Off-Campus Housing & Apartments near University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte)

Welcome to off-campus living at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. If this is your first year at UNCC or you’re a returning student, you’ll find hundreds of off-campus housing options. To get your search started, ForRentUniversity.com® offers apartment-living advice for students and parents, plus listings of the best apartments near UNC Charlotte. Since this may be your first year living off campus, you probably have a ton of questions: How's student life in Charlotte? What are the best neighborhoods for UNCC students? Read on for the answers in UNC Charlotte off-campus guide.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte sits on 1,000 wooded acres about 10 miles from Uptown Charlotte, the center of the city. The university is fairly new, having only been officially created in 1965. Now, it’s the fastest-growing campus in the UNC system. A few other things to know before you head to UNC Charlotte: - You’ll get in your steps: With UNCC’s sprawling campus, new students often are surprised by the amount of walking they need to do, even from commuter parking decks. Hills and steps dot the campus, too. After getting to and from classes, you might not need to hit your off-campus gym as much as you thought. - Party? What party? UNC Charlotte is shaking off a reputation as a commuter school, though the university has more than 400 student organizations. Perhaps related to the commuter reputation, UNCC also is not considered a big party school, even among fraternities. In other words, weekends around here might be a little quiet, with the action happening off campus. See the next point. - Uptown is downtown: As a student of UNCC, you likely will find yourself spending a lot of your free time in Uptown Charlotte, which is “downtown,” which also goes by the name Center City. (Yes, it’s a little confusing.) Whatever you call this area, if you’re old enough, this is where the best nightlife is. It’s also the center for professional sports and museums. Luckily, as we explain below, a new light rail extension will make getting to Uptown easier.

What’s it like for a student living in Charlotte?

Charlotte, of course, is a large, dynamic city. And it’s surprisingly affordable. The cost of living in Charlotte is right at the national average. Rents have been rising, but that boom has been happening mostly in Uptown. Rents outside of Uptown are more reasonable. Of course, as a New South boomtown, Charlotte isn’t without its challenges. Most of them you will discover behind the wheel of a car. For instance, there is always construction taking place on and around the UNCC campus, and it can be frustrating to deal with at times. If you’re commuting to campus, get your permit and become very familiar with parking signs to avoid a ticket.

Getting Around Charlotte and UNCC

The good news if you’d like to avoid driving is that Charlotte’s Lynx light rail is coming to the UNCC campus in March 2018. The Blue Line extension will get you from campus to Uptown in 22 minutes. The cost, for access to light rail and local buses, will be $50 a year, added to student fees. (Compare that to $450 for a parking permit.) Several stations along the route will have free park and ride lots. Don’t be surprised if apartments near these new Lynx stops become popular.

Because of UNC Charlotte’s suburban setting, neighborhood lines are a little less clear than they might be in a more urban area. So the road where your apartment is, and its access to campus, might be the more important factor. In general, apartment communities surround UNCC along the four roads that border it – East W.T. Harris Boulevard, North Tryon Street, Mallard Creek Church Road, and University City Boulevard.

University City

University City is the neighborhood that immediately surrounds UNCC’s campus. Not surprisingly then, it’s a very popular area for students to look for off-campus apartments. The main streets running through here are North Tryon Street and W.T. Harris Boulevard. Conveniently, the Lynx light rail extension follows North Tryon from the UNC campus to Uptown, with three stops in this area. Living here could be ideal for both your studies and your social life. Living along Tryon Street also puts you closer to sports facilities at UNC Charlotte like the relatively new football stadium. Shopping also is plentiful in the University City area. On one end, right at Tryon Street and Harris Boulevard, you’ll find the Shoppes at University Place, which is heavy on restaurants such as Boardwalk Billy’s. On the other end is the Belgate Shopping Center, which – perfect for off-campus college students needing furniture – has an IKEA. Note: You might see this area on maps broken down into sections like University City South, University City North, and University Place.

College Downs / Harris-Houston

University City Boulevard runs along the east side of the UNC Charlotte campus here. Along the boulevard, you’ll find lots of apartment communities but also shopping, grocery stores, a few international restaurants, and even a college bookstore. This side of campus also is closer to the university’s library. Other streets where you’ll find lots of apartment communities include East Mallard Creek Church Road and John Kirk Drive. UNC Charlotte’s Greek Village is right off John Kirk, too. If you live in the Harris-Houston area, a bit northeast of the UNC Charlotte campus along Interstate 485, you’ll also be very close to PNC Music Pavilion, a 19,000-capacity amphitheater. Maybe you’ll be able to hear some concerts from your apartment balcony.

Mallard Creek

Mallard Creek is just north of the UNC Charlotte campus, heading toward the intersection of Interstate 85 and the I-485 beltway. You’ll find a lot of apartment communities here along West Mallard Creek Church Road. If you head farther along that road, you’ll hit a small shopping center with a Trader Joe’s grocery store.

NoDa

If you don’t mind being a little farther away from the UNC Charlotte campus, but you want a more urban vibe, NoDa could be your ideal neighborhood. This is Charlotte’s historic arts and entertainment district. The neighborhood is named for North Davidson Street, its main strip, and is full of galleries, music venues, restaurants, bars, breweries, and tattoo parlors. NoDa is about three miles from Uptown and seven miles from UNC Charlotte along North Tryon Street. Bonus: The Lynx light rail extension includes a stop here at 36th Street, making getting to and from the UNC Charlotte campus without a car easier.