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Columbus, Ohio is the state capital and its largest city, home to roughly 910,000 and a young, fast-growing population that revolves heavily around Ohio State University. OSU is one of the biggest campuses in the country, and its students dominate the University District wrapping campus along North High Street, giving the area relentless college energy. From there you can drift south into the Short North arts district and Victorian Village, or north into the quieter blocks of Old North and Clintonville. The city keeps green space close with the Olentangy Trail, the Scioto Mile, and Goodale Park, while museums and a packed festival calendar fill out the culture. Add college and pro sports, and Columbus gives students a real big-city backdrop.
Wraps directly around campus along North High Street and is the most popular choice, dense, walkable, and within a short stroll of class.
Just south, the arts district, livelier and more polished, drawing students who want galleries and a quick walk to downtown.
Beside the Short North, it offers gorgeous historic homes on quieter streets.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Columbus.
The university runs a free Campus Area Bus Service that loops the University District along Summit Street and North Fourth Street, and OSU students ride the city's COTA buses free with their BuckID, which opens up the Short North, downtown, and beyond. A student who lives close and uses CABS and the free COTA pass can get through the year without driving much. The combination covers most everyday destinations.
The University District itself is dense and walkable, with most off-campus apartments a ten- to fifteen-minute walk from class. Biking is genuinely good here, with the Olentangy Trail giving a long, flat route and bike lanes threading campus. Daily errands near campus are easy on foot or by bike.
A car is useful for grocery runs, internships, and weekend trips, though parking near campus can be tight. Many students who live close skip driving thanks to the free transit passes. Reserve a vehicle for trips that transit doesn't reach well.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Per person, OSU off-campus housing generally runs $600 to $1,200 a month depending on the neighborhood and whether you share. A studio in Columbus averages around $665 and a one-bedroom around $760, but sharing a house in the University District with roommates is usually the cheapest route on a per-person basis.
Browse student housing near each Columbus-area university.