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Terre Haute is a small city of approximately 59,000 residents situated on the eastern bank of the Wabash River in western Indiana, about 75 miles west of Indianapolis. The city serves as the home of Indiana State University, a public university with roughly 12,000 students, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a nationally recognized engineering school located on the east side of the city. This dual-university presence gives Terre Haute a college-town energy that supports a range of restaurants, coffee shops, and cultural events. The Wabash Valley's flat landscape makes biking and walking practical throughout much of the city, and Interstate 70 provides easy access to Indianapolis and to Illinois to the west. Terre Haute is one of the more affordable places to rent in Indiana, with housing costs well below those in Bloomington or West Lafayette, making it an attractive option for students and young professionals on a budget.
The residential streets directly west and southwest of the ISU campus form the primary student housing district. This area offers the shortest commutes to class and a dense concentration of rental houses and small apartment buildings at affordable prices.
The stretch of Sycamore Street running through the student quarter is lined with rental houses, casual eateries, and convenience stores. It is one of the most popular addresses for ISU juniors and seniors who want walkable access to both campus and off-campus amenities.
Wabash Avenue and the surrounding blocks form the city's entertainment district, with bars, restaurants, and concert venues clustered within a short distance of each other. Graduate students and upperclassmen who prefer a more urban feel often rent in apartments near downtown, which is about a 15-minute walk from the ISU campus.
Students who own cars and prioritize space and lower per-bedroom costs sometimes choose apartments in the eastern suburbs along US-40. Newer apartment complexes in this area offer amenities like gyms and pools at prices comparable to older near-campus units, though the commute to ISU requires a 10-to-20-minute drive.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Terre Haute.
Terre Haute Transit operates a network of fixed-route bus lines serving the ISU campus, downtown Terre Haute, and major commercial areas throughout the city. Routes run on weekday and weekend schedules, though frequency is limited in the evenings and on Sundays. ISU also operates its own on-campus shuttle system that connects residence halls, parking lots, and academic buildings. Students who live in the neighborhoods immediately west of campus can commute entirely by bus or on foot.
The streets surrounding the ISU campus are laid out in a walkable grid, and most off-campus rentals in the student neighborhood are within a 10-to-15-minute walk of class. Terre Haute has invested in bike infrastructure in recent years, adding lanes along several corridors, and the flat terrain makes cycling practical for most of the year. The Wabash Valley Trails system offers recreational paths near the river that are popular with cyclists and joggers.
Parking in Terre Haute is abundant and generally inexpensive. Most rental properties near ISU include off-street parking, and street parking in residential neighborhoods is free with few restrictions. The university itself offers a range of permit options for students who commute by car, and parking in the downtown area is available in surface lots at low daily rates.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Terre Haute is one of the most affordable rental markets in Indiana. One-bedroom apartments near ISU typically range from $500 to $750 per month, and shared two- or three-bedroom houses often break down to $350 to $550 per person per month. Overall housing costs are well below those in Bloomington or West Lafayette, making Terre Haute a great value for students.
Browse student housing near each Terre Haute-area university.