Oregon

going for shared housing solutions will save you $$$, and let you experience one of the great traditions of Portland: randomly assembled students living in varying degrees of cleanliness as they scale the heights of higher learning from various angles.

one more word of advice:
as a prospective student, do NOT -- repeat do NOT -- come to Portland with a car. you will start off on the wrong foot immediately, fighting with thousands of more experienced Portland drivers for the increasingly rare long-term parking spaces. plus, you'd rob yourself of the opportunity to experience two attractive aspects of life in Portland: publicly supported bicycling and efficient mass transit.

later on, you can get a car when you need it and you have a place to put it.

if you bring a car with you, you're asking for a raftload of wasted time and extra rage.