Finding the right off-campus housing is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a UVU student. One of the first questions to answer: do you want a private bedroom, or are you comfortable sharing a room to save some money? Both options exist in the UVU student housing market, but they lead to very different day-to-day experiences. Here’s what to know before you sign a lease — and why most students end up happier with a private room.
What’s the Difference?
Shared Rooms
Shared rooms mean two (or more) students split one bedroom, each with their own bed, desk, and closet space crammed into a single room. It’s a setup borrowed from traditional dorm life, and it’s still common in some older student housing near campus.
Private Rooms
Private Rooms give each resident their own bedroom with a door that closes. You might still share a bathroom or common living space with roommates, but your bedroom is yours alone. At Summerwood, every apartment is a private 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom floor plan — each student gets a private bedroom while sharing a bathroom with just one roommate, so you get personal space without losing the social side of student living.
Cost Comparison: Is Sharing Really Cheaper?
Shared rooms are often marketed as the budget option, and on paper that can be true — splitting one bedroom between two people spreads the rent further. But the math looks different once you factor in what you’re giving up: personal space, sleep quality, and control over your own schedule. Many students who start in a shared room end up paying to move into a private one anyway.
| Factor | Shared Room | Private Room (Summerwood) |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Split with 1+ roommates | Yours alone |
| Bathroom | Often shared with more people | Shared with just 1 roommate |
| Furnishings | Fit two setups in one room | Furnished with all essential furniture |
| Starting Rate | Varies by property | Rates as low as $499/month |
| Utilities | Varies | Internet, water, sewer, garbage, gas & electrical included |
With rates as low as $499 a month, private rooms at Summerwood are priced to compete directly with shared-room options nearby — so you’re rarely paying a steep premium for your own space. It’s worth comparing the full monthly cost (not just the advertised rent) before assuming a shared room will actually save you money.
Why Privacy Matters More in College Than You’d Think
You control your own sleep schedule. College schedules are unpredictable — late study sessions, early labs, weekend nights out. In a shared room, your sleep is at the mercy of your roommate’s schedule, and vice versa. A private room means you can turn the lights off (or leave them on) whenever you need to.
You have a real place to focus. Group study spaces and lounges are great, but sometimes you just need a quiet room with a door. Private bedrooms give you a dedicated space to study, take a call, or decompress without negotiating around someone else’s routine.
Roommate friction stays roommate friction — not bedroom friction. Every roommate situation has its adjustments, but those are far easier to manage when you each retreat to your own room at the end of the day. Shared bedrooms remove that reset button entirely.
You still get the social side. Choosing a private room doesn’t mean choosing isolation. At Summerwood, you’ll still have roommates in your unit and a full community around you — 24-hour fitness center, sport basketball court, and a clubhouse with lounge seating and a billiards table — so you get community when you want it and privacy when you need it.
Pros of Private Rooms
- Your own space, guaranteed. No negotiating over desk space, closet space, or who gets which side of the room.
- Better sleep, better grades. Uninterrupted sleep on your own schedule supports better focus during the day.
- Only one roommate per bathroom. Every 4 Bed 2 Bath apartment splits bathrooms two-to-one, not among the whole unit.
- Fully furnished, move-in ready. Every private bedroom at Summerwood comes furnished with all essential furniture.
- Still roommate-friendly. Submit a roommate request form after signing your lease if you already have someone in mind — you’ll still share a unit and build community, just not a bedroom.
Drawbacks of Shared Rooms
- Less personal space. Two desks, two closets, two people’s belongings — all in one room built for one.
- Mismatched schedules cause friction. Studying, sleeping, and downtime all happen on top of each other with no way to separate.
- Harder to find real privacy. Phone calls, video chats, and quiet time are all complicated when you’re sharing four walls.
- Wear and tear on the relationship. Roommate conflicts that would be minor in separate rooms can escalate faster in a shared bedroom, since there’s no space to cool off.
What This Looks Like at Summerwood
Every apartment at Summerwood is a private 4 Bed 2 Bath floor plan designed around personal space:
- Private bedrooms — Each student has their own room with natural light and windows in every bedroom.
- Shared bathrooms, two to one — Roommates split bathrooms in pairs rather than across the whole unit.
- Fully furnished — All essential furniture is included, plus a stackable washer and dryer in every unit.
- Utilities bundled in — Internet, water, sewer, garbage, gas, and electrical are all included, so there aren’t any surprises on top of rent.
Located directly across the street from UVU campus, Summerwood also puts you within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, and the FrontRunner Station for easy transportation between Ogden and Provo. Residents get access to a 24-hour fitness center, sport basketball court, and a clubhouse with lounge seating and a billiards table.
Private Rooms for UVU Students at Summerwood
Sharing a bedroom might look like the cheaper option at first glance, but for most UVU students, the trade-off in privacy, sleep, and sanity isn’t worth the small savings — especially when private rooms are available at a comparable starting price. A private bedroom gives you the independence to manage your own schedule while still living alongside roommates and a full community around you.
If you're looking for UVU off-campus housing that doesn't force you to choose between community and privacy, Summerwood has you covered. With private bedrooms in every floor plan, top-tier amenities, and a location right across the street from campus, it's built for how students actually want to live.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do all apartments at Summerwood include a private bedroom?
Yes. Every unit is a private 4 Bed 2 Bath floor plan — each resident has their own bedroom, with no shared bedrooms offered.
How many roommates share a bathroom?
Just one. Bathrooms are split two-to-one, not shared across the whole apartment.
What if I don't have roommates lined up yet?
Submit a roommate request form after signing your lease, and management will do its best to pair you with a compatible roommate.
How much does a private room cost?
Rates are as low as $499/month, which is competitive with shared-room pricing at other properties nearby.
Are utilities included in the rent?
Yes. Internet, water, sewer, garbage, gas, and electrical are all included, so there aren’t extra utility bills to track separately.
How close is Summerwood to UVU?
Summerwood sits directly across the street from UVU campus, with the FrontRunner Station next door for easy transportation.
