Student Housing in NYC

Student housing in New York City is a huge market. At any given time there are more than half a million students here, attending one of more than 100 different universities and colleges, in all parts of town, many of them seeking off campus housing. That's more people, by the way, than live in the entire city of, for example, Cleveland, and Atlanta, or Kansas City.

Add to that a recent study showing that New York imports more freshman students than any other state in the country—yes, including California—and it all adds up to a whole lot of people needing a place to live, preferably someplace inexpensive, possibly with a roommate. and usually with a short-term lease or a sublet. signed with or without a guarantor, or cosigner .

To learn more about student housing and off campus housing in general, continue to read below. If you want to see more about housing near specific colleges and universities, check out the pages for the places of higher learning in the following list:

No Fee Apartments Can Save You Thousands of Dollars

If you’re looking for off-campus apartments in NYC, either to rent or sublet, Urban Edge can help make your search easier, more effective, and definitely a lot less expensive than going through a broker. Because all of the apartments in NY that are shown on Urban Edge are listed by the owner, there is never a broker's fee. hidden or otherwise.

Another good thing about dealing directly with owners when looking for NYC student housing for rent: most full-time students, because they have little or no salary, wouldn't meet the landlord or property manager's income requirements for a NY apartment without co-signing a lease with a guarantor. If you're working directly with the landlord, property manager, or sub-lettor, there's a personal aspect to the legal transaction that can make it all move a lot faster, and more smoothly.

You Have Lots of Great Neighborhoods From Which to Choose.

Also, if you're looking for NYC college student housing and you're moving to the city for the first time, take a look at the Urban Edge Neighborhood Guide to get acquainted. And remember, New York City has one of the most extensive, least expensive subway systems in the world, so if you can't find or can't afford an apartment right next to your school (or if you'd simply prefer some separation between you and your place of study), make sure to consider neighborhoods that are near the same subway line as your school.

To take just two examples, Columbia University students can get to class quickly and easily from anywhere on the #1 line (from the West Village through Chelsea, anywhere on the Upper West Side, and up into Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood); and NYU students enjoy ready access to their school from many Brooklyn neighborhoods, via the F, Q, R, 5, 6, and L trains.

Off-Campus Student Housing Can Bring Great Rewards

Finding off-campus student housing in New York City is definitely different than in many cities in the country, because although there are several neighborhoods that feel like "college towns", especially near the largest universities, there are not really any off-campus apartment complexes designed, constructed, and maintained specifically for students. This may seem to make the hunt for student accommodations in New York more of a challenge, but it also brings about greater personal rewards once you find a place.

If you'd rather not live in a dorm on campus, it doesn't make much sense to go live in a "dorm"—which is what the above-mentioned complexes in other cities feel like--off campus. And even if it's not by choice that you're looking for off-campus student housing (providing a dorm room to every student who wants one is becoming a more common problem these days as colleges and universities struggle to predict their attendance rates in the face of a huge increase in applications across the board), it's been our experience that there are always plenty of terrific apartments available, if you know where to look.