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Seattle is one of the most expensive student housing markets in the country, home to the University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific, and numerous graduate programs at a city that has seen its rents driven upward by the tech industry for over a decade. UW's campus in the University District on the north end of the city is a classic student neighborhood, and the UW light rail station makes getting to downtown quick without a car. The overall market is extremely competitive — the University District fills by December for the following fall, and rents near campus regularly exceed $1,400/mo per person for shared units.
UW's neighborhood — The Ave is the commercial spine, dense with apartment buildings and student-oriented businesses. Expensive and fills early. Walkable to campus and connected to downtown by light rail.
South of UW via light rail, with the best nightlife and walkability in Seattle. Higher rents but excellent neighborhood character. Popular with graduate students and older undergrads who do not need to be on campus daily.
Between UW and downtown, with a residential feel and local restaurant culture. More affordable than Capitol Hill and the U-District for comparable units. Bikeable to campus.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Seattle.
Sound Transit Link Light Rail is Seattle's best asset for students — the University District station puts campus 10 minutes from downtown and Capitol Hill. King County Metro buses provide extensive coverage. The combination of rail and bus makes car-free living highly viable for students near transit.
The U-District and Capitol Hill are both walkable and bikeable. The Burke-Gilman Trail is one of the best urban bike paths in the country — it runs directly along the north edge of UW's campus and connects to neighborhoods in both directions. Seattle's bike infrastructure has improved dramatically. The hills require some adjustment, but most student corridors are manageable.
On-campus parking is very expensive and limited. U-District street parking is contested during school hours. Most UW students use the light rail and bus or bike. Having a car in Seattle adds significant cost without much daily benefit for most students.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Seattle is among the most expensive student markets in the country. The U-District runs $1,200-$1,800/mo per person for shared units. Capitol Hill and Wallingford are comparable or slightly lower. Tech-industry demand has driven rents to levels that rival San Francisco for some neighborhoods.
Browse student housing near each Seattle-area university.