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Off-Campus Housing Near University of Portland
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Portland
University of Portland sits about 4,000 students on a bluff in North Portland's University Park neighborhood, overlooking the Willamette River and the West Hills beyond. It's a small, Catholic, tight-knit campus where the riverfront and surrounding residential streets shape daily life more than a sprawling college strip would. The neighborhood feels green and quiet, with leafy blocks running toward the water and the historic St. Johns district and its iconic gothic-arched bridge a walk or short ride away. Cathedral Park sits under that bridge by the river and hosts a summer jazz festival, and Pier Park gives students nearby trails. Getting downtown is easy on the MAX Yellow Line light rail and city buses.
University of Portland Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
University of Portland requires full-time undergraduates to live on campus for their first two years. The two-year residency rule keeps most freshmen and sophomores in university housing on the bluff.
Off-Campus Eligibility
You can request an exemption from the two-year residency rule, with preference given to students who've confirmed enrollment. Most students move off campus as juniors and seniors, settling into the houses and apartments around University Park, St. Johns, and the nearby North Portland neighborhoods. The stock near campus is largely older single-family homes and smaller apartment buildings, so you're renting in a normal city neighborhood alongside families and long-term residents, and Portland landlords run credit, income, and background checks.
Lease Timing
The city has tenant-protection rules covering things like security-deposit limits and required notice, so read your lease and know your rights. Watch for older homes with aging systems, confirm whether parking is on-street only, and check who covers water, sewer, and trash, since landlords here often bill those back to tenants.