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The University of Miami sits in Coral Gables, where about 17,800 Hurricanes go to school under palm trees and year-round sun. Coral Gables is a polished, walkable city of Mediterranean-style buildings, and campus wraps around Lake Osceola, so you'll see students kayaking between classes. The surrounding neighborhoods stretch from leafy Coral Gables into artsy Coconut Grove and high-rise Brickell, with Wynwood's murals a quick trip north. Green space is everywhere: Matheson Hammock Park opens onto Biscayne Bay, and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is right next door. Hurricanes football brings the U its loudest weekends, and the free Coral Gables Trolley plus the Metrorail's University station mean you don't need a car to live the Miami life.
Miami requires non-local first-year students to live in university housing for their first two semesters, space permitting. The big exemption: if you live with a parent or legal guardian in Miami-Dade or Broward County, you are off the hook, and you will file that request through the Housing Portal on CaneLink. Students out of high school more than a year can also be waived, and spring-admitted first-years are not required to live on campus at all.
Once that first year wraps, most Hurricanes move into Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, or South Miami. The local rental process is straightforward but competitive, so landlords will run credit and income checks, and a lot of younger students need a guarantor or a parent co-signer. Newer by-the-bed complexes hold inventory later than independent landlords, making them a useful option for flexible renters.
Watch the fine print on parking, since some Coral Gables buildings cap spaces or charge separately. Confirm whether a unit is in the Gables proper, where city rules and HOA quirks can shape what you can and cannot do. Reading these terms before signing avoids surprises in a competitive market.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with University of Miami before signing a lease.
Miami leasing runs early. The best units near campus start preleasing in the fall for the following August, and by late winter the walkable Coral Gables and South Miami spots closest to the U are thinning out. Aim to lock something down between January and March if you want first pick. Starting early is the only reliable way to secure the closest, most walkable units.
The core demand window runs from fall preleasing through late winter, with January to March the sweet spot for first pick. Classes start in late August, so a summer search is doable but you will be choosing from leftovers, often farther out toward Kendall or down US-1. Snowbird season also frees up some condos during this stretch. Roommate groups should commit in this window to keep the best Coral Gables and South Miami spots in play.
If you miss the main window, look for spring openings in January when graduating seniors and study-abroad students clear out. Keep an eye on sublets over the summer when interns leave units empty. Newer by-the-bed complexes hold inventory later than independent landlords, so they are a solid late-search fallback if you are flexible on roommates. Setting alerts helps you catch these openings quickly.
Polished, walkable, and closest to campus, with a mix of older apartments and pricier newer buildings.
Leafy and laid-back, with bayfront parks and a younger creative crowd.
South Miami sits just south of campus along the Metrorail, practical and well connected, while Brickell offers downtown high-rises and nightlife on a longer commute but full of amenities.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A private room in a shared apartment or house near campus usually runs about $900-$1,200/month per person, and shared units in the broader Miami area can land around $1,000-$1,200. Coral Gables and Coconut Grove sit at the higher end, while spots farther out toward Kendall or down US-1 come down. Budget another $50-$150/month for utilities depending on the building.