The Berkeley Student Co-ops are a community of students living in 20 properties around the UC Berkeley campus. Being a cooperative means that every resident becomes an owner/member. Since we are our own landlords, we all benefit from the fact that no one is making a profit from the rent we pay.

Living in a cooperative means that there is no need for everyone to own their own set of pots and pans, buy all their own food and supplies, have their own vacuum, go to the grocery store each week, and cook every day. By working together, we save money, conserve resources, and save time spent on chores!

As important as the economical aspects of co-op living are its advantages as a social and learning experience. Members learn management, cooking, maintenance and communication skills as well as gain a sense of living in cooperation with a variety of other people

Co-op living works because of the fundamental cooperative philosophy: individuals coming together to have more control over their economic and social environments. Members provide the ideas, guidance, support and energy to make it work.

In the co-ops there are many diverse backgrounds, ages, interests, nationalities, and lifestyles drawn together into a community that promotes friendships, greater understanding of others, and an exchange of knowledge. People often join the co-op for the economy, but stay for the community.