Find Student Apartments in Chicago

Universities and colleges in Chicago are touting a return to in-person classes after adopting a remote learning model for many students throughout the 2020-21 academic year, which impacted those searching for an apartment for students in Chicago. Now, universities and colleges that temporarily paused in-person learning have had time to develop plans to allow students back on campus. Renters looking at student housing may want to read up on the specific requirements for the college or university they will attend in the upcoming academic year. 

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When It Comes to Student Apartments, Chicago Has Plenty of Options 

Dealing with a property management company or an independent landlord is different from renting student apartments that a school controls. Property managers and landlords may have other application and screening processes (although they must all abide by federal, state, and local fair housing laws) than student housing. Paying rent to an independent landlord is different than bundling the student housing and tuition costs to the school. Another vital thing to remember about off-campus student housing is that landlords are used to dealing with a 12-month lease agreement. Apartments for students in Chicago are usually tailored around the academic calendar, so a lease term of three or four months isn't uncommon; if student renters need short-term rentals for only a portion of the year, that's a precise search. But some landlords may be willing to negotiate the lease terms down from a full year. It never hurts to ask.  Also, coliving apartments are a great affordable option for shared living space with your room.

What about affordable student housing in Chicago? In June of 2021, the median average rent for Lincoln Park - DePaul apartments was $1,450 for a one-bedroom apartment, $2,050 for a two-bedroom apartment, and a little over $1,000 for a studio apartment. This is just one example. To browse the average rent prices for apartments for rent for college students near other universities in Chicago, take a look at the list below.

main campus building of North Park University in Chicago, IL
modern university buildings on University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park, Chicago
UIC Forum in University of Illinois - Chicago campus in University Village, Chicago, IL

How to Find Student Housing Near Chicago Universities

Here are a few tips to make the search for Chicago student apartments less stressful for first-time renters.

Consider Your Course Schedule While You Search for Student Apartments in Chicago

Students who need to be in campus buildings more frequently may want to rent a place closer to campus, spending less time commuting. If they attend any schools with campuses near the Loop,  they may consider looking for student housing in downtown Chicago. Many independent landlords and property management companies will advertise their apartments for lease with phrases like “walk to campus” or “close to campus” in the apartment description. In addition to budget and bedroom count, students can search for this phrase while browsing for apartments near campuses in Chicago.

Looking for Roommates? Start Networking 

Many renters currently share a dwelling connected with roommates via their social circle. Asking among friends is a reliable method for finding an amicable roommate, but this isn’t the only method for finding roommates.

Students looking for rooms for rent in the University of Chicago off-campus housing can turn to their wider social networks to try and connect with other renters who are seeking similar living arrangements online. Posting a question like, “Anyone looking for Loyola University off-campus housing," or "I'm looking for Columbia College off-campus housing, anyone else in the same boat” to a moderated group or private page associated with the university can help sort out the roommate connection. There’s a degree of familiarity and trust that comes with asking classmates in the same cohort or attending the same school that students prefer; then again, there are success stories among the renters who trusted third parties to connect them with other people seeking housing. Co-living suites are a popular way to minimize the legwork of finding roommates while still keeping rental costs down.

Prepare for the Move Like a Seasoned Renter

All the tips for absolutely crushing your next move in Chicago apartments can be found right here. The TL;DR of it is: Plan ahead with your next move and pack up well in advance. Burning time (and potentially money if you’ve contracted a moving company) during the move only drags out a process that’s quite doleful already. Make a plan, stick to it, and the move will seem like a minor trifle instead of a significant headache.

