Looking for off-campus housing near the University of Georgia? Finding the right student apartment can be a daunting task, given the size of Athens and the impact that the choice of location can have on your college experience.
Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Living Off-Campus for UGA Students
At Rambler, we’ve helped hundreds of students find their home away from home at UGA, and understand the importance of finding the right student apartment. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of five things to consider about living in student apartments in downtown Athens.
@ramblerathens Here 3 signs you should live in Downtown Athens if you go to UGA!!🌃🫶 #uga #godawgs #uga25 #uga26 ♬ original sound – Rambler
5 Benefits of Living in Student Apartments in Downtown Athens
1. You can walk everywhere.
The walkability of UGA’s campus and the surrounding areas is easily one of my favorite parts of being a bulldog.
At other schools, you sometimes need to take a bus or drive just to get to and from class. However, here in Athens, walking is the number one way to get to campus and its surrounding areas. Many first- and second-year students even choose not to bring a car because they find it’s possible to get around Athens just fine without one.
Especially if you live in the downtown area near North Campus, restaurants, bars, boutiques and convenience stores are easily accessible by foot.
2. If you can’t walk, you can likely get there for free.
Luckily, UGA makes transportation around Athens affordable and accessible.
One of the best parts of being a student at UGA is the ability to utilize the bus system. Different bus routes in the area make it easy for you to catch a ride virtually anywhere on or near campus. There are even a couple routes that run until 1:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. all week, stopping downtown at The Arch and then making their way through campus.
While the UGA bus system provides an awesome way to get around campus and its surrounding areas, UGA has partnered with Lyft to create the Ride Smart Program. This enables students to get 50% off on Lyft standard or XL rides seven days a week from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Read Next: 10 Best Study Spots Near UGA
3. Most off-campus housing is catered towards students.
Another convenient aspect of living off campus near UGA is that most housing options are student-focused.
Not only does this boost your sense of community by being surrounded by other students, but it includes a few logistical perks:
- Many apartments offer individual leases (by-the-bed), meaning you can live with your friends without worrying about the financial liability of splitting rent.
- Most leases begin in early August, aligning with the academic term of a university student.
- Numerous student housing complexes have luxurious amenities like high-tech study spaces and resort-style pool decks that will elevate your college experience.
4. You’re more likely to be involved on campus.
The closer you are to campus, the more likely you are to spend time there.
Living in a community with other students surrounds you with college culture. Not only is it easier to make friends, but it’s easier to stay connected when you’re in such close proximity.
Most off-campus living is near North Campus, so it is common for you to be on a walk and all of a sudden find yourself in the middle of campus. Living so close makes it easy to walk or bike to campus for classes, meetings, or study groups.
5. You’re in the center of it all.
Luckily for students, the University of Georgia is located on the North end of downtown Athens. When you live near the edge of North Campus, you’re in a prime location with easy access to all that downtown and UGA campus have to offer.
Living just off of North Campus puts you in a hotspot to explore downtown Athens and its surrounding areas. You will be within walking distance of dozens of coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques. Athens is known for its nightlife, and living near North Campus makes you just a short walk away from all the bars and hot spots!
We hope that this article helped you visualize how living in student apartments in downtown Athens can be one of the most rewarding parts of your college experience.
If you have any more questions about living in downtown Athens or student housing in general, don’t hesitate to contact the Rambler leasing team!
