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Penn State UniversityUniversity Park, PAUpdated Monthly
By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed October 1, 2026
The Heights at State College leads our October 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near Penn State University with a 5.0/5 FMP Score, followed by the co.space and Meridian on College Avenue. Across the 14 properties reviewed, students keep coming back to amenities & shared spaces and management & maintenance: the overall signals that move a property up this ranking. Browse all off-campus housing near Penn State University for every option.
Sorted by FMP Score from verified Penn State University reviews, high to low. Scores reflect current Penn State University reviews only.
why it ranked: The top overall pick near Penn State University, at 5.0/5 from verified reviews. I lived here for 2 years and really enjoyed my apartment. Getting to class with the buses was simple and easy, and for the nicer days, there is a walking/biking trail that goes all the way…
why it ranked: A podium finish for overall near Penn State University, 5.0/5 from verified reviews. Greatest place on earth
why it ranked: Meridian on College Avenue stands out as the complete package for Penn State students: genuinely responsive management paired with solid apartments and a real sense of community. Residents consistently praise the staff's exceptional responsiveness (maintenance issues resolved within 24 hours), the soundproof walls that actually let you live in peace, and the fun community events that build real connections. As one long-term resident put it, "the staff here is outstanding" and "maintenance issues are resolved within 24 hours regardless of the situation." The parking costs a bit more than some options, but you're paying for reliability and people who actually care.
why it ranked: The Legacy at State College earns its ranking through a combination of thoughtful management, genuinely spacious apartments, and staff who go the extra mile. Students rave about the well-maintained building, the practical layout of units, and front desk staff like Megan and Issiaka who actually remember your name and help you solve problems. As one resident shared, "The front desk staff, particularly Megan and Issiaka are so receptive and willing to help. They always have a great attitude and go above and beyond." The location near campus is genuinely unbeatable, and the community vibe makes off-campus living feel less like a transaction and more like home.
why it ranked: Holds a 4.2/5 overall score from verified Penn State University reviews. Karina was an excellent help over the three years I was with the property. Maintenance was friendly and timely
why it ranked: Farmstead Townhomes delivers the quiet, well-maintained living space that students seek when they're ready to escape dorm chaos. The community sits in a genuinely nice location near the walking trail, maintenance is responsive and friendly, and pet policies won't break the bank. One resident noted that "the Office and Maintenance teams are helpful in ensuring any pressing issues related to the apartment and community are taken care of," and the nearby CATA bus stop makes getting to campus straightforward. It's the kind of place where you can actually focus on your studies without drama.
why it ranked: Holds a 3.4/5 overall score from verified Penn State University reviews. I'm an international student preparing to move in, and The Brexx (especially Maeve!) have been SO helpful and made this process…
why it ranked: Executive House Apartments proves that you don't need luxury amenities to have a genuinely great housing experience near Penn State. What sets it apart is the unbeatable affordability combined with a management and maintenance team that actually cares about making your life easier. Residents consistently highlight the friendly office staff, responsive maintenance, and the real value you get for your money, plus thoughtful touches like a cozy balcony. As one satisfied resident put it, "It is by far the most affordable housing in state college and the value I got was really great." If you're looking to stretch your budget without sacrificing quality of life, this is where you land.
why it ranked: Park Forest Apartments stands out for its genuinely responsive management and maintenance team that students consistently trust to get things done right. Residents rave about how quickly the property managers and maintenance staff respond to requests, with one noting they're "quick when you need assistance" and handle everything from pet-related concerns to snow removal with professionalism. The quiet, peaceful atmosphere and convenient location near Tudek Park make it feel like a real home base. As one long-term resident put it, "I've never had a management team this reliable and responsive." While the building shows its age, the people running it more than make up for it.
why it ranked: Holds a 2.8/5 overall score from verified Penn State University reviews. Un lugar muy moderno bonito con unos espacios habitaciones grandes yespaciosas
why it ranked: The Pointe State College struggles with inconsistent maintenance execution and communication that leaves residents frustrated and uncertain. When maintenance does show up, the work is sometimes solid, but chronic issues like recurring clogs and broken appliances drag on without clear timelines or proper fixes. The lack of transparency about when staff will arrive and their tendency to improvise with residents' own supplies only compounds the problem. One frustrated tenant captured the core issue: "Maintenance requests are frustratingly slow, and issues that should be simple often take way too long to get resolved." Until management tightens up its response protocols, this property remains a gamble.
why it ranked: Holds a 1.8/5 overall score from verified Penn State University reviews. This place has improved a ton! great staff and the property is getting better weekly!
| 1 | The Heights at State College | 5.0/5 | 5 | – | $940/mo |
| 2 | the co.space | 5.0/5 | 5 | – | $875/mo |
| 3 | Meridian on College Avenue | 4.6/5 | 5 | – | $765/mo |
| 4 | The Legacy at State College | 4.2/5 | 5 | – | $1046/mo |
| 5 | Westside Village Apartments | 4.2/5 | 5 | – | $745/mo |
| 6 | Farmstead Townhomes | 4.0/5 | 5 | – | $1425/mo |
| 7 | The Brexx at State College | 3.4/5 | 5 | – | $799/mo |
| 8 | Executive House Apartments | 3.4/5 | 5 | – | $950/mo |
| 9 | Park Forest Apartments | 3.2/5 | 5 | – | $930/mo |
| 10 | Haus State College | 2.8/5 | 5 | – | $1054/mo |
| 11 | The Pointe State College | 1.8/5 | 5 | – | $799/mo |
| 12 | Alight State College | 1.8/5 | 5 | – | $549/mo |
Walk times are door-to-door to Penn State University campus. Rent is per person, per month.
FMP Score, high to low. That’s the whole ranking. It’s our overall measure of a property, combining verified review scores with signals reviews miss, like how current the listing is kept and how responsive management is. Ties go to the property with more verified reviews.
Every property near Penn State University can appear, but it takes a minimum number of verified reviews before we score and rank it. Properties under that bar sit below every ranked property and move up automatically as reviews come in.
The FMP Score blends the social, management, and quality scores from verified reviews with signals that a place is actively and well run, like how up to date its listing is kept and how consistently management responds to residents. It’s built to surface genuinely well-run properties, not just the highest raw review average.
We ran every verified overall review for Penn State University-area apartments through theme analysis. These are the themes students bring up most when a place feels well-rounded, by share of the reviews that mention them.
Based on AI analysis of verified Penn State University overall reviews, refreshed monthly. Percentages show the share of reviews that mention each theme; most reviews mention more than one. See our complete Penn State University review data →
each fmp ranking re-ranks the same properties by a different lens (management and quality among them) and keeps its own list, refreshed monthly.
The most active social scenes: shared spaces, resident events, and roommate matching, scored from verified reviews.
see the ranking →The most responsive, reliable landlords: maintenance turnaround, lease transparency, and deposit fairness.
see the ranking →The best unit and building quality: condition, upkeep, and amenities, scored from verified reviews.
see the ranking →The Heights at State College leads our October 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near Penn State University with a 5.0/5 FMP Score, followed by the co.space and Meridian on College Avenue.
This list is ranked by one number: each property's overall score from verified reviews. Students rate a property's overall 1 to 5, and we average those scores, counting recent reviews more heavily than older ones. No self-reported data from landlords.
The best overall apartments score highly across everything students rate (social scene, management, and unit quality), not just one. This ranking uses each property's overall rating from verified reviews.
Monthly. We re-pull verified reviews and re-score every property at the start of each month, so the order reflects the most recent 24 months of student feedback. The “updated” date at the top of the page shows the latest refresh.
There's a minimum number of verified reviews to rank by score, and we don't publish the exact bar so it can't be gamed. Properties under it still appear, below every qualified property and ordered by review count, so a 5.0 from one review never outranks a 4.5 from thirty. Once a property collects enough reviews, it moves into the scored ranking automatically.
It's fully independent. There's no pay-to-rank. Position is set by verified reviews alone. Property managers can't buy placement, remove reviews, or influence the score.
If your property is on this ranking, you've earned an FMP Award. Reach out and we'll set you up with the official badge for your website, social, and print, free. It's how renters know your ranking is real.
student apartments near Penn State University
