Loading listings
San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas, home to roughly 1.4 million residents and a diverse economy anchored by military installations, healthcare, tourism, and a growing technology sector. The city hosts several major universities including UTSA, Trinity University, St. Mary's University, and the University of the Incarnate Word, creating a large and active student rental market. San Antonio's cost of living remains below the national average, and neighborhoods range from walkable urban districts near downtown to expansive suburban communities in the northwest, offering students a wide range of housing options.
Established inner-loop neighborhoods popular with graduate students and young professionals, with tree-lined streets and proximity to downtown.
A walkable, arts-oriented urban environment close to the River Walk, popular with Trinity and UIW students.
Near Loop 1604, the most convenient options for UTSA students, with a dense concentration of apartments and retail.
Along Interstate 10 West, suiting students at health-focused institutions and those in clinical rotations.
Modern apartments with suburban amenities at competitive rents, though commutes can be longer.
Here's what you need to know about getting around San Antonio.
VIA Metropolitan Transit operates an extensive bus network covering most of San Antonio, including routes that connect major university campuses to residential neighborhoods and employment centers. The VIA Primo bus rapid transit line runs along major corridors and offers faster service with dedicated stops and real-time arrival information. While transit is usable for many trips, headways can be long in outer neighborhoods, and most students find that bus service alone does not fully meet their daily transportation needs.
Downtown San Antonio and the River Walk area are highly walkable, and the urban core supports cycling through a network of protected lanes and shared paths along greenways. Neighborhoods closer to university campuses in the northwest, such as those near UTSA and the Medical Center, are more suburban in character and less friendly to walking and biking as a primary mode of transport. The San Antonio B-cycle bikeshare program offers affordable short-trip options in central neighborhoods, and the Leon Creek and Salado Creek greenways provide off-road cycling routes for recreation and commuting.
Parking in San Antonio is generally plentiful and affordable compared to other large Texas cities, with most apartment complexes offering one or more spaces per unit at no additional cost. Street parking is available in most residential neighborhoods, though downtown and near the River Walk it can be limited and metered. Students with vehicles will find that most university campuses, shopping centers, and major employers provide dedicated parking lots, making car ownership a practical and common choice.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
San Antonio is home to several universities including UTSA, Trinity University, St. Mary's University, the University of the Incarnate Word, and Our Lady of the Lake University. The city also has a significant community college presence through Alamo Colleges District, which serves tens of thousands of students annually.
Browse student housing near each San Antonio-area university.