For many college students, there is no way to get around residence hall prices, especially since freshmen and sophomores are often required to live on campus.

But saving money is possible -- both in campus and off-campus housing -- as long as the student doesn't mind making a few compromises.

"The less expensive dorms are not always the most popular," said Kim Abel, director of housing and dining at Carnegie Mellon University. "Our students want to live in [on-campus] apartments, so if a student wants to live in a less expensive dorm, we'll try to accommodate them."

A common way students choose to save money on housing is by having roommates, and the more roommates, the merrier the student's wallet.

In Holland Hall at the University of Pittsburgh, a single room costs $2,850 a semester, a double $2,650, a triple $2,050 and a quad $1,795. Thus, the difference between a single and a quad is $1,055 a semester in the same building.

The savings may not always be worth the hassle, especially for students who value their privacy.

The savings depend not only on the number of roommates but the type of room.

CMU has both prime rooms, which include a private or semi-private bathroom shared by no more than five people, and standard rooms, which have a bathroom down the hall.

The price of a prime quad is the same as a standard triple. Both cost $5,350 an academic year.

And at $6,030 an academic year at CMU, a standard double is just $200 more than a prime triple.

Abby Prokop, director of residence life at Chatham University, thinks the experience of living on campus and being part of a community is worth the cost.

"I will not deny living on campus can be expensive. It's an investment in yourself by living on campus and being involved," Ms. Prokop said.

Ms. Prokop noted the nearness of classroom buildings, libraries, dining halls and other dorms can eliminate the need to have a car on campus.

Many residence halls also offer free computer and printing labs, wireless Internet, exercise facilities, pay laundry, and study and recreation lounges.

"It has more to do with your lifestyle," Ms. Abel said. "By living on campus, you're adjacent to many services and opportunities, and many of those opportunities on campus are free."

One way to reduce the bill is to serve as a resident assistant, though it often requires working odd hours and reprimanding peers.

RA pay varies by school. First-year resident assistants at Chatham University receive a free single room and a $300 annual stipend. Duquesne University resident assistants receive a single room and a meal plan.

Chatham resident assistant Jennifer Van Dam thought the job would develop her leadership skills and help pay the bills.

"I'm loving it so far," the sophomore said. "Becoming an RA is definitely a good way to save on housing."

The number of RA positions is limited, however, and a student's top campus housing choices are not always possible. Many colleges assign rooms through a seniority-based lottery system, and some suites and apartments are limited to upperclassmen.

Eventually, many students move off campus and into the private-apartment market. The same rules hold true: the number of roommates and the desirability of the apartment can make a difference in cost.

It is possible for students to save money on off-campus housing, but they need to be sure they're counting all of the costs.

Some off-campus prices may appear lower on the surface, but don't include utilities, Internet, cable TV or furniture. On-campus prices often are all-inclusive.

Private-apartment leases usually are for 12 months, so the student may have to pay for more months of housing than needed. Residence hall rates are usually for two semesters so there aren't summer payments.

Students who live off-campus also have to spend time dealing directly with the landlord when the heat doesn't come on or the stove doesn't work. And they may have to spend more time traveling to and from campus.

Many colleges and universities have off-campus housing offices and Web sites that can provide advice, listings or even a review of the lease.

On its Web site, Pitt's off-campus living office features a list of popular apartment complexes in surrounding neighborhoods, along with contact information, prices and details ranging from parking to hardwood floors.

Pitt's office states a single one-bedroom or studio in a medium-quality building generally runs about $590 a month, plus $80 to $250 a month for gas and electric. Other costs include cable TV, security deposit, credit check and renter's insurance. It estimates a two-bedroom apartment for two roommates at $800 a month, plus other expenses.

The Pitt Web site also features useful information for renters such as a renter's checklist and help with finding roommates, sublets or short-term housing.

CMU's Web site features similar advice in addition to a private registry where local landlords can post vacancies directly to CMU students.

Though Ms. Abel said the benefits of living on campus overrule the costs, her favorite money-saving housing tip can apply to on- and off-campus living:

"Live in your room before you buy everything you think you're going to need," she said.

"One of the things I notice about first-year college students is that they'll go and purchase everything for their room before they know what they need, and then they'll find they don't need half of those things."

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