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Off-Campus Housing Near University of San Francisco
$2,026+/unit
Fees may applyFOUND Study San Francisco
$2,176+/unit
Fees may applyThe Academe at 198
$2,000/unit
Fees may applyEllis Square
$1,100+/unit
Fees may applyFOUND Study Nob Hill - Student/Intern
$850+/unit
Fees may applyFOUND Study San Francisco | Student Housing
$995+/unit
Fees may applyUrbaNests | 1080 Folsom Residences
$995+/unit
Fees may applyUrbaNests | 221 7th St Residences
$995+/unit
Fees may applyURBANESTS | 371 Columbus Avenue
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco sits on a hilltop in the center of the city, about 10,000 students on a 55-acre campus split across Lone Mountain and the blocks just south of it. From the top you look out over the whole city, with Golden Gate Park a short walk one way and the Inner Richmond's foggy avenues stretching the other. The campus is small and dense, so students fan out into the surrounding neighborhoods for everything: museums, the park's trails, downtown internships, and music. The Dons compete in Division I, and traditions like CelebrateUSF and the Day of the Dons pull the community together. A free Muni pass comes with tuition, so students ride the bus and rail everywhere, and the city's 24-hour lines mean a car barely matters.
University of San Francisco Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
USF requires incoming full-time first-year undergrads to live on campus for their first two semesters, a standard live-on rule meant to anchor new students. The residence halls put first-years in the middle of campus life during the transition into the city.
Off-Campus Eligibility
The main exemption is for students whose permanent home with a parent or guardian sits within 20 miles of campus, who can petition to commute from there. After the first year, students are free to move off campus, and many do once they've found roommates. San Francisco's rental process is competitive and tenant-heavy on paperwork: expect a credit check, proof of income around three times the rent, and often a guarantor if you lack a long earnings record.
Lease Timing
Watch for older Victorian and Edwardian units with quirks like shared utilities or no in-unit laundry, and read the lease for occupancy limits. The city has strong renter protections, but landlords still move fast, so be ready to apply the day you tour.