UCLA Housing: On-Campus Apartments Options—A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing where to live is a crucial decision for UCLA students. With over 48,000 students, UCLA offers a wide array of housing options tailored to suit different personalities, budgets, and priorities. The primary decision revolves around whether to live on-campus for convenience and community or off-campus for greater independence and flexibility. This article explores the various on-campus and off-campus apartment options available to UCLA students, helping you determine the best fit for your needs.

On-Campus Housing: Convenience and Community

UCLA Housing Services offers diverse options to suit every student's style. On-campus housing includes utilities, 24/7 security, furnished rooms, and convenient access to dining halls, recreation centers, and academic support services. Applying early, especially for on-campus housing, can begin as early as March. Tour options exist both physically and virtually at UCLA. Virtual tours of buildings such as Rieber and Saxon Suites can be taken.

Traditional Residence Halls

Traditional dorms are typically the most economical on-campus option and popular among first-year students. These halls feature shared bathrooms on each floor and foster strong social environments while maximizing proximity to campus resources.

Examples include:

Dykstra Hall
Hedrick Hall
Rieber Hall
Sproul Hall

A classic double room may cost around $1,300 per month over nine months (according to UCLA Housing rates).

Deluxe Residence Halls

Deluxe residence halls provide larger rooms with air conditioning, offering enhanced amenities while remaining close to campus life.

Examples include:

Sproul Cove
Sproul Landing
Holly Hall

Plazas

Plazas offer greater privacy than classic dorms. These buildings typically offer private bathrooms and air conditioning and are broken up into smaller buildings, with courtyards and grassy nooks between buildings. Examples include De Neve and Sunset Village.

Suites

Suites like Saxon and Hitch offer a living room and shared bathrooms between two rooms, maximizing privacy. They provide more solitude to students who prioritize quietness and comfort, with modern furnishings making them appealing options. Suites and plaza options range from $1,700 to $2,000 per month (All data via UCLA Housing).

Off-Campus Housing: Independence and Flexibility

Many students prefer nearby neighborhoods for more independence, flexibility, and space.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

Westwood

Just steps from campus, Westwood is an idyllic student hub, walkable and full of eateries, gyms, and shops. Shared units start at around $1300 per month, while one-bedroom apartments range between $2,200 and $3,000 for rent. This is known to attract graduate students and working professionals.

Le Conte Avenue, Landfair Avenue, and Lindbrook Drive: These three streets contain small apartment buildings, student housing complexes, and co-living suites ranging in rent from $1600-2200 per month, with furnished options that include utilities as the norm.

Brentwood

This quiet community features spacious, tree-lined streets that provide privacy. However, one-bedroom units typically cost in the range of $2,500+.

Sawtelle

Trendy and food-centric, Sawtelle offers modern buildings and an eclectic cultural mix, making it the perfect location for students seeking something social yet distinct from campus life. Coliving spaces typically range between $1,400 and $1,800 per month.

1515 Colby Avenue: This property in Sawtelle provides a blend of comfort and convenience. Fully furnished spaces and thoughtful features create an effortless living experience in West LA for UCLA students. Rent starts at $1,265. Units can be provided furnished or unfurnished, providing maximum flexibility. Amenities include sleek exterior designs, open concept floor plans, luxurious fixtures, and premium appliances.

Wilshire Corridor

For those seeking apartment-style living with style, luxury high-rises feature amenities like rooftop lounges and fitness centers for residents to take advantage of. Ideal for those seeking high-rise living.

Other Neighborhoods

These neighborhoods offer more affordable and bus-accessible living. Westwood remains the go-to choice, while Sawtelle and Brentwood provide plenty of charm as alternative student communities that allow more independence while remaining close to campus life.

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

Factors to Consider When Choosing Housing

Selecting the right housing option involves considering several factors to ensure a comfortable and conducive living environment for your academic pursuits.

Social Vibe

On-campus housing provides a more inherently social experience, while off-campus living allows more freedom.

Budget and Billing

Costs associated with living on campus typically cover utilities and meal plans, while off-campus living may incur furniture, utilities, parking, and commute costs. Budget for extras such as parking (Westwood parking ranges from $150-$250/month) and utilities (typically between $50 and $150).

Flexibility

Suites or deluxe halls may allow flexible leasing arrangements; off-campus leases often commence in September and run the full year or academic year.

Room Type

Decide whether shared bathrooms will suffice or whether a private suite would better meet your needs.

Proximity

On-campus housing is typically within walking distance to classes; off-campus housing may require a car, scooter, or UCLA shuttle services to reach them.

Safety

Aim for listings within or close to the campus patrol area or police beat zones when renting near UCLA. While apartments located in unsafe neighborhoods may be relatively inexpensive, the safety of the neighborhood should be your primary concern when looking for an apartment. Westwood and West LA, in general, are safe areas, but it is always good to be cautious.

Transportation and Proximity to Campus

If you do not plan to purchase a car, it is very important that the apartment have public transportation nearby.

Utilities

Utilities, such as gas, electricity, water, and trash, may be included in the price of the apartment. If the utilities are not included in the rent, it is a good idea to ask the landlord how much the utilities usually cost per month. It is typical that water and trash will be included in your rent, but usually gas, electricity, television, and internet typically will not be included.

Terms of the Lease

A lease is a contract granting use or occupation of a property. Be sure to read everything before you sign a lease! Typically, leases are 12 months in length, but this is sometimes negotiable with the landlord. When you sign a lease, you are agreeing that you are responsible for the rent payments for the ENTIRE lease term. If you are a UCLA student, the Student Legal Services will review your lease with you BEFORE you sign.

Security Deposit

Most landlords will require a security deposit, which usually runs the same as one month's rent, although they do vary. If your rent is $900/month, then it is likely your deposit will be an additional $900 in addition to your first month’s rent. Some landlords will allow you to break your deposit into payments (over 2 to 3 months), but you have to request it. Legally, you should receive your remaining deposit back within 21 days of leaving your apartment unless there is more damage to the apartment than basic wear and tear. Student Legal Services is there to help you with any issues you have with landlords, security deposits, etc., so please contact them with any questions or to make an appointment.

Roommates

Due to the high cost of living in Westwood and LA in general, it is very common that students share rooms or at least have another roommate to share the cost of the apartment and utilities. Be selective when choosing your roommates since you will be living with them for a while - make sure you learn as much as you can about their lifestyle and habits (waking time, sleeping time, alcohol, smoking, cleanliness, party/study habits, etc.), and your adjustment to living with roommates will be a lot easier. Consider roommate matching services: Some apartment complexes (like Tripalink) offer roommate matching services as part of their furnished lease agreements, along with move-in-ready amenities.

Additional Tips

Avoid scams: Rent from UCLA-approved vendors or platforms that have earned recognition.
Check for safety: Aim for listings within or close to its campus patrol area or police beat zones.

UCLA Housing Resources

UCLA offers a range of student housing for both undergraduate and graduate students. These housing options include on-campus dormitories (primarily undergraduate students) and off-campus university apartments (primarily graduate students), all of which are usually furnished.

Undergraduate Housing

On-campus housing (residential halls) includes a meal plan option. UCLA housing also offers university apartments that are located throughout the surrounding Westwood apartment area and are within walking distance from the campus.

Graduate Housing

Graduate housing is generally located off-campus, either in Westwood or in the Palms area. Graduates who live off-campus are still eligible for on-campus dining at an extra cost. Please see Housing on eligibility and rates.

Off-Campus Housing

There are many options for off-campus housing near campus.

tags: #ucla #housing #apartments #options