LandlordsStudents
A white two-story apartment building on Mesa College Dr features a red tile roof, arched balcony details, large windows, leafy trees, Bird of Paradise plants, and neatly landscaped greenery under a clear blue sky.

$2,595+/unit

Fees may apply

7366 Mesa College Dr

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Two cars are parked on a residential street in front of a landscaped area with bushes and trees at 7798 Starling Dr. Behind them are two-story beige buildings with red-tiled roofs under a clear blue sky.

$1,650+/unit

Fees may apply

7798 Starling Dr

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Modern outdoor pool area at 9870 Carroll Canyon Rd with lounge chairs and blue umbrellas, a rectangular fire pit in the foreground, and a contemporary building with large windows in the background at sunset.

$1,295/unit

Fees may apply

9870 Carroll Canyon Rd

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AMLI Aero

$2,939+/unit

Fees may apply

AMLI Aero

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A two-story building with a dark blue exterior, large orange arch designs on its walls, and the number 3187 displayed beside a gated entry, surrounded by dry landscaping and a clear blue sky.

$1,995/unit

Fees may apply

Ashford

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A courtyard at Astro Vista Apartments lies between two parallel, two-story buildings with staircases, railings, and artificial green grass on each side of a brick walkway, photographed on a sunny day.

$1,550+/unit

Fees may apply

Astro Vista Apartments

3.2 (5)
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Modern mid-rise apartment building with balconies, named Atlas Alvarado, at sunset. Two parked cars and a person walking on the sidewalk are visible in front of the building, with landscaped greenery around.

$2,624+/unit

Fees may apply

Atlas Alvarado

5.0 (5)
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An apartment building with two stories features balconies, exterior staircases, and several doors. A white SUV and a white van are parked in front, with trees and greenery surrounding the area.

$1,999/unit

Fees may apply

Auburn 2019

5.0 (1)
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A two-story blue house at Aztec Lofts Apartments features a Now Leasing! sign, vibrant pink flowers, and tall trees. A driveway leads to the home with a parked car on the right under a clear, sunny sky.

$1,995/unit

Fees may apply

Aztec Lofts Apartments

4.0 (5)
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Aztec Pacific Apartments features a bright yellow and teal exterior, surrounded by palm trees and landscaped plants, with a large green sign showcasing the Aztec Pacific Apartments name out front.

$1,895+/unit

Fees may apply

Aztec Pacific Apartments

5.0 (5)
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A sunny apartment complex with beige buildings, greenery, and flowering trees at Canyon View Apartments. The text “Peaceful Surroundings…” is written in cursive at the top right of the image.

$2,800/unit

Fees may apply

Canyon View Apartments

3.4 (5)
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A modern, multi-story apartment building with tan and white stucco exterior, arched balconies, and large windows—Cerca Student Housing—surrounded by small trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

$915+/unit

Fees may apply

Cerca Student Housing

4.0 (5)
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$1,580+/unit

Fees may apply

College View

1.8 (5)
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College View Apartments is a modern complex featuring a rooftop swimming pool, lounge chairs, and blue umbrellas. The several-story buildings have large windows and glowing outdoor lighting, creating an inviting atmosphere at dusk.

$1,890+/unit

Fees may apply

College View Apartments

2.6 (5)
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The Courtyard on 68th is a two-story apartment complex with beige walls and brown doors surrounding a small outdoor pool. Patio chairs line the pool area, and an exterior staircase leads to the upper rental level beneath clear, wispy clouds.

$2,300/unit

Fees may apply

Courtyard on 68th

1.8 (5)
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Diplomat Apartments

$2,385+/unit

Fees may apply

Diplomat Apartments

5.0 (1)
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A clear blue swimming pool at Dorado Plaza is surrounded by a concrete deck and lounge chairs, with a black metal fence and two-story tan apartment buildings in the background under a bright blue sky dotted with palm trees.

$2,020+/unit

Fees may apply

Dorado Plaza

2.2 (5)
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Dorchester Apartments

$1,985+/unit

Fees may apply

Dorchester Apartments

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Two modern, white apartment buildings with palm trees in front, separated by a walkway and connected by open-air corridors, under a blue sky.

$3,150+/unit

Fees may apply

Dunlop 15

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A modern multi-story apartment complex with white and yellow accents is situated at a street intersection with cars parked along the roads; the cityscape and blue sky are visible in the background.

$2,400+/unit

Fees may apply

Dunlop 28

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Gold Coast Apartments

$2,350+/unit

Fees may apply

Gold Coast Apartments

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About Student Housing in San Diego

San Diego has one of the most geographically spread-out student housing markets in California — UCSD is in La Jolla, San Diego State is in Aztec territory east of Mission Valley, USD is on a hill in Linda Vista, and CSUSM is 40 miles north in San Marcos. Each campus has its own orbit of student housing with different price points and characters. The overall market is expensive, competitive, and extremely weather-dependent (everyone wants to live here). La Jolla and University City dominate the UCSD market; College Area concentrates around SDSU; and Mission Valley and North Park serve students at multiple schools.

Best Neighborhoods for Students in San Diego

University City / La Jolla (Near UCSD)

The primary UCSD student zone — trolley-connected to campus, dense with apartments, and within the fog belt that keeps La Jolla cool. Very expensive. Fills early.

College Area (Near SDSU)

Dense student housing east of Mission Valley, walking distance to SDSU's Aztec campus. More affordable than La Jolla. The trolley Blue Line connects College Area to downtown and Tijuana.

North Park / South Park

Between SDSU and downtown, with genuine neighborhood character, walkable commercial strips, and transit connections to multiple campuses. Popular with upperclassmen who want quality of life over raw proximity.

Getting Around San Diego as a Student

Here's what you need to know about getting around San Diego.

Public Transit

The San Diego Trolley (MTS) is the student transit backbone — the Blue Line runs from SDSU through downtown to the border, and the UCSD Blue Line extension reaches the university from downtown. Buses fill in gaps. For students near trolley stations, car-free commuting is realistic.

Walking and Biking

University City and La Jolla are walkable within their zones. College Area near SDSU is compact and bikeable. North Park and Normal Heights have the best walkability for daily life. The coast and canyon system makes recreational biking excellent; commute biking requires more planning given San Diego's hilly terrain.

Parking

UCSD and SDSU parking are both limited and require permits. La Jolla street parking is contested. College Area is more permissive. Most students near trolley lines adapt to transit rather than fighting the parking situation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Student Housing in San Diego

Common questions from students searching for housing.

San Diego is expensive. Near UCSD in University City or La Jolla, shared units run $1,200-$1,800/mo per person. College Area near SDSU is more affordable at $900-$1,300/mo. North Park and Mission Valley split the difference. Expect to pay more than you planned.

Find Housing by University in San Diego

Browse student housing near each San Diego-area university.

San Diego Community College DistrictSan Diego, CASan Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA

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