Student Housing in Jacksonville, FL
Student Housing in Jacksonville, FL

$1,153+/unit
Fees may applyThe Edge at Town Center

$1,557+/unit
Fees may applyThe Oasis at Town Center
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About Student Housing in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida is the biggest city by land area in the lower 48, a sprawling river-and-beach town split by the wide St. Johns River and stitched together by bridges. The University of North Florida sits on the Southside near Kernan Boulevard, ringed by preserve land, with its students spread across the suburbs and toward the coast. Because the city is so spread out, off-campus living is the norm. Walkable pockets do exist: San Marco with its Venice-inspired square, historic Riverside and Avondale, and the artsy Five Points district. You've got the downtown Riverwalks along the St. Johns, plus Atlantic, Neptune, and Jacksonville beaches a short hop east. For a student renter, Jacksonville means room to breathe and the river and ocean both nearby.
Best Neighborhoods for Students in Jacksonville
Kernan, Hodges, and Beach Boulevard areas
Closest to UNF, full of student-friendly complexes with shuttle access and a quick campus commute.
Town Center and Southside
Mixes apartments with heavy shopping and dining, popular with renters who want everything nearby.
San Marco and Riverside
The walkable, characterful picks for upperclassmen wanting city vibe over campus proximity.
Getting Around Jacksonville as a Student
Here's what you need to know about getting around Jacksonville.
Public Transit
College students ride the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) buses and First Coast Flyer routes free once enrollment is confirmed, which is a real perk if you live near a line. Still, the city's scale means transit can mean longer trips than you would want for a tight class schedule. The free bus covers some trips for students near a route. For most of sprawling Jacksonville, transit involves longer rides.
Walking and Biking
Areas right around campus along Kernan and Hodges are bikeable, and many nearby complexes run shuttles. Students living close to UNF can handle short trips on foot or by bike. The neighborhoods near campus are the most workable for cycling. Walkable pockets like San Marco, Riverside, and Five Points offer pedestrian-friendly streets elsewhere in the city.
Parking
Jacksonville is huge and spread out, so most students rely on a car for daily life, and UNF's Southside location near the beaches and Town Center reinforces that. For getting downtown, to the beaches, or across the St. Johns, a car is the practical call. Students who drive should expect to rely on a vehicle for most trips across the large city. A car is the default for daily errands and commuting here.
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Housing in Jacksonville
Common questions from students searching for housing.
It depends on location and setup. A private bedroom in a shared unit near UNF usually runs about $700-$1,200/month per person. Studios and one-bedrooms typically land around $1,100-$1,500/month depending on how close you are to campus and the amenities. Sharing with roommates is the cheapest per-person option.
The Kernan, Hodges, and Beach Boulevard areas are closest to campus and full of student complexes, where shared bedrooms commonly run about $700-$1,000/month per person. Town Center and Southside add shopping and dining nearby, Baymeadows is quieter and easier on the wallet, and San Marco or Riverside offer walkable city character for upperclassmen who don't mind a longer commute.
For most students, yes. The city is enormous and spread out. JTA buses are free with student enrollment and great if you're on a route, but the distances mean a car makes getting to campus, the beaches, and downtown far more practical day to day.
Plenty of complexes sit within a few minutes of campus along Kernan, Hodges, and Beach Boulevard, many with shuttles. If you want to bike or take a short ride to class, stay in that cluster. Living near the beaches or downtown means a real daily drive.
The student-oriented complexes near campus along Kernan and Hodges generally feel comfortable, and Baymeadows and the beaches communities are largely residential. Jacksonville is big and varies block to block, so check the specific area, read reviews, and visit at different times before signing.
Begin three to five months ahead of a fall move-in, so winter or early spring for the next year. The closest UNF complexes fill earliest, and starting sooner gives you the best choice of unit, roommates, and shuttle-served locations.
Twelve-month leases are standard, with many student complexes offering per-bedroom leases so you only cover your own room. Some traditional apartments off campus do conventional whole-unit leases, so confirm which type you're signing and how summer months are handled.
It varies. Student complexes often bundle water, trash, and internet, with electric billed separately to you, which matters with the AC running through humid Jacksonville summers. Traditional apartments may leave more on you. Always confirm exactly what's included before signing.
Yes. Per-bedroom leases near campus make roommate matching straightforward, and many complexes pair solo renters. Summer subletting happens since some students leave town, but the city's year-round population means demand stays steady. Check your lease allows subletting first.
You get both river and ocean. UNF sits near preserve land on the Southside, the St. Johns River and its Riverwalks run through the city, and Atlantic, Neptune, and Jacksonville beaches are a short drive east. It's spread out, but that buys you space and easy access to the water.
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