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South Hills School of Business and Technology is a small private postsecondary institution at 480 Waupelani Drive in State College, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1962, South Hills offers career-oriented programs in business, healthcare, legal studies, and technology for approximately 500 to 1,000 students. State College is a dynamic college town in Centre County best known as the home of Penn State University, which enrolls around 45,000 students and dominates the local housing market. South Hills students rent alongside this much larger Penn State population and compete for the same apartments and houses throughout the borough. Starting the housing search early is essential in one of Pennsylvania's most active college rental markets.
South Hills School of Business and Technology does not operate residential housing and has no live-on requirement for any students. The school is a commuter-friendly career institution, and all students are expected to arrange their own housing before enrollment begins. Incoming students new to State College should begin researching the local rental market well in advance of their start date.
All South Hills students are eligible to rent anywhere in the State College area from the time they enroll. Common choices include the borough of State College itself, as well as adjacent communities such as Bellefonte, Boalsburg, and Patton Township. Students who prefer lower rents and are comfortable commuting by car or bus will find more affordable options in surrounding townships and smaller communities within a 10 to 20 minute drive.
The State College rental market operates on an unusually aggressive timeline driven almost entirely by Penn State's massive student population. The majority of well-located apartments and houses in the borough are leased by October or November for the following August occupancy - more than nine months in advance. South Hills students must treat this same timeline as their own reality and begin searching in September or October to have a competitive chance at quality housing near campus or on a CATA bus route.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with South Hills School of Business and Technology before signing a lease.
In State College, early means September or October of the year before you intend to move in. Penn State's 45,000 students begin signing leases for the following fall almost immediately after returning from summer, and the ripple effect tightens availability across the entire borough. South Hills students who start in January should ideally have begun their housing search the previous fall, while those starting in August should begin looking no later than the previous October to have a genuine selection of quality options.
November through January is when the State College rental market reaches maximum competition. Landlords receive multiple applications for single units within days of listing, and many properties never make it to public advertising because of repeat tenants or referral chains. Students searching during this window should be prepared to make quick decisions, have application materials ready, and have a guarantor or co-signer confirmed if required by landlords in this market.
Students searching for housing in State College after February will find very limited options within the borough itself. The most viable late-search strategy is to look in adjacent areas such as Bellefonte, Boalsburg, and the State College suburbs in Patton Township, where turnover is somewhat less Penn State-driven. Sublease opportunities from Penn State students studying abroad in spring or doing summer internships can also appear in April and May, often at favorable rates for a motivated renter willing to act quickly.
Around Beaver Avenue, College Avenue, and Calder Way near Penn State, with the highest rents and fiercest competition.
The Highlands neighborhood, Blue Course Drive, and the Corl Street and Westerly Parkway areas offer better value with houses and garden apartments.
Bordering the borough to the west and north, with a larger supply of apartment complexes, lower rents, and good CATA bus access.
A short drive away, the most affordable options, about 12 miles northeast or a few miles east on Route 322.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
No. South Hills does not offer on-campus or affiliated housing. All students must find private rentals in State College or the surrounding communities before their program begins.