Living in Oxford
Oxford is a place where Southern charm meets vibrant culture. This picturesque town is steeped in literary history, rich traditions, and small-town hospitality.
Housing
As you plan for your arrival and stay at the University of Mississippi, one of the first things that you will probably consider is housing. This section provides you with various housing options and temporary accommodations and requirements. A variety of options are available within walking, driving or shuttle distance to campus.
See Off-Campus Housing
Other Resources: Classified Ads | HotPads | Trulia | Zillow | ApartmentGuide
Local listings can also be found on Craig’s List. Make sure that the property listed is located in Oxford, as the site serves all of Northern Mississippi.
Transportation
Some apartment complexes offer shuttle transportation to/from campus to its residents, complimentary or at extra cost. The City of Oxford and The University jointly offer O.U.T. (Oxford University Transit), currently free of charge to students. More information on O.U.T. is available at Oxford University Transit.
Lease Agreements
Many apartments in Oxford require a lease of one year, so be sure to read all terms of your lease carefully before signing. By signing a lease, you are promising to pay the landlord for the entire time listed on the lease. Ending a lease early or violating the lease agreement can cost you the rental deposit or continued monthly payments for the apartment or house.
Initial Deposits
It is common for landlords to require that you pay a deposit equal to one month’s rent when you sign the lease. Refer to the lease agreement for terms on the return of the deposit amount.
Furnished Housing
Most apartments and rental houses are unfurnished. It is best to check with the landlord about whether furnished housing is available.
Temporary Housing
The Inn at Ole Miss
See Other Hotels in Oxford, MS
Transportation
The Oxford University Transit (OUT) bus system now covers more of Oxford than ever. For complete route information, including maps and schedules, visit outransit.com/routes.
Mail and Postal Services
Off-Campus
Main Post Office
401 McElroy Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-5615James Food Center Branch
505 W. Jackson Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-5991
On-Campus
Pak Mail Ole Miss is the official University of Mississippi student mailbox service provider. It offers complete packing and shipping services.
It also provides services for student packing, shipping and moving.
Pak Mail Ole Miss is a full service packing and shipping store as well as a custom crating and freight shipping company. Request a Free Online Estimate or call at 662-236-9075.
Local Schools
Oxford School District is for residents within Oxford city limits.
- Main Office: 224 Bramlett Boulevard, Oxford, MS 38655
- Phone: 662 234-3541
- Fax: 662 232-2862
- Email: osd@oxfordsd.org
- Website: www.oxfordsd.org
Bramlett Elementary School | Pre-K & Kindergarten
225 Bramlett Blvd, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-2685
Visit Bramlett website
Oxford Elementary School | 1st Grade & 2nd Grade
1637 Hwy. 30, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-3497
Visit Oxford Elementary website
Della Davidson | 3rd Grade & 4th Grade
209 Commonwealth Blvd, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 236-4870
Visit Della Davidson website
Oxford Intermediate School | 5th Grade & 6th Grade
501 Martin Luther King Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662-236-5508
Visit Oxford Intermediate website
Oxford Middle School | 7th Grade & 8th Grade
222 Bramlett Boulevard, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-2288
Visit Oxford Middle website
Oxford High School | 9th Grade – 12th Grade
101 Charger Loop, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-1562
Visit Oxford High website
Lafayette County School District is for residents living outside of an Oxford School District zone.
