Penn State Off-Campus Housing Cost (2026): State College Rents by Area

Penn State off-campus housing costs about $750 to $1,200 a month per person for a room in downtown State College, based on Find My Place listings tied to Penn State in October 2026. Rooms in the complexes 1.3 to 2 miles out, on Waupelani Drive, Blue Course Drive and in Toftrees, run cheaper at about $550 to $900. A one-bedroom of your own lists from $930 in Park Forest and climbs to $1,950 downtown.

Every number below comes from the 31 places on our off-campus housing near Penn State page. We opened each listing and checked whether its price drops as bedrooms go up (that means it's per person) or rises (that means it's for the whole unit). Where the pattern wasn't clear, we say "lists from" and leave the division to you.

Key Takeaways

• Downtown rooms start around $745 (a bed in a 10-bedroom house on North Gill Street) and run past $1,500 for a private room at The Legacy.
• The cheapest room we found: $549 in a four-bedroom at Alight State College on Blue Course Drive, which carries a 1.9 FMP score.
• Five-bedroom rooms at The Brexx, The Valley and The Yards at Old State all list at $799.
• Living alone? Park Forest Apartments lists one-bedrooms at $930, while Penn Tower on East Beaver wants $1,770.
• Penn State's traditional double runs $4,150 a semester in 2026-27, or $8,300 for the year.
• Outside downtown, budget for the bus: $2.50 a ride or $383 for a four-month CATA pass.

Penn State Off-Campus Housing Cost by Area

Downtown costs the most per room, and the outer complexes cost the least. Here's how October 2026 listings break down, base rent before fees.

For what each area feels like day to day, see our guide to State College neighborhoods for Penn State students.

Downtown State College Rents: What the Walk Costs

A room downtown costs about $750 to $1,200 a month, and a private bedroom in a newer building can top $1,500. You're paying to live half a mile or less from class.

Rooms in shared apartments and houses

• Westside Village Apartments rents a 10-bedroom house at 145 N Gill St bed by bed, from $745 to $980. The whole house lists at $8,850. It holds a 4.2 score.
• The Legacy at State College on East Calder Way is unusually upfront: $1,046 for a shared bedroom in a four-bedroom, $1,546 for a private one. It also scores 4.2.
• Haus State College at 914 W College Ave lists $1,054 per person in a three-bedroom (2.9 score, so read the reviews).
• Meridian on College Avenue lists from $765, but its private-bedroom plan shows $1,195. Ask what the lower number covers. Residents give it a 4.6.

The big new towers are harder to pin down. Yugo Echelon lists from $999, Yugo Pinnacle from $1,145 and RISE at State College from $1,179, but their prices don't move cleanly with bedroom count. Treat those as starting prices and ask the leasing office whether they're per bed.

Your own place downtown

Studios and one-bedrooms downtown run about $1,200 to $1,950. Dorchester House on West College lists furnished studios from $1,195. The Orlando Building on South Barnard lists a one-bedroom at $1,295, and Foster Arms on East Foster Avenue lists a furnished one at $1,300 with a 5.0 score. At the top, Penn Tower asks $1,770 and the Ambassador on East Beaver asks $1,950.

Splitting a whole unit downtown

Whole-unit rentals can beat the per-bed buildings if you fill every room. A two-bedroom at Keystone Apartments (720 W College Ave) lists at $1,650, about $825 each. The house at 414 S Pugh St lists five bedrooms at $6,300, or $1,260 a person, so splitting isn't always the cheap move.

Outer State College Rents: Cheaper Rooms, Paid Bus

Rooms 1.3 to 2 miles from campus cost about $550 to $900 a month. These are the purpose-built complexes off Waupelani Drive, Blue Course Drive, Vairo Boulevard and Toftrees Avenue, and nearly all of them price by the bed.

• The Brexx at State College (300 Waupelani Dr) lists five-bedroom rooms at $799 and four-bedroom rooms at $899. Score: 3.4.
• The Valley in Toftrees starts at $799 for a five-bedroom townhome room and $860 for a four.
• Out on Blue Course Drive, The Yards at Old State also starts at $799. Nearby, Alight State College lists four-bedroom rooms at $549, the lowest room price we found, though its 1.9 score is a warning sign.
• The Pointe State College on Vairo Boulevard lists $799 for a four-bedroom room (also a 1.9).

The Heights at State College on Northwick Boulevard has the best reviews out here, a 5.0, and lists from $940. Its three- and four-bedroom plans cost about the same, though, so confirm whether that's per bed.

Add the bus to the rent

Outer rents look better than they are until you add transportation. CATA's free loops stay on campus and downtown; the community routes that serve these complexes cost $2.50 a ride. Our breakdown of Penn State apartments on a bus route shows the four-month OnePass at $383, about $96 a month. A $799 room plus a pass lands near $895, which is roughly what a bed on North Gill Street costs.

Your Own Apartment Outside Downtown

Park Forest has the cheapest solo apartments near Penn State on Find My Place. Park Forest Apartments at 901 W Aaron Dr lists a one-bedroom at $930 and a two-bedroom at $1,175. Executive House on Waupelani lists one-bedrooms from $950. Rent rises with size at both, so these are whole-unit prices.

For two people, Farmstead Townhomes on Farmstead Lane lists two-bedrooms from $1,425 (about $713 each) with a 4.0 score.

Is It Cheaper to Live On or Off Campus at Penn State?

A downtown room usually costs more than a dorm; an outer complex room usually costs less. Penn State's 2026-27 rate announcement sets a traditional double at $4,150 a semester, or $8,300 for fall and spring. That's about $920 a month over nine months.

Off-campus leases near Penn State usually run 12 months. Twelve months at $799 is $9,588 before the bus. Twelve months at The Legacy's $1,046 is $12,552. And State College winters add heat to the bill, which our guide to Penn State off-campus utility costs in winter covers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State Off-Campus Housing Cost

How much is rent near Penn State?

About $750 to $1,200 a month for a room downtown, as of October 2026. Rooms in complexes 1.3 to 2 miles out run about $550 to $900, and a one-bedroom of your own lists from $930 to $1,950.

What is the cheapest off-campus housing near Penn State?

Alight State College on Blue Course Drive, at $549 for a room in a four-bedroom. It holds a 1.9 FMP score, so tour it first. The Brexx, The Valley and The Yards all list five-bedroom rooms at $799.

Is downtown State College worth the extra rent?

Often, yes. A downtown room near $850 with no bus pass costs about the same as a $799 outer room once you add $96 a month for CATA, and you get back the commute.

How much is a studio or one-bedroom near Penn State?

$930 at the low end, at Park Forest Apartments. Downtown, studios start around $1,195 at Dorchester House and one-bedrooms reach $1,950 at the Ambassador.

How much should a Penn State student budget for off-campus housing?

$900 to $1,300 a month all in covers most shared downtown units once utilities are added. In an outer complex, plan on $850 to $1,000 including a bus pass, plus a security deposit up front.