What Does Student Housing Cost Near UTA in 2026?
Off-campus housing near the University of Texas at Arlington runs $700 to $1,400 monthly for rent alone. Add utilities, parking, and fees. Your real total hits $850 to $1,600. Most UTA students splitting apartments with roommates pay around $900 each month. Budget places in Arlington start near $700. Premium spots close to campus? Those climb past $1,200 fast. Knowing these actual numbers keeps Mavericks from budget surprises after signing a lease.
TL;DR: UTA Housing Costs at a Glance
- Budget apartments near UTA run $700-$850 rent, totaling $850-$1,050 with utilities
- Mid-range housing costs $900-$1,100 rent, reaching $1,050-$1,300 total monthly
- Premium units near campus charge $1,200-$1,400 rent plus $150-$200 in additional fees
- Splitting apartments with roommates reduces individual costs to $450-$650 per person
- Hidden fees for parking, valet trash, and amenities add $120-$250 beyond advertised rent
When Should UTA Students Start the Housing Search?
October through December. That window matters more than most students realize. Arlington’s rental market moves quickly around UTA. The solid apartments near campus? Gone months before August.
UTA has over 40,000 students. Think about that number. All those people competing for limited housing along Cooper Street, UTA Boulevard, and College Park District. Property managers open pre-leasing early. Units fill fast.
October through December
Pre-leasing starts at most Arlington complexes. Selection peaks. Early-signing specials pop up. This stretch gives you time to research neighborhoods, nail down a realistic budget, and actually tour places. Photos lie constantly.
January through March
Peak signing season. Most UTA students lock in leases during these months. Prices stabilize. Availability shrinks weekly. Best locations vanish first. Found something decent? Apply fast. Read every lease term. Hidden fees hide in fine print.
April through May
Affordable units near campus are mostly taken. Remaining options cost more or sit farther out. Widen your search radius. Check lease transfers from students whose plans fell through. Stay flexible on move-in dates.
June through August
Traditional inventory runs thin. But sublets and lease transfers spike. Students leave for internships, study abroad, changed circumstances. Check listings daily. Solid options disappear in hours.
What UTA Students Actually Pay Monthly
Advertised rent lies. Well, it omits. Real monthly costs include utilities, parking, various fees, and charges nobody mentioned during the tour.
Budget Tier: $700-$850 rent
These apartments sit farther from campus. Older buildings. Total monthly costs land between $850 and $1,050 once you add utilities and basic fees. Students chasing savings over convenience target this range. Commutes get longer. Amenities get sparse. Maintenance response varies wildly. But the price works for tight budgets.
Mid-Range Tier: $900-$1,100 rent
Most UTA students end up here. Total monthly runs $1,050 to $1,300. Reasonable campus proximity. Functional amenities. Management that actually picks up the phone. Properties along Cooper Street corridor fall into this category. Decent balance.
Premium Tier: $1,200-$1,400 rent
Walking distance. Modern finishes. Full amenity packages. Total costs reach $1,350 to $1,600 monthly. Students picking premium housing care more about location than savings. These units disappear fastest during pre-leasing.
Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions During Tours
That rent number on the listing? Rarely your actual payment. Additional fees and required services tack on $150 to $250 extra.
Electricity: $80-$150
Texas summers are brutal. Air conditioning stops being optional somewhere around May. Budget for peak summer bills, not the mild spring weather you experienced during your apartment tour.
Internet: $50-$75
You need reliable speeds for coursework and video calls. Cheap plans choke during peak hours. Some complexes bundle internet into rent. Most charge separately.
Parking: $50-$100
Covered spots cost more than surface lots. Some complexes charge per vehicle. Street parking means daily headaches and parking tickets.
Valet Trash and Amenity Fees: $20-$50
Many Arlington apartments force valet trash service on you. Want it or not, you pay. Pool maintenance, fitness center access, common area upkeep. All bundled into monthly charges.
Renter’s Insurance: $15-$25
Most landlords require it. Covers theft, fire, water damage. Worth having regardless.
Here’s the math that matters. That $900 apartment actually costs $1,100 to $1,150 monthly after fees stack up. Get full cost breakdowns before signing anything.
