Colleges and universities in the Garden State only have so much space on campus to house their students.

Certain institutions reach beyond campus borders for real estate, either to handle student overflows or give their student body a better sense of how to live on their own.

Approximately 240 Monmouth University students during the 2016-2017 academic year will be living in off-campus housing near the Long Branch beach that's either owned or sponsored by the school.

In 2012, Monmouth purchased an apartment complex and renamed it University Bluffs. The fully-furnished apartments each handle two residents, equipped with one bedroom and one bathroom.

And for years, the school has had a contract with Pier Village Apartments overlooking the ocean. Monmouth currently handles the leases for 20 units, responsible for the associated bills, and the students who live there pay the university as they would if they lived on campus.

"It's only an option if you are a junior or senior," Mary Anne Nagy, vice president for student life and leadership engagement, said of the off-campus choices. "We assign our first- and second-year students to live with us here on campus."

Nagy said juniors and seniors tend to want a "different experience" and these oceanfront accommodations offer that.

Stockton University has made a commitment to offer housing to all students who want it, so their options also include a couple spots beyond campus lines.

Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club (Stockton University)
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"Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club has accommodations for 245 students, who can enjoy amenities such as weekly cleaning service and discounted golf rates," said Dr. Denise O'Neill, director of Residential Life. "New facilities nearby on Chris Gaupp Road can accommodate 91 students in fully-furnished rooms with internet and cable service, flat-screen televisions and microwave and refrigerator units."

Shuttle service is available to Stockton's off-campus housing options.

And seven homes are available off Jimmie Leeds Road for graduate students.

Last year, more than 3,000 students were in university housing, both on- and off-campus, according to a university spokesperson.

A number of higher education institutions in New Jersey, including Rutgers and Rowan, have partnered with Places4Students.com, a free service for post-secondary students interested in finding a place to live or a roommate.

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