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St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public regional university located at 720 4th Ave S in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the largest city in central Minnesota with a population of approximately 70,000. Founded in 1869, SCSU is part of the Minnesota State system and enrolls approximately 10,000 to 12,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs in fields ranging from business and education to STEM and the arts. The university occupies a prominent campus on the west bank of the Mississippi River on the south side of St. Cloud, within walking distance of downtown. St. Cloud's rental market is active and student-focused, with a wide range of apartments and houses available at prices considerably lower than the Twin Cities metro area.
St. Cloud State University generally encourages first-year students to live on campus and has historically required or strongly recommended it for certain incoming student populations, though specific policies can vary by year and program. Students should confirm current live-on requirements directly with SCSU Housing and Residential Life before committing to off-campus housing for their first year. Those exempt from any live-on requirement or entering as transfer or upper-division students are free to rent in the surrounding St. Cloud market.
Sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate students are fully eligible to live off campus and represent the majority of SCSU's off-campus rental population. The neighborhoods immediately surrounding the south-side campus - particularly along 1st and 2nd Avenue South - are densely populated with student renters. Property managers in these areas are experienced with student leases and typically offer 9- to 12-month lease options aligned with the academic calendar.
The St. Cloud student rental market follows a cycle similar to larger Minnesota university markets, with the best units leasing in December and January for the following fall. Students who begin their search in November or December will have the strongest selection of well-located, reasonably priced apartments near campus. Waiting until March or April is still workable but means competing for a narrower pool of remaining units, especially in the blocks closest to SCSU.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with St. Cloud State University before signing a lease.
Students who begin apartment hunting in November or December will find the largest inventory of available units in the neighborhoods closest to SCSU, including the high-demand blocks along 1st and 2nd Avenue South near campus. Landlords in the St. Cloud student market often begin signing leases for the following fall as early as December, and the best-maintained, best-located properties fill first. Early searching also allows students to tour multiple units, negotiate lease terms, and coordinate with roommates without the pressure of a shrinking pool of options.
January through March represents the peak demand window in St. Cloud's student rental market, as the bulk of SCSU students actively searching for fall housing are competing simultaneously. Well-priced two- and three-bedroom apartments within a short walk of campus tend to be signed during this period, and students who delay past February may find that preferred properties are already committed. Having a list of target properties and being ready to apply quickly, with references and financial documentation prepared in advance, is important for success during this window.
Students searching for housing in April or later will find fewer options near campus, but St. Cloud's overall rental market remains active through the summer as the city's broader population also turns over housing. New listings appear regularly on local platforms and through SCSU's off-campus housing resources, and some landlords hold units for late-deciding students. Furnished rooms and short-term sublets from students studying abroad or graduating early are another avenue worth exploring for last-minute searchers.
Along 1st and 2nd Avenue South and the streets between campus and downtown, the most popular area with the shortest walk to classes.
A dense mix of apartment buildings, duplexes, and student houses, many within a 5- to 15-minute walk of main campus buildings.
Just north across the river, with newer apartment developments, restaurants, and transit for students who prefer an urban environment.
Quieter suburban-style living farther south and east, with lower rents and easy car or bus access to SCSU.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
SCSU has historically encouraged or required first-year students to live on campus through its residential learning communities, though specific requirements can vary by year and program. Students should check directly with SCSU Housing and Residential Life for the current policy before signing an off-campus lease.