A shared room in a by-the-bed complex near USC usually runs about $550-$850/month per person. Walk-to-class spots in Five Points and newer Vista buildings sit higher, while houses split among roommates in Shandon or Olympia land lower. Budget another $40-$120/month for utilities depending on whether the building caps them.

Yes. First-year students are required to live on campus. You can file an appeal through Housing if you have special circumstances or you're living locally with family, but it isn't an automatic release.

Sophomores and up cluster in Five Points for the short walk and the Vista for newer apartments closer to the river, while Shandon and Olympia draw students who want houses and a bit more room. The student high-rises sit right around the campus edge.

Not if you live near campus. The core is walkable, campus shuttles and city buses cover student areas, and Five Points sits at the doorstep. A car helps for grocery runs and getting around the wider city, but downtown and Five Points parking is tight and permits are competitive.

Start in the fall before your lease year. The student high-rises and prime Five Points and Vista units sign as early as September and October, so tour over fall semester if you want a walk-to-class spot. Houses farther out and spring sublets cover you if you're searching late.

Most leases run 12 months starting in early August. Student high-rises usually lease by the bed, while older houses in Shandon and Olympia tend to be joint leases with shared liability. Historic houses near Five Points can have occupancy caps tied to city code, so confirm the legal tenant count before a group signs.

The main student areas like Five Points, the Vista, and Shandon are generally comfortable, though Five Points nightlife means more late-night activity on weekends. Check lighting and how a block feels at night when you tour, and use the campus safe-ride and shuttle options after dark.

It depends. Some student buildings bundle utilities with a monthly cap and bill overages, while most houses leave electric, water, gas, and internet on the tenants. Ask what's included and whether there's a cap, since that can add roughly $40-$120/month per person.

Yes. By-the-bed buildings will place you with roommates if you come solo, and the university off-campus housing site lists roommate and sublet posts. Subletting is common in spring and summer when students leave for internships or study abroad, just confirm your lease allows it in writing.

From Five Points and the Vista, you can easily walk to campus and the Horseshoe. Williams-Brice Stadium sits a bit south of the main campus, so many students bus, bike, or carpool on game day rather than parking nearby, but daily walks to class from the core are simple.