How Location Changes What You Pay
Where you live affects way more than rent. Transportation costs shift dramatically based on campus distance.
Walking Distance: Under 1 Mile
Rent peaks here. Transportation costs nearly vanish. Zero gas money. No parking permit needed. Properties along UTA Boulevard and College Park District fall into this zone. The premium rent sometimes evens out when you factor in zero commute expenses.
Short Drive: 1-3 Miles
Rent drops moderately. Transportation climbs to $50-$150 monthly for gas and parking. UTA parking permits run $200-$400 annually depending on lot location. Areas south of campus and along Division Street sit in this range.
Transit Routes
Rent drops significantly. Transportation costs hit $30-$60 monthly for passes. Properties near TRE stations combine lower rent with workable commutes. Trinity Railway Express connects to Dallas and Fort Worth. Opens up job options beyond Arlington.
Roommates Slash Costs in Half
Sharing apartments remains the single most effective budget move for UTA housing. Split a two or three bedroom unit. Individual costs drop 40 to 50 percent.
Living Solo
One-bedroom near UTA costs $1,100 to $1,400 monthly. Add utilities and fees. Total reaches $1,300 to $1,600. You cover everything yourself.
Two Roommates
Two-bedroom apartment runs $1,400 to $1,800 total. Split two ways? Each person pays $700 to $900 rent. Add utility shares. Per person total: $750 to $975 monthly.
Three Roommates
Three-bedroom units cost $1,800 to $2,400 total. Divide by three. Rent drops to $600-$800 per person. Total per person: $640 to $860 monthly.
Four Roommates
Large units split four ways bring individual costs down to $450-$650 monthly including utilities. Maximum savings territory.
One catch. Savings only work when every bedroom stays filled. Empty room means someone covers extra. Or you scramble mid-lease finding a replacement. Have roommate conversations early. Talk budgets, cleanliness, quiet hours. Awkward now beats explosive later.
Avoiding Scams Near UTA
Rental scams love college students. You search under pressure. Sometimes sign leases remotely. Scammers know this.
Red Flags
Prices way below market rate. One-bedroom near campus listing for $600 when comparable units cost $1,100? Something’s wrong.
Landlords refusing to meet or show the unit. Legitimate managers welcome visits. Anyone demanding signatures without tours deserves suspicion.
Payment requests before any paperwork. Never wire money. Never pay through apps before holding a signed lease.
Pressure to decide right now. Real apartments allow thinking time.
Protect Yourself
Verify ownership through Tarrant County records. Tour in person when possible. Read every word of every lease. Trust gut feelings. Something feels off? Walk away. Another apartment exists.
Best Neighborhoods for UTA Students
Adjacent to Campus
UTA Boulevard, Cooper Street near campus, College Park District. Walking distance convenience. Highest rents. Heaviest competition during pre-leasing.
Cooper Street Corridor
Runs north and south from campus. Tons of student-focused complexes. Mix of price points. Good bus access. Most popular area for UTA off-campus housing.
TRE Routes
Properties near Trinity Railway Express stations offer transit to Dallas and Fort Worth. Lower rents than campus-adjacent spots. Good for students with jobs or internships outside Arlington.
Starting Late? You Still Have Options
Missing October through March doesn’t mean disaster. Students find housing every summer.
Lease Transfers
Students break leases constantly. Internships happen. Family situations change. Graduation plans shift. Find My Place lists these openings.
Sublets
Students leaving for summer or studying abroad need coverage. Good for short-term needs while you keep searching.
Expanded Geography
South Arlington and areas toward Grand Prairie have more availability when central locations fill up.
Final Reality Check
UTA housing costs more than advertised rent suggests. Budget for $850 to $1,600 monthly total depending on your choices. Roommates cut costs dramatically. Location affects both rent and transportation spending.
Start early when possible. October through December gives maximum selection. But students find housing at every stage through transfers, sublets, and flexible searching.
Verify every landlord. Read every lease. Calculate total costs instead of just rent. Check current listings and student reviews on Find My Place to compare UTA housing options matching your budget and commute needs.