- Main Office: 100 Commodore Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
- Phone: 662 234-2371
- Fax: 662 236-3019
- Website: gocommodores.org
Lafayette Lower Elementary School | Pre-K - 2nd Grade
150 Commodore Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-5627
Visit Lafayette Lower Elementary website
Lafayette Upper Elementary School | 3rd - 5th Grade
120 Commodore Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 236-3761
Visit Lafayette Upper Elementary website
Lafayette Middle School | 6th - 8th Grade
102 Commodore Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-3614
Visit Lafayette Middle website
Lafayette High School | 9th Grade – 12th Grade
160 Commodore Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-2685
Visit Lafayette High website
Regents School of Oxford | Pre-Kindergarten – 12th Grade
14 CR 130, College Hill Road, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 232-1945
E-mail: info@RegentsOfOxford.org
Visit Regents website
Magnolia Montessori School | Pre-Kindergarten – 6th Grade
205 CR 102, College Hill Road, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662 234-0344
Email: office@magnoliamontessorischool.com
Visit Magnolia Montessori website
Daycare Facilities
ABC Learning Center861 Highway 6 West | Creative | Discovery Day SchoolOxford University United Methodist Church Phone: (662) 234-3371 |
Kid’s College Day Care6 County Road 118 Phone: (662) 234-3163 | Little Angels2204 University Avenue Phone: (662) 236-4574 | Mary Cathey |
First Baptist Church | William Price Lab SchoolOn University campus Phone: (662) 915-7444 |
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Recycling
Curbside recycling is available for those living in the Oxford city limits. Obtain further information about collection dates and receptacle when setting up garbage service.
Drop off locations are available for residential use, one at the Municipal Center (City Shop) on Molly Barr Road beside the Oxford Police Station, a second on Highway 7 South next to Fire Station #3 and also at the Recycling Center at the City of Oxford Landfill on County Road 321 (Pea Ridge Road).
How to Avoid Scams
An increasing number of reports in various scams are targeting international students and scholars including postal service delivery, social security, and health insurance.
Some are housing and rental scams where exchange visitors transfer money before they start their program to a fraudulent realtor or landlord, scamming the victims out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Other reported scams involve phone calls from alleged government representatives demanding personal information and money with threats of deportation from the U.S.
Please familiarize yourself with the USCIS page with information: Avoid Common Scams and the Federal Trade Commissions: Scam Alerts.
Think before you act and double check with ISSS, UPD, or your nearest consulate if something you have been contacted about doesn't seem right.
- The IRS, the police and the immigration service will NEVER ask for any form of payment, including gift cards, to avoid an arrest.
- If you are an international student, confirm any communications with your government by calling your local consulate.
- Always be suspicious of phone calls from unknown individuals or phone numbers that you do not recognize. Real telephone numbers can be ‘spoofed’. If in doubt, you can look up the real phone numbers and call these numbers back yourself.
- Do not conduct business over the phone with callers you do not know.
- Never share your online information with anyone.
- Never share personal or financial information over the phone or the Internet with someone you do not know, for example, social security number, debit/credit/pre-paid card numbers, etc.
- If anyone contacts you and asks you to pay or send them money using Bitcoin, wire transfer, or pre-paid cards of any sort, this is probably a scam.
- If anyone calls asking for payment due to your involvement in a criminal case, hang up the phone and call your local police department.
- If you cannot verify the caller’s identity, feel unsafe, or suspect criminal activity, call the University Police Department at 662-915-7234
Social Security
Some scams include people asking for your Social Security Number. NEVER GIVE OUT THIS INFORMATIONunless you know 100% that the person asking is legitimate. The Social Security Administration recommends that you call SSA’s toll-free number, 800-772-1213, to verify the reason for the contact and the person’s identity prior to providing any information to the caller.
You can also call the Social Security fraud hotline: 800-269-0271. The Federal Trade Commission is warning that Social Security-related scams have heated up. You can file a complaint about such impostor scams, including Social Security or IRS scams, at the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
If you aren’t sure what to look out for, please check out these resources:
What a common scam sounds like
Taxes
When it comes to filing your taxes, it is helpful to be aware of some scams associated with taxes. Please watch the following videos to familiarize yourself:
There have been an increasing number of reports in various scams targeting international students and scholars. Some are housing and rental scams where incoming students transfer money before they start their program to a fraudulent realtor or landlord, scamming the victims out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
If you are unsure whether a job offer is legit, call the company at a phone number you know is real - not one the recruiter gave you.
Identity Theft happens when someone uses your personal information without permission. Personal information includes:
- Names
- Addresses
- Credit cards
- Social Security numbers
- Bank Account information
Warning signs and how to report identity theft
Check out the FTC’s post “What to do when someone steals your identity“