Can you get dorm insurance for college students?

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FILE - A university student in her dorm room. (Credit: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Sending the kids off to college is already bittersweet and can be somewhat stressful.

So adding the possibility of their new school gear, whether it’s a new laptop, phone or other expensive school supplies, getting stolen can only increase the worry.

But did you know that some universities and insurance companies offer renters insurance for dorm rooms?

Depending on which insurance company you’re with, some plans offer protection for personal property such as bicycles, textbooks, gaming systems and more.

And if cost is a concern (which, let’s be honest, it is for many of us) many dorm insurance policies typically have lower deductibles than home insurance policies, according to Nationwide’s website.

Is your student at risk?

For the most part, the threat of your child’s dorm room being burglarized is slim, but it's not impossible.

In 2021, the number of on-campus burglaries and robberies that were reported was 6,500, which is about 4.7 per 10,000 full-time students that were on-campus, according to the most recent data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics.

"Theft is a major issue on many college campuses; data from the University of Pittsburg shows that a laptop has a 1 in 10 chance of being stolen," Bankrate spokesperson Natalie Todoroff told FOX TV Stations.

It’s also suggested that, as a parent, to size up the maturity level of your college-bound child. Is he or she careless or mindful of their surroundings? Could they potentially be an easy target? These questions are hard to answer concretely but could be worth pondering if dorm insurance is on the table, according to Consumer Reports.

Renters insurance v. dorm insurance

Renters insurance typically covers personal property, it also covers liability and additional living expenses.

Dorm insurance usually only covers personal property, according to Todoroff.

Get advice

"Renters insurance is usually pretty affordable, around $10 to $20 dollars per month, but paying that premium could strain a penny-pinching college student’s budget," Todoroff said.

For parents who are on the fence about dorm insurance, ask your insurance provider or consult with your child’s school.

Some schools will even offer discounts for dorm insurance or rental insurance to ensure your student is covered in the event the worst happens.

"Before looking into renters or dorm insurance, check your parents’ home insurance policy. Their policy usually includes ‘off-premise’ coverage for personal property, around 10% of the total personal property limit. So, if your parents have a $50,000 personal property limit, you may have up to $5,000 of coverage for your belongings in your dorm. In most cases, this will only apply if you live in a dorm, not an off-campus apartment. For off-campus housing, your best bet is to have your own renters insurance policy. To be covered by your parents’ policy, you usually need to be under a certain age (24 or 25) and list their house as your primary address," Todoroff advised.