Finding student housing near Georgia State can be an overwhelming task, with decisions to make about living off-campus, whether or not you’ll have roommates, and more. At Rambler, we understand the challenges of securing a place to live in Atlanta and know how crucial it is to find the right location in this process.
While we’re confident that Rambler Atlanta’s prime location in East Midtown is a great option for many GSU students, we know how important it is to survey all of your options. In this article, we’ll go over:
- Where Do GSU Students Live?
- Alternatives to Living On-Campus at GSU
- When to Start Your Search for Housing as a GSU Student
- What’s the Cost of Living Near GSU in Downtown Atlanta?
- How Do I Get to GSU’s Campus?
Where Do GSU Students Live?
To start, let’s look at the main neighborhoods where GSU students live. The most popular options are:
- On-Campus
- Downtown
- East Midtown
- West Midtown
- Summerhill
On-Campus
Many students enter college expecting to live on campus for their entire time. However, at GSU, it’s certainly not common to live on-campus all four years. In fact, 81% of GSU students do not live on campus.
For those that do, there are six on-campus communities to choose from. These communities are:
- Patton Hall
- Piedmont Central
- Piedmont North
- University Commons
- University Lofts
- Greek Town Houses
While it is not required to live on campus as a freshman at GSU, Patton Hall, Piedmont Central and Piedmont North are all primarily first-year housing. These range from single- to triple-occupancy rooms and require the meal plan. University Commons and University Lofts are primarily designated for upperclass students and the Greek Townhouses are for each of the nine greek communities at GSU.
Each of these options are located within walking distance to on-campus buildings like classes and Panther dining halls.
GSU on campus housing. Image courtesy of GSU.
Downtown
GSU’s campus is located in Downtown Atlanta, so many students opt for off-campus housing in this area. These apartments are near campus and popular food and drink locations. Options in this area include both traditional apartments and purpose-built student apartments.
Read Next: Traditional Apartments vs. Student Apartments: Which is Right For Me?
Image courtesy of GSU.
East Midtown
Not far from GSU’s campus is another popular area for students living in East Midtown. This area has student life from other Atlanta university systems including Georgia Tech and Emory, fostering a community environment.
For students who want to be at the heart of Atlanta’s vibrant food, drink, entertainment and nightlife scene, East Midtown is the perfect neighborhood. This area provides a variety of housing options, including both student apartments and traditional apartments less than a five minute drive from campus, typically at a higher price point than many downtown apartments.
West Midtown
West Midtown features a mix of new student apartments and traditional residences along Northside Drive and Marietta Street. This area features several restaurants, fast-food spots, and shopping. This area is also a bit further from campus, and would require taking a scooter, driving, taking a Marta or carpooling to campus.
Image courtesy of Atlanta Business Chronicles
Summerhill
South of GSU’s main campus, Summerhill is a nearby neighborhood that some students choose for off-campus housing. The area includes a mix of newer apartment buildings, townhomes, and older residential properties.
Summerhill has local restaurants, cafés and public spaces that appeal to students looking for a quieter environment slightly removed from the downtown core. While not within walking distance for most, the area is still accessible to campus by car, bike or MARTA.
It’s a good option for students who want more of a neighborhood feel while remaining close to Georgia State.
Image courtesy of Livabl.
Alternatives to Living On-Campus at GSU
As mentioned above, the vast majority of GSU students opt not to live on campus and instead live in either traditional apartments or purpose-built student apartments in either Downtown Atlanta or Midtown Atlanta.
Traditional Apartments
One option for students looking off campus in both Downtown and Midtown Atlanta are traditional apartments. These are apartments that are not designed with students in mind, so they may be located farther from campus, may not come with furniture, and will typically offer fewer amenities.
Traditional apartments usually operate under standard lease agreements, which can make managing roommates and subleasing more complicated. It may be difficult to find leases that align with the duration of the school year or begin when you need them. These also typically come in smaller floorplan options, ranging from studios, to 1- and 2-bedrooms.
Purpose-Built Student Apartments
Another option is purpose-built student apartments. These apartments are designed with college students in mind. Typically these are fully-furnished residences that feature private bedrooms, either individual or shared bathrooms, communal living and kitchen spaces, a wide range of amenities and individual lease options.
These lease terms also adhere to the academic year, and have a wider range of floorplan options going up to four-, five- and six-bedroom options.
