What’s the Difference Between a Student Apartment and a Regular Apartment Near ASU?

Student apartments near Arizona State University offer per-bedroom leases, furnished units, and individual liability, while regular Tempe apartments use whole-unit leases, arrive unfurnished, and hold all tenants jointly responsible for rent. The distinction matters because it affects everything from roommate risk exposure to move-in costs to lease flexibility. Student-focused complexes target ASU Sun Devils specifically and often include amenities like study rooms and shuttle service. Regular Tempe apartments serve a broader rental market and typically cost less per square foot without the student-specific features.

TL;DR: Quick Answer

• Student apartments near ASU use per-bed leases, meaning you pay your portion regardless of whether your roommates pay theirs.
• Regular Tempe apartments use joint leases where all tenants share liability for the full unit’s rent.
• Furnished student apartments save $1,500 to $3,000 in upfront furniture costs but charge $100 to $200 more monthly.
• Student complexes near ASU include amenities like pools, study rooms, and shuttle service; regular apartments rarely do.
• Find My Place lists both student-focused and conventional Tempe apartments, letting ASU students compare total cost and lifestyle fit.

Per-Bedroom Leases Protect ASU Students From Roommate Risk

Student apartments operate on individual lease structures. You sign for your bedroom. You pay your share. Your roommate’s financial problems stay their problem.

This protection is significant. In a joint lease, one roommate missing rent can affect everyone’s credit and rental history. In a per-bed arrangement, the management company absorbs that risk. You remain responsible only for your contracted bedroom amount.

Regular Tempe apartments use joint leases. All four tenants in a four-bedroom unit share one contract. One person not paying puts the others in jeopardy. Eviction notices name all tenants when rent is collectively short.

Per-bed leases cost more than equivalent space in regular apartments. The premium typically runs 10 to 20 percent above comparable market-rate units. Most ASU students consider this worth it for roommate protection.

Student Apartments Near ASU Arrive Furnished; Regular Units Do Not

Furnished student complexes near Arizona State University include beds, desks, dressers, and often living room furniture. You move in with suitcases. Done.

Furnishing a Tempe apartment independently costs $1,500 to $3,000 for basics. More if you want quality pieces. Less if you’re strategic about Facebook Marketplace finds or coordinating with roommates.

Regular Tempe apartments are empty. Walls, floors, and appliances. Nothing else. You source everything.

Students staying in Tempe for only one or two years often choose furnished student complexes to avoid the hassle and cost of moving furniture. Students planning longer stays often find regular apartments more economical over time.

ASU Student Complexes Include Amenities Regular Apartments Rarely Offer

Student-focused complexes near ASU compete aggressively on amenities. The Tempe student apartment market is saturated, so complexes differentiate on features.

Common amenities in ASU student complexes include resort-style pools, fitness centers, study lounges, game rooms, and shuttle service to campus. Some offer package concierge services, coffee stations, and outdoor grilling areas.

Regular Tempe apartments may include a basic pool and gym. Some have neither. Amenity packages in conventional apartments target general renters rather than college students specifically.

The amenity premium is real. ASU student complexes charge $100 to $300 more monthly than comparable regular apartments for the same bedroom count. Whether those amenities justify the cost depends entirely on how much you use them.

Lease Terms Differ Significantly Between Student and Regular Tempe Apartments

Student complexes near ASU structure leases around academic years. Most offer 9-month, 10-month, and 12-month options. Some align specifically with ASU’s semester schedule.

Regular Tempe apartments use standard 12-month leases. Finding anything shorter in a conventional apartment requires a premium. Month-to-month rates run 20 to 40 percent above standard lease rates.

Academic-year leases in student complexes simplify summer planning. Students who leave Tempe for the summer avoid paying rent on empty rooms if they select the right lease term.

Regular apartment lease renewals typically require 60 days’ advance notice of intent. Student complex renewals often come with early incentives for existing tenants. Read the renewal terms before the deadline.

Income and Credit Qualifications Differ Between the Two Options

Student apartments near ASU understand that full-time students lack traditional income histories. Their qualification requirements reflect this reality.

Most ASU student complexes accept parental guarantors without requiring student income verification. Some require guarantors to earn three to four times the monthly rent. The process is straightforward and common.

Regular Tempe apartment landlords typically require tenants to earn two to three times monthly rent independently. This disqualifies most full-time ASU students without co-signers. Guarantors are accepted but sometimes viewed less favorably.

First-time renters without rental history face fewer obstacles at student-focused complexes. Regular apartment landlords scrutinize rental history more carefully because their tenant pool typically includes experienced renters.

Location Proximity to ASU Campus Varies by Apartment Type

Student complexes cluster near Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. The densest concentration sits within a mile of campus, particularly along Apache Boulevard, University Drive, and Rural Road.

Regular Tempe apartments spread across the entire city. Some are close to ASU. Many are not. A regular apartment in south Tempe near the I-10 may cost significantly less but require reliable transportation.

Location near campus adds value for students without cars. The walkability premium at student complexes near ASU reflects this convenience. Regular apartments off the light rail line require transportation planning.

Choosing the Right Option Depends on Your ASU Student Situation

Short-term ASU students, those staying one to two years, typically benefit from student complexes. Lower upfront costs, flexible lease terms, and built-in roommate matching simplify the experience.

Long-term students or those with their own furniture and established friend groups often find regular Tempe apartments cheaper and more comfortable. Less noise. More space. Lower monthly costs.

Find My Place lists available units across both categories near Arizona State University. Filtering by lease type, furnished status, and distance from campus helps ASU students identify the best fit for their specific situation and budget.