




$437+/unit
Fees may applyBengal Creek Ridge Student Housing
$250+/unit
Fees may applyThe Elms Apartments





$425/unit
Fees may apply215 N 6th Ave





$495/unit
Fees may apply215 W Halliday





$599/unit
Fees may apply33 Orchard St





$399+/unit
Fees may apply695 S Ash St
Idaho State University anchors the southeastern Idaho city of Pocatello, enrolling roughly 13,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs in health professions, engineering, business, arts, and sciences. Founded in 1901, ISU is Idaho's designated polytechnic university and the only institution in the state with a full medical school, pharmacy school, and dental education program. The main campus stretches across a compact but walkable footprint along South 8th Avenue, set against the backdrop of the Bannock Range foothills. Pocatello itself sits at the confluence of several valleys at about 4,500 feet elevation, offering students easy access to outdoor recreation including skiing at Pebble Creek, mountain biking on the Pocatello Range trails, and whitewater on the Snake River. The city's affordability is one of ISU's most compelling draws, with average apartment rents well below Idaho's booming Boise and Coeur d'Alene markets. Students at ISU benefit from a close-knit campus culture, strong professional program placements, and a surrounding community that actively embraces university life.
Idaho State University requires most traditionally-aged first-year students to live in university-managed housing for their freshman year. Students who graduated from a high school located within a 30-mile radius of campus, are 21 years of age or older, have completed 30 or more college credits, or are married may be exempt from the requirement. Incoming freshmen who do not meet an exemption must contact Residential Life to confirm their housing assignment.
Students who qualify for an exemption from the live-on requirement, as well as all sophomores and above, are free to rent off campus anywhere in the Pocatello area. Off-campus options in Pocatello are plentiful and considerably more affordable than comparable college towns in other parts of Idaho. Popular off-campus areas include the neighborhoods immediately surrounding campus along South 5th and South 6th Avenues, as well as the Alameda corridor.
The Pocatello rental market is relatively relaxed compared to larger Idaho cities, but good units near ISU still move faster than many expect. Begin your search in February or March for fall move-in to get the widest selection. Most landlords post available units 60 to 90 days before the desired occupancy date, so persistence during that window pays off.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Idaho State University before signing a lease.
Students who start their housing search in December or January for the following fall are well ahead of the Pocatello market. Beginning early allows you to evaluate neighborhoods, compare amenities, and avoid the modest spring rush when returning students and new admits begin their searches simultaneously. You will also have time to arrange roommates through ISU's off-campus housing board or student Facebook groups, which can cut your monthly costs significantly. Early searchers in Pocatello sometimes find landlords willing to lock in current-year rates before any spring rent increases.
The peak demand window in Pocatello runs roughly from February through April, when the majority of available units for the fall semester are posted and claimed. ISU's health professions programs bring a consistent influx of graduate and professional students who also compete for well-located one- and two-bedroom apartments during this period. Units within walking distance of the main campus on South 8th Avenue go particularly quickly, so having your application materials ready speeds up the process. Visiting Pocatello in person during spring break is a practical way to tour multiple units in a single trip.
Students searching in June, July, or August will find a smaller but still workable inventory of apartments in Pocatello. Property managers in the area regularly list units that become available due to lease breaks or late-season turnover. Checking Craigslist, Zillow, and the ISU off-campus housing board daily during this period will surface new options. Being open to slightly longer commutes from the Chubbuck area or northern Pocatello also broadens your choices considerably.
The blocks immediately surrounding ISU along South 5th, 6th, and 7th Avenues offer the shortest walk to class and a dense concentration of student-oriented rentals. Rents here are competitive but the convenience factor makes these units fill up fastest each spring.
The Alameda area runs along a major east-west arterial roughly a mile from campus and offers a mix of older homes, duplexes, and small apartment complexes at some of the most affordable rents in the city. Bus service along Alameda connects students to campus quickly.
Downtown Pocatello has seen steady revitalization and offers proximity to restaurants, coffee shops, and the Portneuf Medical Center for health sciences students. The short drive or bus ride to campus makes it a practical choice for students who want a more urban feel.
Chubbuck is a neighboring community directly north of Pocatello with newer apartment complexes, lower average rents, and easy access to big-box retail. The tradeoff is a longer commute of 10 to 15 minutes by car, but the savings can be substantial for students on tight budgets.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
One-bedroom apartments near ISU typically rent for $650 to $900 per month, and two-bedroom units run $800 to $1,100. Splitting a two-bedroom with a roommate often brings per-person costs down to $400 to $550, making Pocatello one of the more affordable college rental markets in the region.