Off-Campus Housing Near La Salle University
About Off-Campus Housing Near La Salle University
La Salle University is a Catholic institution in the Christian Brothers tradition located in the Germantown and Olney neighborhoods of northwest Philadelphia. With approximately 6,500 students across undergraduate and graduate programs, La Salle offers degrees in business, education, nursing, the arts and sciences, and several professional fields. The campus occupies a residential section of the city, with the surrounding neighborhoods providing a dense urban environment full of public transit connections, local restaurants, and community amenities. Students benefit from being part of a major American city while attending a university with a close-knit community feel. Philadelphia offers unmatched access to internships, clinical placements, cultural institutions, and regional employers, and La Salle's location provides subway and bus access to Center City in roughly 30 minutes. Off-campus housing options are plentiful in the surrounding blocks, with a mix of row homes, duplexes, and small apartment buildings at prices generally below those found closer to Center City. Students who move off campus find neighborhoods that are walkable and well-served by SEPTA.
La Salle University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
La Salle University requires most first-year undergraduate students to live on campus in university residence halls for their first year of enrollment. Exceptions are granted for students who are commuting from a parent or legal guardian's home within a defined distance, students who are 21 or older, and students with documented circumstances that make on-campus living impractical. Students seeking an exemption should contact the Office of Residential Life as early as possible.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Students who have completed their freshman year are generally eligible to move off campus and rent housing in the surrounding northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods. The areas closest to La Salle, including parts of Germantown, Olney, and Logan, offer a range of rental options including row homes, duplexes, and apartment units at moderate Philadelphia rents. Students moving off campus for the first time should factor in the cost of a SEPTA transit pass, renter's insurance, and utilities.
Lease Timing
The Philadelphia rental market in the areas near La Salle generally picks up in the late winter and early spring, with many leases in the northwest section of the city running on an August or September start date. Students planning to move off campus should begin their search in January or February to have the best selection of units near campus. Last-minute searchers can still find openings in the summer, but competition from other students and local renters means quality options diminish as the semester start approaches.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with La Salle University before signing a lease.
When to Start Looking for Housing Near La Salle University
Early Searchers
Students hoping to secure the best off-campus housing near La Salle University should begin looking as early as January or February for a fall move-in. The rental market in northwest Philadelphia is active but not as compressed as in some other parts of the city, and early searchers can take their time touring properties, comparing prices, and reviewing lease terms without feeling rushed. Getting organized early also allows students to line up roommates and calculate realistic budgets before committing.
Peak Demand Window
Demand for student-friendly rentals near La Salle peaks in March and April, when most students who plan to move off campus in the fall are actively signing leases. Row homes and apartments within walking distance of campus or with convenient access to the Broad Street Line tend to go fastest during this period. Students who delay until May or June will find fewer choices and may need to consider neighborhoods slightly farther from campus or less convenient transit routes.
Last-Minute Options
Students who are still searching in July or August should use online rental platforms, reach out to local property management companies that operate in northwest Philadelphia, and check community boards and La Salle's off-campus housing resources. Some landlords in the area list units late due to unexpected vacancies, and the broader Philadelphia market means options rarely dry up entirely. Being flexible about unit size, exact location, and move-in date can help students find workable housing even close to the semester start.
Neighborhoods Near La Salle University
Germantown
The historic Germantown neighborhood directly surrounding La Salle offers walkable access to campus with a mix of rental row homes and apartments at prices well below Center City, plus a growing number of local restaurants and cafes.
Olney
Olney is a densely populated neighborhood just east of campus with excellent SEPTA bus connections and a lively commercial corridor along 5th Street, making it a practical choice for students who rely on transit.
Logan
Logan sits to the south and offers affordable row home rentals with straightforward bus access back to campus, appealing to students looking for a quieter residential setting at a lower price point.
East Oak Lane
East Oak Lane is a largely residential neighborhood northeast of campus with tree-lined streets and a mix of rental housing options, popular with students who want a calmer environment within biking distance of La Salle.
Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Campus Housing Near La Salle University
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Rent in the northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods surrounding La Salle is moderate by city standards. A room in a shared row home or house typically runs from about $600 to $950 per month, while a one-bedroom apartment can range from roughly $900 to $1,300 depending on the block and condition of the unit. Costs are generally lower than in neighborhoods closer to Center City or University City.
More Housing Near La Salle University
Search by Room Type
Search by Lifestyle
Other Universities in Philadelphia
Other universities in Philadelphia share a similar off-campus housing market.
Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is the largest community college in Pennsylvania, serving students from its main campus at 1700 Spring Garden Street in the Fairmount neighborhood. Founded in 1964, CCP sits within walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The college offers…
View housing near Community College of PhiladelphiaDrexel University
Drexel University is a large private research university in Philadelphia's University City neighborhood, on Chestnut Street near the Schuylkill River. With roughly 24,000 students and a flagship cooperative education program that rotates undergraduates through paid work placements, Drexel runs on a schedule unlike most…
View housing near Drexel UniversityHoly Family University
Holy Family University is a small Catholic school of about 3,087 students tucked into the Torresdale neighborhood of Far Northeast Philadelphia, a wooded pocket along the Delaware River. It's a heavily commuter campus, so the rhythm is calmer than a big-city college: leafy streets, single homes, and parks rather than…
View housing near Holy Family UniversityJNA Institute of Culinary Arts
JNA Institute of Culinary Arts is a small, specialized culinary school located at 1212 S Broad St in the heart of South Philadelphia, offering hands-on professional training in culinary arts and pastry arts. With an enrollment of roughly 150 students, JNA provides an intimate learning environment where students work…
View housing near JNA Institute of Culinary ArtsMoore College of Art and Design
Moore College of Art and Design is a private women's art and design college located at 1916 Race St in Philadelphia's Logan Square neighborhood, steps from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With an enrollment of roughly 500 students, Moore offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fine arts, illustration, graphic…
View housing near Moore College of Art and DesignPeirce College
Peirce College is a small, private institution in Center City Philadelphia dedicated to providing accessible higher education to working adults and nontraditional students. Founded in 1865, Peirce focuses on career-relevant programs in business, technology, and legal studies, enrolling approximately 1,000 students who…
View housing near Peirce CollegePennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is one of the oldest and most respected art schools and museums in the United States, founded in 1805 and located in Center City Philadelphia at Broad and Cherry Streets. PAFA enrolls a small undergraduate student body of approximately 300 students pursuing the Bachelor…
View housing near Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPhiladelphia University
Philadelphia University, now the East Falls campus of Thomas Jefferson University following the 2017 merger, sits on a scenic 100-acre hilltop at 4201 Henry Ave in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. The campus is celebrated for its professional programs in fashion design, architecture, textile design, and…
View housing near Philadelphia UniversityTemple University
Temple University packs about 37,000 Owls into a Main Campus that sits right in North Philadelphia along North Broad Street, with no walls or gates separating it from the city. That's the whole vibe: you're not in a college bubble, you're in Philly. The Broad Street Line subway stops at campus, so the entire city is a…
View housing near TempleThe Art Institute of Philadelphia
The Art Institute of Philadelphia was a private art and design college located at 1622 Chestnut St in Philadelphia, PA, operated by Education Management Corporation. The school permanently closed in April 2018 following the collapse of EDMC, which had faced years of federal scrutiny and enrollment decline. Students who…
View housing near The Art Institute of Philadelphiafind my place guides for La Salle University
Curated recommendations from students who’ve been there.
See how students rate the places near La Salle University on social life, management, and quality before you tour.
Read student housing reviews near La Salle University →