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The 5 Best Overall Student Apartments Near University of Tampa (October 2026)

The University of TampaTampa, FLUpdated Monthly

By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed October 1, 2026

5 properties reviewed
26+ reviews analyzed
updated October 2026
independentno pay-to-rank
the short answer

ULake Apartments leads our October 2026 ranking of the 5 Best Overall student apartments near University of Tampa with a 3.7/5 FMP Score, followed by Hawks Landing and 220 Madison. Across the 5 properties reviewed, students keep coming back to amenities & shared spaces and management & maintenance: the overall signals that move a property up this ranking. Browse all off-campus housing near The University of Tampa for every option.

  • winnerULake Apartments
  • FMP Score range3.4–5.0 / 5
  • avg walk0 min to campus
  • rent range$520–$2010 /person
the ranking

The 5 Best Overall Student Apartments Near University of Tampa

Sorted by FMP Score from verified University of Tampa reviews, high to low. Scores reflect current University of Tampa reviews only.

  1. ULake Apartments
    3.7(6 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: ULake Apartments ranks third overall because it combines a genuinely beautiful property with a maintenance team that students actively celebrate. The grounds are well-kept and inviting, and the staff members like Vicky bring real warmth to the leasing experience. As one resident put it, "The maintenance team is THE BEST!!!" while another called it a "beautiful property" with great service. The community clearly takes pride in upkeep and responsiveness, making it a solid choice for students seeking a well-maintained, welcoming environment.

    $845/person/moOverpricedPoor management
  2. Hawks Landing
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Hawks Landing stands out as the top overall choice near University of Tampa because it nails the complete package: a genuinely engaged staff, a vibrant community atmosphere, and the kind of place that actually feels like home. Students rave about the personal touch from team members like Joao Gabriel and Trejer, who go out of their way to make residents feel valued, plus the property keeps things lively with regular events and maintains spotless common spaces. As one resident put it, "Great place great community. Tidy environment, lots of events like movie nights, waffle Wednesday etc. Amazing staff and security guards." This is where you'll actually want to spend time.

    $520/person/mo
  3. 220 Madison
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: 220 Madison earns its rank as the second-best overall option by delivering the full student-living experience: exceptional management, premium amenities you won't find elsewhere, and genuine proximity to campus. Residents consistently praise the quality of the apartments themselves, the study rooms and gym, and especially the staff's willingness to go the extra mile, with property manager Christin earning particular love for making the place feel like home. As one long-term resident noted, "I've lived at 220 Madison for the past 4 years and it is easily one of the best apartment complexes in the City of Tampa." The walkability to UTampa and the views seal the deal.

    $1339/person/mo
  4. Apella on Newport
    4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Apella on Newport rounds out the top four by offering modern, spotless living spaces and a genuinely responsive team that keeps the community thriving. The daily maintenance commitment (cleaning seven days a week) shows real dedication to quality, and staff like Community Manager Isabella create an atmosphere where residents feel genuinely cared for. As one resident shared, "The apartments here are super clean and modern. It doesn't even feel like a typical dorm." Strong amenities, helpful office staff, and that consistent polish make Apella a reliable choice for students near UTampa.

    $1930/person/mo
  5. The Retreat at Tampa
    3.4(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Retreat at Tampa stands out for its genuinely invested management team that actually shows up for residents. Students consistently praise the front desk staff Antonio and Charlee especially for being attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to help with everything from lease applications to day-to-day questions. The leasing process here runs smooth and easy, with staff who know the property inside and out and treat you like they actually care. As one resident put it, Antonio is "always attentive when at the front desk. Always smiling and always happy to answer questions no matter what he's doing at the time." That kind of consistent, genuine service makes a real difference in where you want to live.

    $996/person/mo

The Full Ranking, One Table

Sort by any column. The rank stays with the property.
The full ranking of every listed apartment, sortable by any column.
1ULake Apartments3.7/56–$845/mo
2Hawks Landing5.0/55–$520/mo
3220 Madison5.0/55–$1339/mo
4Apella on Newport4.2/55–$1930/mo
5The Retreat at Tampa3.4/55–$996/mo

Walk times are door-to-door to University of Tampa campus. Rent is per person, per month.

FMP award criteria

How We Ranked These Apartments

1

Ranked by the FMP Score

FMP Score, high to low. That’s the whole ranking. It’s our overall measure of a property, combining verified review scores with signals reviews miss, like how current the listing is kept and how responsive management is. Ties go to the property with more verified reviews.

2

Who Makes the List

Every property near University of Tampa can appear, but it takes a minimum number of verified reviews before we score and rank it. Properties under that bar sit below every ranked property and move up automatically as reviews come in.

3

How We Calculate the FMP Score

The FMP Score blends the social, management, and quality scores from verified reviews with signals that a place is actively and well run, like how up to date its listing is kept and how consistently management responds to residents. It’s built to surface genuinely well-run properties, not just the highest raw review average.

by the numbers

What Makes an Apartment ‘well-rounded’ Near University of Tampa

We ran every verified overall review for University of Tampa-area apartments through theme analysis. These are the themes students bring up most when a place feels well-rounded, by share of the reviews that mention them.

exceptional staff service
43%
strong community and amenities
26%
clean well-maintained spaces
22%

Based on AI analysis of verified University of Tampa overall reviews, refreshed monthly. Percentages show the share of reviews that mention each theme; most reviews mention more than one. See our complete University of Tampa review data →

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best overall student apartment near University of Tampa?

ULake Apartments leads our October 2026 ranking of the 5 Best Overall student apartments near University of Tampa with a 3.7/5 FMP Score, followed by Hawks Landing and 220 Madison.

How is this ranking calculated?

This list is ranked by one number: each property's overall score from verified reviews. Students rate a property's overall 1 to 5, and we average those scores, counting recent reviews more heavily than older ones. No self-reported data from landlords.

What makes an apartment the best overall?

The best overall apartments score highly across everything students rate (social scene, management, and unit quality), not just one. This ranking uses each property's overall rating from verified reviews.

How often is this ranking updated?

Monthly. We re-pull verified reviews and re-score every property at the start of each month, so the order reflects the most recent 24 months of student feedback. The “updated” date at the top of the page shows the latest refresh.

How many reviews does a property need to be included?

There's a minimum number of verified reviews to rank by score, and we don't publish the exact bar so it can't be gamed. Properties under it still appear, below every qualified property and ordered by review count, so a 5.0 from one review never outranks a 4.5 from thirty. Once a property collects enough reviews, it moves into the scored ranking automatically.

Is this ranking independent, or can properties pay to rank higher?

It's fully independent. There's no pay-to-rank. Position is set by verified reviews alone. Property managers can't buy placement, remove reviews, or influence the score.

for property managers

Made the List? Get Your FMP Award Badge.

If your property is on this ranking, you've earned an FMP Award. Reach out and we'll set you up with the official badge for your website, social, and print, free. It's how renters know your ranking is real.

Find My Place Award2026
11st place

Best Overall

student apartments near University of Tampa

Verified & independentThe University of Tampa · Tampa, FL