With a motto of “Honoring the Past. Building the Future,” Auburn Hills is a perfect spot for college students. It’s the site of The Palace at Auburn Hills, home to the Detroit Pistons. The modest township was once home to automobile maker John Dodge in 1908, and his daughter’s former estate is now open as the Auburn Hills Civic Center. The town owes much of its history and current economy to the presence of four colleges in the area: Oakland University, Oakland Community College, Baker College, and the Western Michigan State University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The downtown area underwent a significant revitalization in 2002, one which left the area more walkable and student friendly. As recently as 2013 a number of large student resource and housing centers were completed in the area, including an auxiliary classroom space that’s shared by local colleges. The renovated historic log cabin is known as the Downtown Educational Nook (DEN) and acts as a center for student life in town.  

Although the city is small, there’s still plenty of housing for students to go around.

Just north of campus is a cluster of student living accommodations along Walton Boulevard near I-75. Here, students find a variety of housing options within walking or biking distance of class. Options continue just west of the highway, where Galloway Lake and Galloway Lake Park provide a break in the city scape. This area is popular not only for its proximity to campus, but also to The Palace, which is only a few miles to the north.

Downtown is known for its brick-paved streets, historic architecture, and iconic lampposts, all of which contribute to a distinctly quaint and academic feel. Of course, having Oakland Community College just across Highway 41 doesn’t hurt. The downtown area is also peppered with places for students to live, particularly along West South Boulevard, Auburn Road, and further west along Auburn Avenue.