Why I like College Houses Cooperatives

May 05, 2021

  Chase Eakins

Pretty good food, nice pool, great parties, even better family.

Best place to live in West Campus.

Apr 25, 2021

  Jeremy Padgett

Pearl Street

Living here was the most rewarding experience that I have ever had. This place is so much more that a home, it's a cooperative society, packed with friends and fun. If you desire more than a formal education from the university/college systems and are also looking for lessons in real life, you should apply to live here.

Apr 19, 2021

  Maddy Braat

Pearl street is a magical establishment. It’s a very safe space for students to experience communal living and what it means to have a truly Democratic society. There can be wild parties, and things can get dirty, but one of the core values is respect. So everything gets cleaned and people are afforded a safe space to party. It’s old, but there’s dedicated maintenance people to fix what needs fixin.

If you’re looking for a quiet house, it’s probably safer to choose another college houses or if coop, but pearl isn’t super loud every day or anything.

The pool is easily the best part. All your lunches and dinners are cooked for you by your housemates. You can make rules and host your own events. And the friends that you make are for life!!!

Highly recommend living here.

Dec 29, 2020

  Joshua Kahlenberg

I've lived here in Laurel for four years. Great place to practice democracy and meet new people! Within walking/biking/skating distance of classes at UT

Oct 09, 2020

  Taylor Vu

great place to live, had a family, a community there! many wonderful memories were made there

Jun 21, 2020

  Ivan Tadeu Ferreira Antunes Filho

Great place to live at during the summer if you are in Austin for a summer internship

Jun 02, 2020

  richard rossadillo

Always interesting to go back to visit one of the few places that does not change a lot in West Campus

Aug 19, 2025

  Ethan Ginsburg

Living at Pearl was a major part of my college experience. It helped me improve my understanding of how to live wonderfully with others from various backgrounds.
I made lifelong friendships, and still enjoy going back to visit when possible!

Aug 19, 2025

  Alexa Caldwell

Such an amazing experience, I'm so grateful for the family I made here. Great parties too lol

Aug 17, 2025

  Freddie Bates

One of the best places I’ve lived. A caring, fun and well organised place full of amazing people who respect each other and have fun. Truly a golden experience!

Aug 17, 2025

  Aynsley Ludka

Pearl street has been the most amazing experience of my life thus far. Everyone is accepted and treated like family. The food is great, having a family/community like no other is amazing. You will build experiences for a lifetime and you'll have the grace and acceptance to really become who you are and evolve. I moved here a few months after my father passed away and I can truly say, this helped me heal as a person and the friendships I made have been for a lifetime. I was able to study (to a 4.0) and flourish, all the while improving myself and meeting fantastic people with lasting friendships around the world (the price and location are phenomenal as well!).

Aug 17, 2025

  Willie Martin

I lived at College Houses from 2011 to 2016 and was lucky enough to serve on the board of directors my final year with College Houses.

It was an incredible living experience. 10 years later, Most of my best friends are from friends I made at College Houses (including my wife).

The Coop is student run and organized so its members have a direct say in how rent money is allocated, where they want to spend surplus, and be involved in the creation of rules to organize and run the Coop.

Aug 15, 2025

  Jonathan Pifer

I lived at one of the College Houses cooperatives (pearl street) from 2010-2014. It absolutely defined my college experience and to this day i've maintained a core group of pearl streeters as friends & acquaintances.
This organization is fully student-run, so you are empowered to make budget decisions on spending the org's cash, running for officer positions that carry real weight, and voting on items that have immediate impact on your living standards each semester.
Some of the low reviews of college houses ironically overlook these crucial aspects and it's fairly obvious that these were just parents who were trying to stick their kid into the cheapest housing that they could find.

Aug 15, 2025

  Sambuddha Chakrabarti

I have lived at Pearl Street Coop from Fall, 2010-Early Fall, 2017 .... and it has changed me forever as a human being. Nothing comes even remotely close to the experience. I got a family, and friends for life. Pearl Pirates ... keep it real YO !!!

Aug 15, 2025

  Torrin Glick

During my time at UT i lived at a Co-op for 3 years. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Unforgettable experiences with lifelong friends. Highly recommend to any students interested in cooperative living.

Aug 10, 2025

  Charlie Saginaw

Great place to live for students! I had a blast for 2 years there.

Apr 18, 2025

  Julian smith

Simon and Garfunkel played here

Apr 14, 2025

  David Taylor

Farrah Fawcett lived here when she was going to U.T.

Feb 28, 2025

  Crystal Math

Living here changed my life. A lot of these reviews need to get off their high horse - this building has been around since the 60s! Of course the facilities are outdated but it’s truly a once in a lifetime experience to live here and I’m proud to have been a small part of its massive and beautiful history.

Also ! Get a clue that noise problems are present in west campus everywhere! Move to north campus or Hyde park if you can’t get a grip.

Dec 24, 2024

  Dennis Brezinski

While Taos does have its flaws, it is an amazing place filled with some really amazing people. This is not a place run by a major corporation, but instead by a community. It is a place unlike any I have lived at, for I have never seen so many people participate in community events and be active in the common areas. Board games are played practically every night, with movie nights and other game nights thrown in throughout the week. These games are not run by an RA, but by someone who just wanted to play a game so set it up and people joined. People can be super friendly and amazingly helpful. The place may not be the cleanest, for it is maintained by 20 year olds, but it is still pretty good and I personally haven't had any major issues and I have serious issues with germs. It is nice that we have control of our common areas, as we decide when to paint and what color, or if a wall should be knocked down. The meals are amazing and an absolute gift for someone like me who hates cooking. I do not know what people are talking about with the noise, it is super quiet 99% of the time. Taos has become a home to me, a flawed home, but a home nonetheless. Co-ops are not for everyone, but for those that are willing to work a little bit (4 hours a week) it is an amazing place.