Off-Campus Housing & Apartments near University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Welcome to off-campus living at UCLA. If you're headed here to go to school for the first time, congratulations! If you're already living on campus but you're looking to move into Los Angeles, you've come to the right place. ForRentUniversity.com® offers off-campus living advice for students and parents, plus hundreds of listings of the best apartments near UCLA. But, as with all of college life, it's important to know a little bit more about where you're going to be living. How's student life in Los Angeles? What are the best neighborhoods for students attending the University of California, Los Angeles? Read on for the details in our extensive UCLA off-campus guide.

UCLA is a widely renowned university, with students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries. With that renown comes extremely selective admissions: UCLA had an 18% admittance rate in 2016, a rating listed as "most selective" by US News. That selectivity leads to a very community-driven life for students. UCLA has over 1,000 clubs and student organizations, more than 60 Greek-letter organizations, and its own student-run radio station. Traditions include fun events like a quarterly Undie Run – which, yes, does include running through the campus in your underwear – and the annual hackathon known as LA Hacks, which draws developers from colleges like Stanford and Harvard. If that wasn't enough for you, UCLA athletics are equally hefty, with 23 varsity sports programs and 114 NCAA championship titles – second in number only to Stanford. At the end of the day, no matter who you are, there's something here to become a part of.

UCLA is located in the Westwood neighborhood, within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Los Angeles is the second-most-populous city in the United States and is less than half an hour from similarly urban cities such as Anaheim, Long Beach, and Pasadena. One of LA’s many neighborhoods is Hollywood, near UCLA, and both Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox are headquartered within city limits. One in six Los Angeles residents works in a creative field, giving rise to the city’s label as the "Creative Capital of the World." UCLA and Los Angeles have a great relationship. Los Angeles residents are extremely proud of the number of awards UCLA has won, and UCLA is the fourth-largest employer in Los Angeles County. UCLA’s Westwood neighborhood is a fairly young and high-earning area of Los Angeles. Some of the best-known attractions of Westwood include the LDS Los Angeles California Temple, the Hammer Museum, which shows contemporary art, and the Westwood Memorial Park and Mortuary, a resting place for many great names.

Staying Safe in Los Angeles

Both students and their parents worry about moving off campus. Whether it's the first time you've ever moved away from a parent or it's just moving from a residence hall to your own apartment, it's a strange experience to feel more on your own. UCLA understands that and does its best to make sure you always feel safe on campus. The UCLA Police Department, which includes over 60 sworn officers and about 130 students, is the main hub of security at UCLA. Campus police officers perform routine law enforcement activities and patrol the UCLA campus and the surrounding areas 24/7. UCLAPD also provides activities such as information sessions, presentations, and surveys. The department also maintains a 24/7 phone line, as well as an anonymous reporting hotline that all students are encouraged to use if necessary. UCLA maintains a health and wellness center, which provides services ranging from general care to acupuncture to counseling and mental health assistance. ForRentUniversity.com also lets you sort apartments near UCLA by safety and privacy features, which include items like a shuttle to campus and a parking garage.

Sawtelle (Japantown)

Downtown Los Angeles has long had Little Tokyo, the historic district that houses many Japanese-Americans. Sawtelle, however, has long been referred to as Los Angeles' "Little Osaka," a center of Japanese life near Westwood. It is difficult to get an apartment in Sawtelle, but construction every day makes it a promising place to live. A light rail line has a stop right at the edge of Sawtelle, making it easy to commute.

Brentwood

If you'd prefer something a little more calm and luxurious, you may be right at home in Brentwood. With one of the lowest population densities in Los Angeles, as well as quite a bit of greenery, it's a beautiful place to live. The cultural portion of Brentwood is made obvious by the prominent placement of the Getty Center, a huge museum showcasing modern and ancient art.

Century City

Century City has an interesting history. It was sold for a rock-bottom price in 1956 when Fox studios sold the land to try to recoup immense losses from its recent film flops. It was then developed to be worth nearly $2.4 billion. Nowadays, Century City is an incredibly popular place, with all kinds of shops and restaurants lining the streets and beautiful residential areas. It's a great place for students.