Your College Student Is Off to School—Is Their Stuff Covered?

Watching your child pack up for college is an emotional milestone. You’ve helped them pick classes, shop for dorm essentials, and maybe even taught them how to do laundry (with mixed results). As exciting as this new chapter is, many parents feel a quiet ache as they watch their child drive off or move into a campus residence. Amid the whirlwind, there’s one question that often gets overlooked:

Is your student’s stuff protected if something goes wrong?

Dorm Life Comes with Risk

Between laptops, smartphones, bikes, TVs, gaming systems, the value of what students bring to school can easily exceed a few thousand dollars. Unfortunately, theft and damage are common on college campuses. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 16,000 on-campus burglaries were reported at U.S. postsecondary institutions in a recent year.

From dorm room theft to water damage or fire, you don’t want your child’s already stressful semester to include replacing essentials out-of-pocket.

Does Homeowners Insurance Extend to Campus?

Good news: If your student lives in a college dorm and is a full-time student under the age of 24, most standard homeowners insurance policies do extend personal property coverage to their belongings. The coverage is typically up to 10% of the policy’s total personal property limit. For example, if your home policy has $100,000 in personal property coverage, your student may be covered for up to $10,000 while away at school.

However, if your child lives off-campus in an apartment, coverage may not apply or it may be significantly reduced. In this case, a renter’s insurance policy is a smart and affordable option, often costing $15 to $25 per month.

Peace of Mind for the Semester Ahead

As your child navigates their newfound independence, having the right insurance coverage is one less thing for you both to worry about. Take a few minutes to review your homeowners policy, and don’t hesitate to call us with questions.

Whether it’s updating coverage or adding a renter’s policy, we’re here to make sure your student’s belongings, and your peace of mind, are protected.