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The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near Carnegie Mellon University (October 2026)

Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PAUpdated Monthly

By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed October 1, 2026

16 properties reviewed
80+ reviews analyzed
updated October 2026
independentno pay-to-rank
the short answer

Glasshouse Pittsburgh leads our October 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near Carnegie Mellon University with a 5.0/5 FMP Score, followed by Cathedral Mansions and University Commons. Across the 16 properties reviewed, students keep coming back to amenities & shared spaces and management & maintenance: the overall signals that move a property up this ranking. Browse all off-campus housing near Carnegie Mellon University for every option.

  • winnerGlasshouse Pittsburgh
  • FMP Score range3.4–5.0 / 5
  • avg walk0 min to campus
  • rent range$384–$3027 /person
the ranking

The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near Carnegie Mellon University

Sorted by FMP Score from verified Carnegie Mellon University reviews, high to low. Scores reflect current Carnegie Mellon University reviews only.

  1. Glasshouse Pittsburgh
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Glasshouse Pittsburgh stands out as the top overall choice near Carnegie Mellon for its rare combination of luxury, genuine community care, and an unbeatable location. Students and parents consistently praise the staff's attentiveness Cody, Stacey, Eric, Kienna, and Jesse are called out by name for going beyond standard service along with the building's cleanliness, safety, and first-class amenities. The views of the city skyline and river are legendary, and as one resident put it, "Feels like home. We have privacy and space for being in the city. However so much life and activity's are so close." If you want to feel genuinely supported while living in a stunning building, this is it.

    $2228/person/mo
  2. Cathedral Mansions
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Cathedral Mansions earns its ranking as a close second by delivering the homely feeling that transforms student housing into actual community. Residents highlight the convenience of the location and the genuinely nice management team that makes both undergrads and grad students feel welcomed. As one satisfied resident noted, "One of my best experiences was in Cathedral Mansions. Highly recommend the apartment for the homely feeling, the convenience and the good management!" It's the kind of place where you don't just rent a room you find your people.

    $1200/person/mo
  3. University Commons
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: University Commons ranks third overall for its exceptional customer service and stress-free leasing experience that sets the tone for your entire stay. Residents and parents alike praise the team's responsiveness and transparency, with staff members like Mylee and Kristen earning specific recognition for their communication skills and genuine care. As one grateful parent shared, "Such a great experience moving my student from out of state to University Commons. Great customer service and transparency." When your housing search feels this smooth, you know you're in good hands.

    $384/person/mo
  4. 5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Keystone Flats rounds out the top four by offering clean, modern apartments in a great location with staff who genuinely look out for residents across their entire stay. Students praise the well-maintained communal spaces like the gym and rooftop patio, and Wolfgang's team is known for being responsive and making families feel confident in their choice. As one long-term resident reflected, "I lived in Keystone for my junior and senior years at Point Park and could not have asked for a better living experience. The apartments were lovely very clean and modern." This is where you can actually settle in and focus on what matters.

    $859/person/mo
  5. Camelot Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Camelot Apartments stands out as the sweet spot for students who want to stay connected to campus without feeling trapped there. Residents consistently praise the thoughtful location close enough for quick trips between classes but far enough to feel like a real neighborhood escape plus the fully furnished units, included water, and reliable maintenance team that actually shows up when you need them. The building sits in a genuinely safe area with a gym on-site and easy access to Shadyside's restaurants and coffee shops, making it feel like you're living somewhere, not just sleeping near school. As one resident put it, "The distance from campus is wonderful. Far enough that you can get your steps in but close enough that I am always going home between classes." For the price and what's included, it's hard to beat.

    $1026/person/mo
  6. Brittany Apartments
    4.8(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Brittany Apartments earns its spot because the management specifically Santino Scozio genuinely cares about making your move smooth and your stay comfortable. Residents rave about how respectful, professional, and genuinely helpful he is, going out of his way to assist with applications, answer questions, and make sure you feel supported from day one. The building itself is clean, well-maintained, and safe, but what really sets it apart is the human touch: Santino's willingness to work with residents and treat them as people, not just lease signers. As one resident shared, "Santino is a wonderful man he's nice and very polite he took the time out to help me to go on line to fill my application out on the computer because l didn't know but it was much appreciated." When your landlord actually has your back, everything else feels better.

    $994/person/mo
  7. 4.8(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Crawford Square delivers solid value and genuine peace of mind, thanks to staff who actually listen and follow through. Logan and Kiara stand out for being genuinely helpful and understanding, while the office team communicates quickly and handles maintenance requests in a timely, professional way. Residents feel safe here a big deal when you're choosing where to live and the rent splits nicely when you're sharing with roommates. One resident highlighted Kiara's approach perfectly: "Kiara provided exceptional service throughout my apartment search. From the very beginning, it was clear that she truly knew what she was doing. She was professional, knowledgeable, and extremely patient." It's the kind of place where the staff makes you feel like they actually want you to be happy there.

    $1416/person/mo
  8. 4.8(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Julian stands out as a newer complex that genuinely feels like a home from day one, with management and amenities that match the modern, well-designed units. Madeline, the property manager, sets the tone by being responsive, genuinely caring about residents beyond the lease, and handling everything from tours to move-in with impressive speed and warmth. The building itself is stunning with brand-new finishes, a solid gym, underground parking, and attentive cleaning staff, plus management actually hosts social events to build community. As one resident noted, "From day one, this place has felt less like an apartment and more like a home, and so much of that comes down to the quality of both the building and the people behind it." It's the rare student apartment that feels both brand-new and genuinely welcoming.

