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Dallas is a large, sprawling metro with multiple university campuses spread across the region — SMU, UT Dallas, UT Arlington, and a network of community colleges all draw students from across the city. The rental market is enormous and highly variable: Uptown and Greenville Avenue near SMU command premium prices, while the Richardson and Plano corridors near UT Dallas offer more affordable options. Rents have risen sharply in recent years but remain lower than comparable coastal metros. The biggest challenge in Dallas is the car-dependence — DART light rail and buses exist but do not serve most student destinations efficiently enough to go fully car-free.
The social hub for SMU students — walkable strip of bars, restaurants, and apartments within biking or bus range of campus. More expensive than most of Dallas but with genuine neighborhood character.
Dense, walkable, and popular with graduate students and older undergrads at SMU and other schools. Connected to DART's McKinney Avenue Streetcar line. Premium prices but the best walkability in the city.
The practical zone for UT Dallas students — more affordable, directly on DART's Red Line, and suburban in character. Students prioritize proximity to campus over neighborhood culture here.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Dallas.
DART's light rail and bus network is the most extensive in Texas. The Red and Orange Lines serve UT Dallas corridor; the Blue Line reaches downtown from southern neighborhoods. For students near DART stations, car-light commuting is possible. Off the rail lines, Dallas's bus frequency makes pure transit living difficult.
Uptown and Lower Greenville are the most walkable parts of Dallas for student life. The city has expanded protected bike lanes in central areas. Most of the metro is car-designed and biking on arterials requires comfort with traffic. DART+Bike is more practical than pure biking for longer distances.
Highly variable. Uptown and near SMU, parking is limited and often paid. Campus parking requires a permit. Off the dense zones, parking is easy and usually included with apartments. Most Dallas students have a car.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Dallas ranges widely. Uptown near SMU runs $1,100-$1,600/mo per person. Richardson near UT Dallas comes in at $750-$1,050/mo. Lower Greenville sits in the middle. It is more affordable than coastal cities but has risen significantly in recent years.