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Charlotte, NC is the largest city in the state, a banking hub of nearly 900,000 with a skyline, pro sports, and a sprawl of distinct neighborhoods. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte sits in the University City area on the northeast side, a campus-adjacent district built around the school. You trade the small-town intimacy of some college towns for the energy of a growing southern city. Uptown is the gleaming center, home to the NBA's Hornets and the NFL's Panthers, plus the Mint Museum and the Levine Center for the Arts. Beyond Uptown you've got districts like NoDa, Plaza Midwood, and South End. Green space runs from the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to Freedom Park and the U.S. National Whitewater Center on the edge of town.
The district wrapped around campus, University City has student-heavy complexes along North Tryon Street and W.T. Harris Boulevard and the light rail running straight to class.
The historic arts and music district along North Davidson Street, NoDa draws students who want galleries and venues plus a Blue Line stop at 36th Street.
Just below Uptown, South End is the trendy, revitalized warehouse district with the most urban energy and a quick rail ride to campus.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Charlotte.
Charlotte is a car-friendly city, but UNC Charlotte students have a real transit option. The LYNX Blue Line light rail runs from campus through NoDa and South End into Uptown, getting you downtown in around 22 minutes without touching a parking deck. Transit access is bundled into student fees for a small yearly amount, so the light rail and CATS buses are effectively prepaid. That makes neighborhoods along the Blue Line, like NoDa and South End, especially appealing if you want to ditch the car.
Around campus, University City is walkable in pockets but spread out, so you'll often hop the campus shuttle or a bus to the nearest rail stop. Biking works along greenways like Little Sugar Creek. Arterial roads aren't built for casual cyclists, so stick to the greenways. Walkability is best in the denser pockets near the rail line.
Charlotte is a car-friendly city, so a car helps for reaching destinations off the Blue Line. Driving is the default in the more spread-out parts of University City. Parking decks and lots are common, but the light rail lets you skip them for downtown trips. Students along the Blue Line can ditch the car for many trips.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
It varies a lot by neighborhood, since Charlotte is a full-size city. Near UNC Charlotte in University City, a one-bedroom typically runs about $1,200 to $1,600 a month, while a room in a shared apartment can drop to roughly $700 to $1,000. Trendier areas like South End and NoDa run higher, so living a stop or two up the Blue Line from Uptown usually saves you money.
Browse student housing near each Charlotte-area university.