Loading listings
Indiana, Pennsylvania is a small borough of approximately 14,000 residents in Indiana County in western Pennsylvania, located about 55 miles northeast of Pittsburgh and 85 miles east of Pittsburgh International Airport. The borough is best known as the home of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a public institution with roughly 8,000 students that belongs to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and has no affiliation with Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. IUP's campus occupies a central position in the borough, and the university is by far the largest employer and driver of economic activity in the community. The surrounding landscape features the rolling hills and forest of the Allegheny Plateau, and outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful within a short drive. Indiana, PA has a compact, walkable commercial district along Philadelphia Street, and the student-heavy population keeps local dining, coffee shops, and entertainment options lively during the academic year.
The dense cluster of rental houses and duplexes along and near Oakland Avenue sits immediately adjacent to the IUP campus and represents the most popular off-campus student neighborhood. Walk times to central campus buildings are typically under five minutes.
Running south from the campus edge toward Philadelphia Street, this corridor offers a mix of rental houses and small apartment buildings at accessible price points. The location is convenient for both academic access and the dining and nightlife options on the main commercial strip.
The borough's main commercial street runs east to west through the center of Indiana and has apartments above storefronts alongside restaurants, bars, and local shops. Students who want to be in the thick of borough activity often choose this area despite the slightly higher noise level on weekends.
The quieter residential streets north of the IUP academic core attract graduate students and upperclassmen who prefer lower rents and a calmer environment. Walk times to the main campus hub are around 10 to 15 minutes, and the area has a genuine neighborhood feel away from the busiest student streets.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Indiana.
Indiana County Transit operates the local bus system serving Indiana borough and surrounding areas, with routes that connect the IUP campus to major commercial areas and nearby communities. Service is limited compared to larger Pennsylvania cities, with reduced frequency in the evenings and on weekends. IUP also provides a campus shuttle that circulates between academic buildings, residence halls, and university parking lots during the academic year. Students who live within a mile of campus typically find walking or biking more convenient than relying on the bus for daily commuting.
Indiana borough is small enough that most IUP students can walk to class, the library, and the Philadelphia Street commercial district in under 20 minutes from nearly any rental location in the borough. The terrain is gently rolling, which makes biking a practical option for most of the year. There are no dedicated protected bike lanes in the borough core, but traffic volumes are low enough that students regularly cycle on the roads without issue. Sidewalks cover most of the borough's streets near campus.
Parking in Indiana, PA is widely available and generally free or very low cost. Most rental houses and apartments near IUP include off-street parking, and street parking in residential areas is free without time limits in most blocks. The IUP campus requires a university parking permit for lots and garages, but students who live nearby typically walk or bike rather than drive to campus. Downtown along Philadelphia Street has metered parking with low hourly rates.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Indiana, PA has some of the lowest rental prices of any Pennsylvania university town. One-bedroom apartments near IUP typically run from $450 to $700 per month, and shared two- or three-bedroom houses often break down to $300 to $500 per person. The small size of the borough and modest local economy keep rents very affordable compared to State College or Philadelphia.
Browse student housing near each Indiana-area university.