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Carlow University is a small private Catholic university in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, steps from the Pitt medical campus and Carnegie Library. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow is now fully coeducational, offering programs in nursing, education, business, and the arts. The campus sits at Fifth Avenue and Craft Avenue, placing students near Schenley Park and the shops along Forbes Avenue. With roughly 2,000 students, class sizes stay small and faculty relationships close. On-campus housing is available and freshmen are encouraged to live in the residence halls. Upperclassmen typically move into Oakland, Shadyside, or Squirrel Hill, where Pittsburgh's strong student rental market provides apartments at varying price points.
Carlow University strongly encourages incoming freshmen to live on campus, and residence hall space is reserved for first-year students. The requirement is not universally enforced, so students with documented circumstances, local commutes, or transfer credits may be eligible for an exemption.
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are generally free to rent off campus. The Oakland, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods immediately surrounding campus offer dense apartment inventory at a range of price points.
Most Pittsburgh landlords in Oakland begin showing units for the following August in January and February. Students who want the best selection near campus should start their search no later than early spring semester.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Carlow University before signing a lease.
Students targeting Forbes Avenue, Bates Street, or the Shadyside pocket streets should begin searching in late November or December, right after fall finals. Competition from Pitt and CMU students is heavy, and the best-managed buildings fill quickly. Getting your roommate situation sorted before winter break puts you ahead of the rush. Starting early also gives you time to compare lease terms without deadline pressure.
January through mid-February is the core leasing window for Oakland and Shadyside. Landlords typically post availability on Craigslist, Zillow, and local Facebook housing groups. Walking buildings near campus on Fifth and Craft Avenues is still an effective way to find unlisted units. Bringing a co-signer letter and proof of income to first showings speeds up the application process significantly.
Students who miss the peak window can still find apartments in Squirrel Hill along Murray Avenue and in Greenfield through March and April. Sublet listings pick up in May as graduating students vacate, offering furnished options for those who need housing quickly. Checking CMU and Pitt off-campus housing boards alongside Carlow's own listings broadens your search considerably.
Oakland surrounds Carlow's campus and offers the shortest commutes. Apartments on Bates Street, Meyran Avenue, and the side streets off Fifth Ave are popular with students from Carlow, Pitt, and CMU. Expect higher competition and a mix of older rowhouses and newer managed buildings.
Shadyside begins just east of campus along Fifth Avenue and offers tree-lined streets, the Walnut Street shops, and easy bus access via the 71 routes. Rents run slightly higher but the neighborhood is walkable with grocery stores and restaurants nearby.
Squirrel Hill is a 15-minute bus ride from campus and offers stable, well-maintained rental housing. Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue through Squirrel Hill have grocery stores, cafes, and a community feel that suits students who prefer a calmer environment.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
One-bedroom apartments in Oakland typically run $1,000-$1,400 per month, while shared two- and three-bedroom units can bring individual costs down to $700-$950 per person. Shadyside and Squirrel Hill run slightly higher on average but offer more amenity-rich buildings.
Other universities in Pittsburgh share a similar off-campus housing market.
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