In TN, it is more expensive to rent than to buy. Those who rent either do so because their credit is of poor quality or because they don't want to do the upkeep.
I am not thinking about it as an investment. Consider this...would you go through the trouble of searching, buying a house that you will not live in for a year. Even if you rent, most places want a year lease. I won't be there long enough to make it work. I'd rather save my money to pay for school.
With apartments, you have mexicans playing whatever music that is at 2 am on Sunday, you have neighbors next door fighting while the others have small children that cry throughout the night, you have neighbors using the back of your truck as a garbage can. I would rather live at home than an apartment, even if they cost the same. Apts ****.