Off-Campus Housing Near Moore College of Art and Design
About Off-Campus Housing Near Moore 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 design, fashion design, and interior design, among other disciplines. The college's small size and specialized focus attract students seeking an immersive creative education in one of the country's top art cities. Most students live off campus in the surrounding Fairmount, Brewerytown, and Francisville neighborhoods, which offer a mix of historic rowhouses, renovated apartments, and newer construction at varying price points. The campus is well served by SEPTA bus and rail lines, making Philadelphia's broader rental market accessible to students across a range of budgets.
Moore College of Art and Design Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Moore College of Art and Design does not enforce a universal freshman live-on requirement, and the college operates limited on-campus housing capacity for its small student body of roughly 500 students. Incoming students are encouraged to apply for on-campus housing early, but many first-year students rent privately in the surrounding Philadelphia neighborhoods. Availability in college-managed housing is not guaranteed, so having an off-campus plan ready is advisable.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Students who do not secure a spot in Moore's on-campus housing or who prefer independent living may rent freely in Philadelphia. The Logan Square and Fairmount neighborhoods surrounding the campus on Race Street are well served by public transit and walkable to the college's facilities. There are no academic standing requirements restricting off-campus eligibility.
Lease Timing
Philadelphia landlords in the Fairmount, Brewerytown, and Francisville areas typically list apartments for the following September starting in January. Students should aim to tour and sign leases by March or April to access the widest selection. Leases in these neighborhoods most commonly run 12 months from September 1, aligning well with Moore's academic calendar.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Moore College of Art and Design before signing a lease.
When to Start Looking for Housing Near Moore College of Art and Design
Early Searchers
Students planning to rent near Moore College should start their search in January for a fall move-in, as desirable units in the Fairmount and Art Museum neighborhoods are competitive. The area appeals to a wide range of Philadelphia renters, not just students, so inventory moves quickly once listed. Beginning early allows you to identify buildings that are art-student friendly, offer month-to-month flexibility, or permit studio use in the unit.
Peak Demand Window
February through April represents the busiest leasing period in the Logan Square and Fairmount area as University of the Arts, Temple, and Drexel students also compete for Philadelphia rentals. One-bedroom apartments in walkable Art Museum area blocks can go under contract within days of listing during this window. Plan to have your budget finalized, a co-signer ready if needed, and documents prepared so you can move quickly when the right unit appears.
Last-Minute Options
Philadelphia has one of the larger urban rental markets on the East Coast, so units do appear in Brewerytown, Francisville, and North Philadelphia into July and August. Students who miss the spring signing window should widen their neighborhood search and consider areas one or two SEPTA stops from campus such as Spring Garden or Callowhill. Summer sublets from other college students are also common and can bridge the gap until a longer lease is available.
Neighborhoods Near Moore College of Art and Design
Fairmount
Fairmount is the closest walkable neighborhood to Moore's campus on Race Street, offering tree-lined blocks of rowhouses and low-rise apartment buildings. The area is safe, well maintained, and popular with young professionals and graduate students, making it a natural fit for Moore students.
Brewerytown
Brewerytown lies just northwest of Fairmount and has seen significant investment over the past decade, bringing new apartments and renovated rowhouses at relatively affordable rents. Students appreciate the neighborhood's proximity to Girard Avenue transit and the short bike ride to campus.
Francisville
Francisville sits north of Fairmount and offers some of the more affordable rental options within a 15-minute walk of Moore. The neighborhood has a mix of older rowhomes and newer construction units and connects easily to Broad Street subway access.
Art Museum Area
The blocks immediately surrounding the Philadelphia Museum of Art are highly walkable and put students steps from cultural institutions that complement a Moore education. Rents here are on the higher end, but the convenience and creative atmosphere make it a popular choice for upperclassmen.
Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Campus Housing Near Moore College of Art and Design
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Rent in the Fairmount and Art Museum neighborhoods near Moore typically ranges from $1,200 to $1,800 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. Brewerytown and Francisville offer somewhat lower rents, often $1,000 to $1,400 for a comparable unit. Sharing a two-bedroom with a roommate can bring individual costs down to $700 to $950 per month in many of these neighborhoods.
More Housing Near Moore College of Art and Design
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 ArtsLa 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…
View housing near La Salle UniversityPeirce 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 Moore College of Art and Design
Curated recommendations from students who’ve been there.
See how students rate the places near Moore College of Art and Design on social life, management, and quality before you tour.
Read student housing reviews near Moore College of Art and Design →