Read Next: 5 Reasons to Sign an Individual Lease
Choosing student apartments offers advantages such as individual lease options, modern community amenities like yoga and spin studios, outdoor pool decks and on-site coffee shops. For a detailed comparison of student apartments versus traditional apartments, check out our article on Student Apartments vs. Traditional Apartments.
Rambler Atlanta Sauna, one of the many unique amenities you may find in purpose-built student housing.
When to Start Your Search for Housing as a GSU Student
While an exact timeline varies for everyone, many students begin the leasing process as early as the fall semester before their intended move-in date.
Your timeline can depend on where you want to live and what type of housing you’re interested in. For example, new student apartments typically start leasing earlier, offering their lowest rates and the most available at the beginning in order to fill units quickly. If you’re eyeing a new development, start your search over winter break of the preceding year and aim to sign in the spring or summer prior to the semester.
Does Leasing Early Get Me a Better Rate?
Leasing early usually gets you the best rates, as prices rise with demand. Plus, waiting could limit your options for desirable apartments, locations and roommates. Some properties may offer sales closer to the school year, but late leasing typically comes with fewer choices and higher prices.
Read more: 5 Reasons to Lease Early
What’s the Cost of Living Off Campus Near GSU?
Living near GSU can cost between $700 and $3,000 per person per month, depending on factors like housing type, apartment age, room size, amenities and floor choice.
How Rental Rates are Calculated
In traditional apartments, you’ll typically see rental rates listed as a single monthly rate for the entire unit. Example, an advertised rate of $2,500/month for a two-bedroom apartment would mean that two roommates splitting the rent evenly would be responsible for $1,250/month.
In student apartments that offer individual leases, you’ll see rental rates listed per person (or per bed) per month. For that same apartment, you would see the rate advertised as $1,250/month.
Factors That Affect Rent near GSU
- Housing Type: Common options include on-campus housing, Greek townhouses, student apartments and traditional apartments. Prices vary based on type, location and amenities.
- On-Campus Housing: For first-year halls (Patton, Piedmont Central and Piedmont North), the meal plan is required. Pricing is around $1,029- $1,310 per person per month, including the required meal plan. University Lofts and University Commons do not require the meal plan and are around $800 – $1,300 per person per month. These are typically 9-month leases.
- Greek Townhouses: Greek townhomes are around $700-$900 per person per month, not including a meal plan. These are typically 9-month leases.
- Student Apartments: Student apartments range from $900 to $2,500 per month, offering individual leases with modern amenities, not including a meal plan. These are typically 12-month leases.
- Traditional Apartments: Traditional leases cost between $1,100 and $3,000+ per month, not including a meal plan. These are typically 12-month leases.
- Floorplans: Larger apartments (those with more bedrooms) typically have lower per-person rates. For example, a six-bedroom apartment is likely to be less expensive on a per-person basis than a two-bedroom apartment.
- Building Age: Newer buildings often have higher rents due to nicer, newer amenities, while older buildings may offer lower rates.
- Unit Features: Rent may increase if your unit has added features like a balcony, private bathroom or an in-unit washer/dryer.
Additional Costs
Outside of rent, there are several additional fees to consider including parking, utilities, insurance, trash, Wi-Fi, cable, pet fees, etc. For more information, check out our article on the 9 Additional Costs to Consider When Leasing at a Student Apartment in Atlanta.
For more information on pricing, check out the GSU Undergraduate Cost Calculator.
How Do I Get to GSU’s Campus?
If you’re living further from campus and commuting in from Midtown or other areas of Atlanta, there are several options for getting to campus.
The first is driving and parking on campus. GSU offers parking permits through your PantherCard or license plate, providing you with access to campus decks and lots. Fall or spring semester permits are priced at $215 and summer semester permits are $110. Learn more on the GSU parking page.
If you’re not looking to bring a car to campus, you can also take the Marta or Marta Bus. Marta offers GSU-specific Breeze cards available for purchase a monthly pass for $61 through the Parking Portal or a 30-day pass for $68.50, which activates on the first ride at any MARTA kiosk.
If you have any questions or would like more information about leasing at Rambler Atlanta in East Midtown, don’t hesitate to visit our website or reach out to our leasing team. We’re happy to assist you in finding the perfect housing for you!
Note: All prices current as of May 2025.
