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Columbia, South Carolina is the state capital and home to the University of South Carolina, where roughly 35,000 students give downtown a steady collegiate hum. The campus centers on the historic Horseshoe, and student life spills into Five Points just south, the classic bar-and-restaurant district most undergrads gravitate toward. The Vista along the Congaree River leans more polished and draws seniors and grad students, while Shandon offers leafy streets and old houses. Beyond the bars, you've got the State House grounds, the riverfront greenway, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, and a busy slate of festivals and Gamecock game days. It's a mid-size capital city with a big SEC heartbeat and easy access to lakes and rivers.
The undergrad favorite, walkable, social, and packed with the widest selection of student apartments just south of the Horseshoe.
Along the Congaree River, this district runs more upscale and draws seniors and grad students who want a polished riverfront vibe.
Tree-lined streets and older houses, popular with students who want a calmer residential feel close to campus.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Columbia.
USC Transit, run by The COMET, is free with your Carolina Card and connects more than 30 campus stops on multiple routes, with evening service for late nights. The COMET also runs citywide bus routes if you need to reach farther neighborhoods or campuses across town. Getting to class from Five Points or the Vista is usually a short walk or a quick bus hop. Most downtown students can lean on transit for daily trips.
Columbia is fairly walkable around campus, Five Points, and the Vista, and a lot of students do daily life on foot. USC is a recognized bike-friendly campus, with dedicated lanes on Greene, Wheat, and South Main plus a campus bike shop for free repairs. The flat downtown core makes pedaling between class, the bars, and the riverfront easy. Plenty of students cover their daily routine without ever getting in a car.
A car helps if you live in the suburbs or commute out to Lake Murray, but downtown students often skip it. On-campus parking and permits are worth planning around if you do bring a vehicle. Most off-campus complexes near Five Points and the Vista keep you within an easy walk or bus ride, so daily driving is rarely necessary. Budget for a permit only if your routine truly needs one.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Studios and one-bedrooms in Five Points and the Vista typically run $900 to $1,300 per month, while shared rooms in two- to three-bedroom units in Five Points or Shandon land around $600 to $1,000 per person. Columbia is among the more affordable SEC markets.
Browse student housing near each Columbia-area university.