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Isla Vista is the densely packed, unincorporated student community directly adjacent to UC Santa Barbara — it is essentially UCSB's off-campus neighborhood, and nearly every resident is a current student or recent graduate. The housing market here is unlike most places: a handful of large landlords own most of the stock, leases run June to June rather than August to August, and turnover happens in one compressed window each spring. Rents are high given the cramped units, but Isla Vista's proximity to campus and beach is unmatched. Most students live here for freshman and sophomore years, then decide whether to stay or move to Goleta or Santa Barbara for more space.
I.V.'s iconic oceanfront street — literally on the bluffs above the Pacific. Premium prices for oceanfront living, extremely social, and the loudest part of an already-loud neighborhood. Applied to as soon as units open in January.
The core I.V. streets — dense apartments, walking distance to campus, and within the standard student price range. The primary zone for most UCSB students who want I.V. living without the Del Playa premium.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Isla Vista.
MTD bus routes connect I.V. to Santa Barbara and UCSB campus, but most students bike to class rather than bus. The route is short enough that the bus is rarely faster than a bike for campus trips.
Isla Vista is extraordinarily bikeable — the entire community is designed at human scale, the bike paths to campus are direct, and nearly everyone bikes. Walking to campus is easy from most streets. This is one of the most bike-first student environments in the country.
Limited and contested. Most I.V. apartments do not include parking or include very few spots. The standard advice is to not bring a car to I.V. if you can avoid it. Parking enforcement is active.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
I.V. runs $900-$1,400/mo per person for shared units, with Del Playa oceanfront running higher. Given unit quality (most stock is old), you are paying a location premium. It is consistently more expensive per square foot than comparable student housing elsewhere.