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The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near U of U (September 2026)

University of Utah·Salt Lake City, UT·Updated Monthly

By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed September 1, 2026

55 properties reviewed
275+ reviews analyzed
updated September 2026
independent·no pay-to-rank
the short answer

Ivory University House leads our September 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near U of U with a 4.7/5 FMP Score, followed by The Mercer and Montaire Student Living. Across the 55 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 University of Utah for every option.

  • winnerIvory University House
  • FMP Score range4.0–5.0 / 5
  • avg walk45 min to campus
  • rent range$376–$2149 /person
the ranking

The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near U of U

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

  1. Ivory University House
    4.7(13 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Ivory University House stands out for delivering a polished, well-maintained living experience right on the U of U doorstep, with a community that genuinely cares about making residents feel at home. The building is spotless, the location is unbeatable for campus access, and management hosts frequent events with free food that actually bring people together. Amenities like the gym and study rooms are well-kept, and the staff consistently goes out of their way to help. One resident summed it up perfectly: "The location is perfect, especially if you're a UofU student, and it's really close to the Trax and bus stations." Fair warning: the price tag is steep, but you're paying for quality and convenience.

    14 min walk to U of U$1025/person/moGreat locationSafe10/10 would recommendWorth the money
  2. The Mercer
    4.9(7 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Mercer Downtown has quietly become one of the best-kept secrets near U of U, thanks to a management team that actually listens and acts. Current leadership, especially building manager Brandy, has transformed the resident experience with responsiveness and genuine care, while maintenance requests get solved in minutes rather than weeks. The location is stellar for walkability to transit, groceries, and the neighborhood, and the rent is reasonable for what you get. As one impressed resident noted, "My apartment was spotless at move-in literally the cleanest apartment I've ever moved into." This is what happens when management prioritizes residents over everything else.

    45 min walk to U of U$376/person/moGood maintenanceGreat locationSafeWorth the money
  3. Montaire Student Living
    4.3(6 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Montaire earns its spot as an overall standout by combining genuine lifestyle perks with management that actually listens. The dog park and lakeside location seconds from your unit make it feel less like a student complex and more like a real neighborhood, and everything from the Smiths grocery store to cute shops is walkable. What really sets it apart is how the team treats you during the leasing process Ariel and Bentley go the extra mile with detailed tours, free swag, and genuine helpfulness even during life transitions. As one resident shared, "Management was beyond helpful. Showed me my new unit multiple times, offered drinks, candy, and swag." Brand new appliances and a full-sized kitchen sweeten the deal, especially if you're car-free.

    81 min walk to U of U$1199/person/mo
  4. 5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: This property stands out as a hidden gem for authentic dining right in the neighborhood. The kitchen delivers generous portions of genuinely delicious food the kind of place where every dish tastes like it was made with real care and technique, not shortcuts. Staff members like Jasmine go the extra mile to make sure you feel welcome even when the place is packed on a Saturday night. As one regular put it, "The best and most authentic Chinese food in SLC!" The small, intimate setting means you're eating in a space where quality and hospitality actually matter, making it the kind of spot you'll find yourself coming back to again and again.

    71 min walk to U of U
  5. Liberty Duet
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Liberty Duet rises to the top overall because it delivers on both luxury and livability in a location that actually works for students. The downtown proximity to TRAX, food, and the police station means you're safe and connected without a car, while the thoughtful design huge windows, quartz countertops, dual master bathrooms makes every day feel intentional. Gabriel and Brianna from the leasing team are genuinely attentive, and the soundproofing is so good you'll forget you're in a city. As one resident put it, "Every detail has been really well thought out. I love our huge windows that let in natural light, the quartz countertops, and the fact that both bedrooms have their own bathroom." The rooftop lounge and regular events add real community to the mix.

    53 min walk to U of U$687/person/mo
  6. The Bonneville
    4.9(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 4.9/5 overall score from verified U of U reviews. I love it!

    49 min walk to U of U$413/person/moGreat location10/10 would recommendCaring managementTransparent pricing
  7. Encore
    4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 4.2/5 overall score from verified U of U reviews. Encore offers everything you could ask for in an apartment complex and more. I have lived here 2 years and just signed another…

    63 min walk to U of U$419/person/mo
  8. 4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 4.2/5 overall score from verified U of U reviews. Now that the construction is finished I really like what they have done here. Can't wait to see what stores move in. As it is…

    43 min walk to U of U
  9. 4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 4.2/5 overall score from verified U of U reviews. Living at Ivory has been an amazing experience! The amenities are amazing and everything is always very clean. The gym has many…

    15 min walk to U of U
  10. 4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 4.2/5 overall score from verified U of U reviews. Living at Ivory has been an amazing experience! The amenities are amazing and everything is always very clean. The gym has many…

    15 min walk to U of U
  11. aQui355
    4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 4.2/5 overall score from verified U of U reviews. Maintenance did a great job and very timely as well. The apartments are nice and spacious and the building is clean and well…

    51 min walk to U of U$525/person/mo
  12. Liberty Square
    4.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Liberty Square earns its top spot as the social hub near U of U, where the community vibe is genuinely hard to beat. Students rave about the convenient location just six minutes from campus, the solid amenities like the indoor basketball court and outdoor pool, and a resident culture that actually delivers on the promise of meeting people. The maintenance team responds quickly when things break, and while management has had its rough patches, recent residents report real improvement. As one happy resident put it, "There honestly isn't a more social apartment complex south of BYU campus." If you want to be in the thick of things, this is where it happens.

    44 min walk to U of U$1234/person/mo

The Full Ranking, One Table

Click any column to sort. The rank stays with the property.
The full ranking of every listed apartment, sortable by any column.
1Ivory University House4.7/51314 min$1025/mo
2The Mercer4.9/5745 min$376/mo
3Montaire Student Living4.3/5681 min$1199/mo
4636 Columbus St E Salt Lake City Utah5.0/5571 min
5Liberty Duet5.0/5553 min$687/mo
6The Bonneville4.9/5549 min$413/mo
7Encore4.2/5563 min$419/mo
81156 S Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA4.2/5543 min
9434 Mario Capecchi Dr #B302, Salt Lake City4.2/5515 min
10434 Mario Capecchi Dr #C117, Salt Lake City4.2/5515 min
11aQui3554.2/5551 min$525/mo
12Liberty Square4.0/5544 min$1234/mo

Walk times are door-to-door to the University of Utah's Union. 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 U of U 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 U of U

We ran every verified overall review for U of U-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.

bedbug and pest problems
3%
maintenance responsiveness issues
2%
management unprofessional or dishonest
0%

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

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best overall student apartment near U of U?

Ivory University House leads our September 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near U of U with a 4.7/5 FMP Score, followed by The Mercer and Montaire Student Living.

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 U of U

Verified & independentUniversity of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT
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