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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.
Closest to UNF, full of student-friendly complexes with shuttle access and a quick campus commute.
Mixes apartments with heavy shopping and dining, popular with renters who want everything nearby.
The walkable, characterful picks for upperclassmen wanting city vibe over campus proximity.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Jacksonville.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Browse student housing near each Jacksonville-area university.