    $1875/person/mo
  9. The Yards at 3 Crossings
    4.6(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Yards at 3 Crossings stands out for combining genuinely responsive maintenance with thoughtful community amenities that students actually use. Residents rave about the cleanliness and upkeep of the building, plus the on-site dog park that sets it apart from typical student housing. What really seals the deal is the management team's warmth from day one as one prospective resident shared, the assistant property manager "was incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout the process and really made us feel at home in the community before we actually decided to make it our official home." That kind of care carries through your whole lease.

    $1681/person/mo
  10. Union on 5th
    4.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Union on 5th earns its spot with a maintenance team that actually shows up fast and treats residents like people. Students consistently praise the spacious, beautiful units and the responsiveness of staff maintenance requests get handled within a day, and the team stays genuinely helpful throughout. The management and on-site crew create a welcoming vibe; as one resident put it, "Couldn't ask for better maintenance and management. Super friendly and clean apartments." It's the kind of place where you feel looked after, not just rented to.

    $1105/person/mo
  11. SkyVue
    3.8(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: SkyVue's biggest draw is its unbeatable location for Carnegie Mellon students proximity to campus is genuinely hard to beat. The property shines through individual staff members who go the extra mile; tour guides like Amira and Alex earn specific praise for being knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely kind. One prospective resident noted that Alex "was cordial, very knowledgeable, professional and kind" during the showing. While the building has some operational hiccups to navigate, the standout service moments remind you that good people work here.

    $849/person/mo
  12. One On Centre
    3.4(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: One On Centre wins points for location convenience and staff who actually care about getting to know residents and their families. The leasing team goes above and beyond taking time to answer detailed questions and engage genuinely with prospective students and their parents. As one parent shared after touring with their son, "Leah was very patient answering all of our questions as we were touring through the building; as well as engage in conversation, asking questions about our son and providing valuable insights." That personal touch makes the move-in process feel less transactional and more like joining a community.

    $1275/person/mo

The Full Ranking, One Table

Sort by any column. The rank stays with the property.
The full ranking of every listed apartment, sortable by any column.
1Glasshouse Pittsburgh5.0/55–$2228/mo
2Cathedral Mansions5.0/55–$1200/mo
3University Commons5.0/55–$384/mo
4Keystone Flats5.0/55–$859/mo
5Camelot Apartments5.0/55–$1026/mo
6Brittany Apartments4.8/55–$994/mo
7Crawford Square4.8/55–$1416/mo
8The Julian4.8/55–$1875/mo
9The Yards at 3 Crossings4.6/55–$1681/mo
10Union on 5th4.0/55–$1105/mo
11SkyVue3.8/55–$849/mo
12One On Centre3.4/55–$1275/mo

Walk times are door-to-door to Carnegie Mellon University campus. Rent is per person, per month.

FMP award criteria

How We Ranked These Apartments

1

Ranked by the FMP Score

FMP Score, high to low. That’s the whole ranking. It’s our overall measure of a property, combining verified review scores with signals reviews miss, like how current the listing is kept and how responsive management is. Ties go to the property with more verified reviews.

2

Who Makes the List

Every property near Carnegie Mellon University can appear, but it takes a minimum number of verified reviews before we score and rank it. Properties under that bar sit below every ranked property and move up automatically as reviews come in.

3

How We Calculate the FMP Score

The FMP Score blends the social, management, and quality scores from verified reviews with signals that a place is actively and well run, like how up to date its listing is kept and how consistently management responds to residents. It’s built to surface genuinely well-run properties, not just the highest raw review average.

by the numbers

What Makes an Apartment ‘well-rounded’ Near Carnegie Mellon University

We ran every verified overall review for Carnegie Mellon University-area apartments through theme analysis. These are the themes students bring up most when a place feels well-rounded, by share of the reviews that mention them.

responsive staff and management
10%
deposit refund delays
8%
unreliable internet service
3%

Based on AI analysis of verified Carnegie Mellon University overall reviews, refreshed monthly. Percentages show the share of reviews that mention each theme; most reviews mention more than one. See our complete Carnegie Mellon University review data →

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best overall student apartment near Carnegie Mellon University?

Glasshouse Pittsburgh leads our October 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near Carnegie Mellon University with a 5.0/5 FMP Score, followed by Cathedral Mansions and University Commons.

How is this ranking calculated?

This list is ranked by one number: each property's overall score from verified reviews. Students rate a property's overall 1 to 5, and we average those scores, counting recent reviews more heavily than older ones. No self-reported data from landlords.

What makes an apartment the best overall?

The best overall apartments score highly across everything students rate (social scene, management, and unit quality), not just one. This ranking uses each property's overall rating from verified reviews.

How often is this ranking updated?

Monthly. We re-pull verified reviews and re-score every property at the start of each month, so the order reflects the most recent 24 months of student feedback. The “updated” date at the top of the page shows the latest refresh.

How many reviews does a property need to be included?

There's a minimum number of verified reviews to rank by score, and we don't publish the exact bar so it can't be gamed. Properties under it still appear, below every qualified property and ordered by review count, so a 5.0 from one review never outranks a 4.5 from thirty. Once a property collects enough reviews, it moves into the scored ranking automatically.

Is this ranking independent, or can properties pay to rank higher?

It's fully independent. There's no pay-to-rank. Position is set by verified reviews alone. Property managers can't buy placement, remove reviews, or influence the score.

for property managers

Made the List? Get Your FMP Award Badge.

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Find My Place Award2026
11st place

Best Overall

student apartments near Carnegie Mellon University

Verified & independentCarnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA