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The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near PSU (September 2026)

Portland State University·Portland, OR·Updated Monthly

By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed September 1, 2026

146 properties reviewed
718+ reviews analyzed
updated September 2026
independent·no pay-to-rank
the short answer

LL Hawkins leads our September 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near PSU with a 5.0/5 FMP Score, followed by Millhouse and Slabtown Square. Across the 146 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 Portland State University for every option.

  • winnerLL Hawkins
  • FMP Score range5.0 / 5
  • avg walk33 min to campus
  • rent range$1300–$4746 /person
the ranking

The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near PSU

Sorted by FMP Score from verified PSU reviews, high to low. Scores reflect current PSU reviews only.

  1. LL Hawkins
    5.0(7 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: LL Hawkins stands out as the top overall choice near PSU for combining genuine safety, beautiful design, and staff who actually care. Students and residents rave about the competitive rent, floor-to-ceiling windows that flood units with natural light, and secured garage parking that makes city living feel secure. The leasing team especially Abbey and PJ consistently go above and beyond, handling everything from delayed flights to sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism. As one resident shared, Abbey "dealt with it in such an empathetic, professional and caring way while still sticking to the apartment rules." This is the place where you feel both at home and genuinely looked after.

    42 min walk to PSU$1719/person/mo
  2. Millhouse
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Millhouse earns its rank through exceptional staff who treat residents like neighbors, not just lease holders. The building delivers high-end finishes, a beautiful on-site gym, and a top-floor lounge perfect for studying or unwinding, but it's the team Drew, Draven, Susie, and Katherine who make it special. Residents consistently praise how the staff goes out of their way during move-in, reserves elevators, and remembers your name long after you've signed the lease. One resident captured it perfectly: "The team balances the business of running an apartment building with the energy and passion of truly being a neighbor and friend." You're not just renting an apartment; you're joining a community that genuinely has your back.

    43 min walk to PSU$1445/person/mo
  3. Slabtown Square
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Slabtown Square stands out for its thoughtful design, walkable neighborhood, and a leasing team that makes relocating feel effortless. The building itself is gorgeous with live plants throughout, great amenities, and a prime location near shopping, food, and nature plus the new northwest library right next door. But what really sets it apart is the care from staff like Kendra, Emily, and Megan, who handle everything from cross-country moves to unexpected bumps with genuine kindness. As one resident noted, Emily and Kendra "patiently answered all of my questions, helped me navigate a few unexpected bumps, and made sure I was settled once I arrived." The community here is tight-knit and welcoming in a way that makes you feel like you belong from day one.

    41 min walk to PSU$1393/person/mo
  4. Reveal Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Reveal Apartments delivers outstanding value in the Pearl District with spacious units, huge closets, beautiful finishes, and a roster of amenities rooftop, gym, game room, gas grills that make apartment living feel elevated. The maintenance team is quick and reliable, and the location offers excellent walkability to restaurants and shops. What truly sets Reveal apart is the warmth of the staff: Nicole, Heidi, and Radolpho create an atmosphere so genuine that even house guests leave five-star reviews. As one visitor put it, "I have never experienced more kind, joyful, and dedicated customer service." Community events like bingo night and the staff's consistent friendliness make this feel less like a building and more like a home where people actually want to be.

    41 min walk to PSU$1444/person/mo
  5. The Collective on 4th
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Collective on 4th stands out as a top overall choice near PSU thanks to its blend of modern style, thoughtful amenities, and genuinely invested management. Residents consistently praise the in-unit washer and dryer, built-in WiFi routers, and dishwashers, plus the pet-friendly vibe that lets dogs roam and cats claim their window spots. The leasing team especially Chelsey, Sadie, and MacKenzie earns repeated praise for responsiveness and care; as one long-term resident put it, 'The apartment and building is fantastic overall - modern, stylish, quirky, top notch amenities.' Corner units with 180-degree city and mountain views are the cherry on top.

    9 min walk to PSU$1300/person/mo
  6. Harrison Tower Apartment Homes
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Harrison Tower Apartment Homes earns its rank with a management and maintenance team that actually delivers on responsiveness and genuine care. Residents highlight how quickly maintenance requests get handled and how the office staff particularly Sky stays attentive and communicative even through bigger life moments like family moves. The building itself is consistently clean and well-maintained, and the location offers views that residents genuinely love. As one family of five put it, 'The maintenance crew were faster than we have ever experienced at our previous rentals,' which says everything about the bar this property sets.

    10 min walk to PSU$1493/person/mo
  7. Saltwood
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Saltwood rises to the top overall thanks to standout office staff and amenities that actually feel special especially that one-of-a-kind spa that sets it apart from typical Portland apartments. Renee, Erin, and Danny are the backbone here, earning praise not just for speed but for genuine follow-up and patience through applications and move-ins. The building quality and aesthetic are consistently mentioned, and the dog-friendly community is clearly thriving. As one resident noted, 'Saltwood has the best office staff,' and that commitment to care extends to the maintenance crew's efficiency too.

    42 min walk to PSU$1559/person/mo
  8. The Carson
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Carson wins overall recognition by nailing the trifecta: location, community, and staff who genuinely want you to feel at home. Luke and Matea from the leasing office are repeatedly called out for warmth and patience they remember you on return visits and flex on lease details to make things work. The maintenance team matches that energy, and the building itself delivers with a stunning lobby, fireplace, and sky deck that residents actually use and love. As one recent mover said, 'From my very first tour, the staff were absolutely amazing welcoming, knowledgeable, and super helpful,' and that tone carries through the entire resident experience.

    45 min walk to PSU$1383/person/mo
  9. 5 MLK
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: 5 MLK stands out for having a maintenance and operations team that residents genuinely rave about Ramiro and Lorenzo have become the building's reputation. The leasing staff is equally warm and knowledgeable, the 24-hour concierge adds real security and peace of mind, and the rooftop with city views is a genuine draw. The building keeps its amenities and common spaces pristine even with heavy use, and the whole team feels invested in residents' satisfaction. As one resident put it, "Ramiro, the building engineer, is absolutely amazing. He is incredibly helpful, dependable, and always willing to step in for anything we need." That kind of care shows.

    35 min walk to PSU$1410/person/mo
  10. Ladd
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Ladd Apartments wins on the strength of an exceptional leasing experience that starts the moment you walk in. Sophia, the leasing agent, has earned genuine praise for turning what could be a stressful process into something smooth, efficient, and even personal she goes the extra mile with video tours and genuine problem-solving. Residents love the modern lobby, the upscale finishes, and the studio views, but it's Sophia's professionalism and warmth that sets the tone. As one resident said, "She is very efficient and always very quick to get back to me. I never had to wait long for a response, which made a huge difference throughout the leasing process." That kind of responsiveness matters.

    9 min walk to PSU$1399/person/mo
  11. The Sutton
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Sutton excels because its management team Sarah, Diana, Nikki, and others genuinely care about making residents feel at home rather than just processing transactions. The building itself is beautifully designed with a rooftop lounge overlooking the river, an excellent gym, and thoughtfully curated community events and partnerships. Residents consistently praise the personal attention and the way staff remember you and follow up, which is rare in apartment complexes. As one resident noted, "The front desk team, and Nikki and Diani, are fantastic. The level of personal attention they provide is rare for an apartment complex. It doesn't feel transactional." That human touch is what makes it feel like home.

    42 min walk to PSU$1342/person/mo
  12. Griffis South Waterfront
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Griffis South Waterfront shines for its genuinely friendly and engaged staff who make residents feel welcomed and supported from day one. Emily, Rhone, and Megan represent a team that's attentive, smart, and quick to help with anything that comes up, and the building's package system, cleanliness, and community events add real value to daily life. The location is stellar close to the river, restaurants, and the farmers market and the views are incredible. As one resident put it, "An incredible attention by Emily who is super nice, smart and very receptive. I've never had such an amazing experience with apartments ever before." The main caveat is security concerns around the garage and bike theft, which some residents have flagged.

    34 min walk to PSU$1434/person/mo

The Full Ranking, One Table

Click any column to sort. The rank stays with the property.
The full ranking of every listed apartment, sortable by any column.
1LL Hawkins5.0/5742 min$1719/mo
2Millhouse5.0/5543 min$1445/mo
3Slabtown Square5.0/5541 min$1393/mo
4Reveal Apartments5.0/5541 min$1444/mo
5The Collective on 4th5.0/559 min$1300/mo
6Harrison Tower Apartment Homes5.0/5510 min$1493/mo
7Saltwood5.0/5542 min$1559/mo
8The Carson5.0/5545 min$1383/mo
95 MLK5.0/5535 min$1410/mo
10Ladd5.0/559 min$1399/mo
11The Sutton5.0/5542 min$1342/mo
12Griffis South Waterfront5.0/5534 min$1434/mo

Walk times are door-to-door to PSU campus. Rent is per person, per month.

FMP award criteria

How We Ranked These Apartments

1

Ranked by the FMP Score

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.

2

Who Makes the List

Every property near PSU 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.

3

How We Calculate the FMP Score

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.

by the numbers

What Makes an Apartment ‘well-rounded’ Near PSU

We ran every verified overall review for PSU-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.

clean modern building
26%
responsive management and staff
26%
walkable downtown location
7%

Based on AI analysis of verified PSU overall reviews, refreshed monthly. Percentages show the share of reviews that mention each theme; most reviews mention more than one. See our complete PSU review data →

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best overall student apartment near PSU?

LL Hawkins leads our September 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near PSU with a 5.0/5 FMP Score, followed by Millhouse and Slabtown Square.

How is this ranking calculated?

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.

What makes an apartment the best overall?

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.

How often is this ranking updated?

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.

How many reviews does a property need to be included?

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.

Is this ranking independent, or can properties pay to rank higher?

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.

for property managers

Made the List? Get Your FMP Award Badge.

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Find My Place Award2026
11st place

Best Overall

student apartments near PSU

Verified & independentPortland State University · Portland, OR
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