Browse Apartments in Neighborhoods Near Chicago Universities & Colleges

University Village
Apartments for rent in University Village Chicago come in nearly every style and size. At the same time, the University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC) community encompasses more than 100 buildings on almost 240 acres of land, lending the "University Village" neighborhood of Chicago its name.
Hyde Park
Apartments for rent in Hyde Park offer varied and interesting architecture, from newly constructed modern high-rise apartments to ornate vintage apartment buildings from the late 19th century.
Rogers Park
Rogers Park Apartments tend to be in classic courtyard buildings, with the occasional mid-rise or two-flat apartment building thrown in for good measure. This is the northernmost neighborhood within Chicago’s city limits.
DePaul
This Chicago neighborhood has a sizeable student population, and DePaul is technically located within the greater Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Evanston
Evanston apartments are in a suburban community immediately north of Chicago. Evanston is home to Northwestern University and the nationally ranked academic powerhouse Evanston Township High School. 
South Loop
South Loop apartments range from studios to 3 bedrooms. They have proximity to the Loop with numerous brand new luxury apartments available with great city views or Lake Michigan views.
south loop apartment building
North Park
Apartments for rent in North Park come in the usual array of studios on up to multi-bedroom configurations, with the added perk for renters to have access to spacious green areas all over the neighborhood.
Albany Park
Albany Park is one of Chicago’s most diverse and rapidly growing neighborhoods. More than 40 different languages are spoken on the streets and in the local schools.

Chicago Universities & Colleges

Adler University - Chicago Loop

American Academy of Art- Chicago Loop

American InterContinental University- Schaumburg

Aurora University - Aurora

Benedictine University - Lisle

Bexley Seabury - Hyde Park

Booth School of Business - Hyde Park

Catholic Theological Union- Hyde Park

Chicago State University - Roseland

Chicago Theological Seminary - Hyde Park

Chicago-Kent College of Law - West Loop

Columbia College Chicago - South Loop

Coyne College - Chicago Loop

DePaul University - DePaul

DePaul University College of Law - West Loop

DeVry University - Ravenswood

East–West University - Chicago Loop

Elmhurst University - Elmhurst

Erikson Institute - River North

Feinberg School of Medicine - Streeterville

Flashpoint Chicago - South Loop

Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary - Evanston

Harold Washington College- Chicago Loop

Harper College - Palatine

Hebrew Theological College - Skokie

Illinois Center for Broadcasting - Lombard

Illinois College of Optometry - Bronzeville

Illinois Institute of Technology - Bronzeville

Institute for Clinical Social Work - Uptown

Kellogg School of Management – Streeterville & Evanston

Kellstadt Graduate School of Business - Chicago Loop

Kendall College - River West

Kennedy–King College - Englewood

Lake Forest College - Lake Forest

Lake Forest Graduate School of Management - Lake Forest

Liautaud Graduate School of Business - University Village

Loyola University Chicago - Rogers Park & Gold Coast

Loyola University Chicago School of Law - Gold Coast

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago - Hyde Park

MacCormac College - Chicago Loop

Malcolm X College - Near West Side

McCormick Theological Seminary - Hyde Park

Meadville Lombard Theological School - Lombard

Midwest College of Oriental Medicine - Skokie

Midwestern University - Downers Grove

Moody Bible Institute - River North

National Louis University - Chicago Loop

National University of Health Sciences- Lombard

North Central College - Naperville

North Park University - North Park

Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago) - Chicago Loop

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary - Lombard

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law - Streeterville

Northwestern University - Evanston & Streeterville

Oakton Community College - Des Plaines & Skokie

Olive–Harvey College - Pullman

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine – Chicago Loop

Pritzker School of Medicine - Hyde Park

Rasmussen College - Aurora

Resurrection University - Wicker Park

Richard J. Daley College - Ashburn

Roosevelt University - Chicago Loop

Rush University- University Village

Saint Xavier University- Evergreen Park

School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago Loop

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership - Chicago Loop

St. Augustine College - Uptown

Taylor Business Institute - Chicago Loop

Telshe Yeshiva - North Park

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - River North

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago - Hyde Park

Trinity International University - Deerfield

Truman College - Uptown

UIC College of Pharmacy - University Village

UIC John Marshall Law School - Chicago Loop

Universal Technical Institute - Lisle

University of Chicago - Hyde Park

University of Chicago Law School - Hyde Park

University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago) – University Village

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry - University Village

University of Illinois College of Medicine- University Village

University of Phoenix - Schaumburg

VanderCook College of Music - Bronzeville

Wilbur Wright College - Dunning