on this website.
Please note that you will not be able to select which floor plan you'd like in the application.
Lancaster Commons Rates
Updated April 9, 2025: Duke has removed the application fee for the 2025-2026 graduate housing application
Family member housing is ONLY available at Lancaster Commons.
If you are applying for housing with a family member you will NOT be able to live in 300 Swift.
Students applying with a family members will only be eligible for a 2-bedroom apartment and will be charged for the occupancy of both spaces if assigned with a family member.
Assignments will be based on availability. It is not a guarantee that students would be offered an assignment from their top housing location.
**These rates are per student*
NOTE: Apartment rates are fixed. Students will be charged the full assignment length (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) regardless of move in/move out arrival date.
Fall 2025 Rate (6-Month): $8,564
Spring 2026 Rate (6-Month): $8,424
- PhD students will not receive monthly bills with their housing charges, but charges will be reflected in their Bursar's accounts. PhD students can set up payroll deduction or NelNet.
- Master's students will receive monthly bills via email to their Duke email address. Master's students can also set up monthly payments via NelNet.
- A fee will be charged for late payments (1.25% of the outstanding balance).
- Unpaid bills will result in a hold being placed on students' bursar accounts, preventing students from registering for classes for the next term.
**These rates are per student*
NOTE: Apartment rates are fixed. Students will be charged the full assignment length (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) regardless of move in/move out arrival date.
Fall 2025 Rate (6-Month): $5,481
Spring 2026 Rate (6-Month): $5,391
- PhD students will not receive monthly bills with their housing charges, but charges will be reflected in their Bursar's accounts. PhD students can set up payroll deduction or NelNet.
- Master's students will receive monthly bills via email to their Duke email address. Master's students can also set up monthly payments via NelNet.
- A fee will be charged for late payments (1.25% of the outstanding balance).
- Unpaid bills will result in a hold being placed on students' bursar accounts, preventing students from registering for classes for the next term.
**These rates are per student*
NOTE: Apartment rates are fixed. Students will be charged the full assignment length (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) regardless of move in/move out arrival date.
Fall 2025 Rate (6-Month): $4,110
Spring 2026 Rate (6-Month): $4,043
- PhD students will not receive monthly bills with their housing charges, but charges will be reflected in their Bursar's accounts. PhD students can set up payroll deduction or NelNet.
- Master's students will receive monthly bills via email to their Duke email address. Master's students can also set up monthly payments via NelNet.
- A fee will be charged for late payments (1.25% of the outstanding balance).
- Unpaid bills will result in a hold being placed on students' bursar accounts, preventing students from registering for classes for the next term.
- Assignment rates for the 2025-2026 academic year include all utilities (electricity, water, internet, trash/recycling).
- There is no application fee or security deposit.
- Payments will be billed to students’ bursar accounts on a semesterly basis. The Bursar's office has an option for monthly billing (see information about that here). PhD students who receive a monthly stipend can have their rent deducted from their stipend each month.
Assignments are not subject to renewal; students will need to find other accommodations beyond June 30, 2025.
It is important for you to understand your commitment to the Housing License / Terms and Addendum. By agreeing to the License, you are bound to on-campus housing for the entire length of the License (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026).
Roommates
We highly recommend that you find a roommate prior to applying to live at Lancaster Commons. Many programs have Facebook Groups, GroupMe’s, or other forums in which entering students can find a roommate. If you are not coming in with a roommate, we will do our best to place you according to the lifestyle preferences you indicate in your application.
Please note: Once students receive their housing assignment via their Duke email, they will have 72 hours to confirm or cancel their assignment. If Duke receives no communication from the student, the housing assignment will be automatically canceled.
Email housing@duke.edu regarding graduate housing applications, assignments, and move-in processes.
Email lancaster@ticonproperties.com to set up a tour.
For all other questions, email offcampus@duke.edu.
Resources
Lancaster Commons driving distance from:
- Harris Teeter - 4.7 miles
- Whole Foods - 5.0 miles
- Duham Co-Op Market - 3.6 miles
- Compare Foods - 3.5 miles
- Food Lion - 2.5 miles
- Dollar General - 2.4 miles
- Wells Fargo - 1.7 miles
- FedEx Shipping - 4.0 miles
- UPS Shipping - 4.8 miles
- Spectrum Store - 4.0 miles
- Nasher Museum - 3.1 miles
- Duke Graduate School - 3.0 miles
- Duke West Campus - 3.2 miles
- Duke East Campus - 4.0 miles