Baylor Senior's Guide: Graduation, Move-Out & What Comes Next

You survived four (or five) years at Baylor, and graduation is finally here. But between commencement ceremonies, final exams, and celebrating with friends, it's easy to forget that your apartment lease doesn't end with your diploma. Baylor graduation and apartment move-out logistics can pile up fast if you don't plan ahead — security deposits, utility cancellations, mail forwarding, and deciding whether Waco is done with you or you're done with Waco. Here's everything you need to handle in your last weeks as a Baylor student.

The Timeline: Baylor Spring 2026 Graduation

Baylor's Spring 2026 Commencement is scheduled for May 15-16 at the Ferrell Center, with individual college ceremonies spread across both days. On-campus housing move-out is due May 14 at noon (with extended stay requests available for commencement participants through the MyHousing Portal).

Off-campus leases are different — most run through July 31, giving you about two and a half months after graduation to figure out your next move. That's more time than you think, but it disappears fast.

Your Move-Out Checklist: 6 Weeks Before Lease End

6 Weeks Out: Notify and Plan

• Give written notice to your landlord if required. Check your lease — most Baylor-area apartments require 30-60 days' notice before move-out, even if the lease has a fixed end date.
• Decide: are you staying in Waco? If you landed a job locally, you might want to renew or transfer to a different unit. Some graduates downsize from a 4-bedroom to a 1-bedroom — talk to your leasing office about options.
• Start selling furniture you won't take with you. Post on Facebook Marketplace and Baylor buy/sell groups now — incoming students are actively searching for deals in May and June.

4 Weeks Out: Utilities and Admin

• Schedule utility disconnections. Call your electricity provider and City of Waco Utilities (water) to schedule service end dates. Give at least 2 weeks' notice. If you're at 19Eleven, internet and trash are included in your $40/mo fee — no separate cancellation needed for those.
• Cancel or transfer renters insurance. If you're moving to a new apartment elsewhere, transfer your policy. If you're moving home, cancel it. Don't keep paying for coverage on a unit you don't live in. See our renters insurance guide for details.
• Set up USPS mail forwarding at usps.com/manage/forward.htm. It's free and takes 7-10 business days to activate. Do this early — you don't want lease documents or security deposit checks going to your old address.
• Notify important accounts of your address change: bank, credit cards, subscriptions, student loans, employer.

2 Weeks Out: Clean and Document

• Deep clean the apartment. This is the single biggest factor in getting your full security deposit back. Focus on:

  • Kitchen: oven, stovetop, refrigerator (inside and behind), countertops, sink
  • Bathrooms: toilet, shower/tub, mirrors, floors
  • Floors: vacuum all rooms, mop hard surfaces
  • Walls: fill small nail holes with spackle ($5 at Walmart), wipe scuff marks with a Magic Eraser
  • Windows: clean interior glass and sills
  • Closets: empty and wipe shelves

• Take timestamped photos and video of every room. This is your protection if the landlord tries to charge you for pre-existing damage. Photograph:

  • Every wall, floor, and ceiling in each room
  • All appliances (open the fridge, oven, dishwasher)
  • Bathroom fixtures
  • Any existing damage you documented at move-in
  • The exterior of your front door

• Compare against your move-in photos. If you documented the apartment's condition when you moved in (you did, right?), compare side-by-side. Any damage that existed before you arrived can't be deducted from your deposit.

Move-Out Day

• Do a final walkthrough with management if possible. Having both parties see the apartment's condition at the same time prevents disputes later.
• Return all keys, fobs, remotes, and parking passes. Missing items can result in charges.
• Get a signed move-out form or receipt showing you returned the unit.
• Confirm your forwarding address in writing with the leasing office. Under Texas law, the landlord isn't obligated to return your deposit until you provide a forwarding address.

Getting Your Security Deposit Back: Texas Law

Texas Property Code Section 92.103 is clear:

• 30 days. Your landlord must return your security deposit (or an itemized list of deductions) within 30 calendar days after you move out and provide a forwarding address.
• Itemized deductions required. If the landlord keeps any portion, they must provide a written, itemized list explaining each charge.
• Normal wear and tear doesn't count. Faded paint, minor carpet wear, and small scuff marks are expected. You shouldn't be charged for these.
• If they miss the 30-day deadline, the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit and may owe you up to 3x the amount wrongfully withheld plus $100 and attorney's fees.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Provide your forwarding address in writing — email is fine. The clock doesn't start until they have it.
2. Keep your move-in documentation. Photos from day one prove what was already damaged.
3. Take move-out photos (timestamped) before you hand over keys.
4. Save all communication with your landlord about the deposit.
5. Follow up in writing if you haven't received the deposit by day 25. A polite email referencing Texas Property Code 92.103 usually does the trick.

Staying in Waco After Graduation

Not everyone leaves. Waco's job market is growing, cost of living is well below the national average, and if you've built a life here, there's no rule that says you have to pack up just because you have a diploma.

Why Some Graduates Stay

• Cost of living is 10% below the national average. Your entry-level salary goes further in Waco than in Dallas, Austin, or Houston.
• Established social network. Your friends, church community, and professional connections are already here.
• Growing job market. Baylor itself employs thousands. SpaceX, Amazon, L3Harris, and Baylor Scott & White are among the major employers in the area.
• Quality of life. You already know the restaurants, the parks, and the neighborhood. Why start over?

Housing for Young Professionals

If you're staying, consider downsizing from a shared apartment to your own space. A 1-bedroom at 19Eleven starts at $1,035/month — loft-style living with exposed beams and polished concrete floors, walking distance to downtown Waco and Baylor's campus. The $40/month flat fee covers internet, trash, pest control, and facilities. No roommate coordination. No shared bathroom. Just your space.

It's a different experience than sharing a 4-bedroom as a student, and the industrial aesthetic works even better when you can furnish it with grown-up furniture instead of dorm hand-me-downs.

Referring Friends Who Are Still at Baylor

If you had a good living experience, tell the underclassmen. Sophomores and juniors are actively searching for housing from October through March, and a personal recommendation from a friend who actually lived there carries more weight than any ad.

If you're living at 19Eleven, ask the leasing office about referral programs — many complexes offer incentives for current and former residents who refer new tenants.

Your Post-Graduation Apartment Checklist

Before Commencement

• Give written move-out notice (30-60 days)
• Decide whether you're staying in Waco or moving
• Start selling furniture you won't keep
• Set up USPS mail forwarding

2-4 Weeks Before Lease End

• Schedule utility disconnections
• Cancel or transfer renters insurance
• Update your address on bank, credit cards, loans, and subscriptions
• Deep clean the entire apartment
• Take timestamped move-out photos/video

Move-Out Day

• Final walkthrough with management
• Return all keys and access devices
• Get a signed move-out receipt
• Provide forwarding address in writing

After Move-Out

• Track the 30-day deposit return window
• Follow up in writing if no response by day 25
• File a dispute if deductions seem unfair (reference TX Property Code 92.103)

What's Next?

Whether you're heading to grad school, starting a career, or taking a gap year, getting the move-out logistics right means you leave Waco on good terms — with your full deposit, a clean rental history, and no loose ends.

If you're staying in Waco and looking for a fresh start in your own place, browse 19Eleven's floor plans for 1BR and 2BR options, or schedule a tour to see the loft-style units in person. And if you know a Baylor student still looking for housing, send them to 19Eleven's website — they'll thank you later.