Off-Campus Housing & Apartments near University of Texas at Austin (UT), Austin Campus

Welcome to off-campus living at the University of Texas at Austin. If you're just headed here to get your college experience started, congratulations. If you're already working toward a degree and you're looking to move off campus into Austin, you've come to the right place. ForRentUniversity.com® offers advice for students and parents, plus listings to help you find the best apartments near UT Austin. But what about student life in Austin, Texas? What are the best Austin neighborhoods for UT students? Get the details in our UT Austin off-campus guide.

Business First named the University of Texas at Austin #14 on its 2016 list of the Top United States Public Colleges, and it lives up to the hype. With more than 1,300 student organizations formally recognized by the university and a student media operation that offers newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV stations, it's clear that UT Austin is invested in its students. UT Austin is also widely known for its athletics, with the Texas Longhorns an incredibly important part of campus pride since 1906. The Texas Longhorns encompass a wide array of sports such as football, basketball, and even rowing. Texas as a whole is extremely proud of UT Austin, as it has produced a number of incredibly important individuals such as Walter Cronkite, Wes Anderson, and even former First Lady Laura Bush. UT Austin is a huge part of Texan culture, and it has always prided itself on being a great place to live and study.

UT Austin is located directly to the east of the West Campus neighborhood, within the Austin-Round Rock metro area. Austin is a heavily urban area, being the fastest-growing big city in the United States, as well as the third most populous state capital. Austin, planted in the southeast of the huge state of Texas, is fairly close to the other large Texas cities, especially San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. Residents, especially students at UT Austin, love the sheer breadth of events that Austin has to offer. It's an extremely diverse area, with a relaxed feel to it, and plenty of people who come from all different backgrounds. University faculty and alumni have many achievements, with teachers being recipients of the Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize, among other awards. UT Austin is so big that it basically is its own neighborhood, but it's bordered by the West Campus, East Austin, and Downtown Austin areas. West Campus is actually its own neighborhood, separate from UT Austin, but got its name from the fact that it's a very popular place for students to hang out.

Staying Safe in Austin

Both students and parents may have concerns about safety when moving off campus. If this is your first time living off campus or on your own, it may be daunting to feel like you have only yourself to rely on. UT Austin does its part every day to make sure you're as safe as possible so you don't have to worry. UT Austin has its own police force of more than 130 people who take campus safety very seriously. They provide plenty of crime prevention tips. As part of the Be Safe effort, the university has increased lighting in numerous areas, installed new security systems, and increased police patrols. ID cards are equipped with a chip to make sure that only approved individuals are inside college buildings during restricted hours. UT Austin has also installed more than 170 outdoor emergency phones around campus that send a message to campus security at the push of a button. Also keep in mind that ForRentUniversity.com lets you sort apartments near UT Austin by safety and privacy features, including campus shuttles and gated access.

Downtown Austin

Downtown Austin is the central business district of Austin, directly to the south of UT Austin. It's an extremely urban area, with lots of entertainment, dining, shopping, and historic sites. But downtown Austin also is home to galleries and museums, plus the flagship Whole Foods Market. If you love the bustle of life, downtown Austin could be the place for you. Sixth Street here, between North Lamar Boulevard and Interstate 35, is the heart of Austin's nightlife scene.

West Campus

Though it sounds like a designation for part of UT Austin, West Campus is actually its own part of the city, west of the university. If you enjoy nature and relaxing, Pease Park, near the western edge of West Campus, is a 42-acre expanse for playing and relaxing. For entertainment, try Spider House Café and Ballroom. No matter what you're interested in, West Campus is a great place to find it.

East Austin

Eclectic and gritty East Austin is a large area with many sub-neighborhoods. It sits to the east of downtown and the UT Austin campus on the other side of Interstate 35. Manor Road here, near campus, has become a hotspot for restaurants, bars, and alternative theater. Other popular streets in East Austin closer to downtown include East 11th Street, where you'll find world-famous Franklin Barbecue; and East 6th Street as it extends toward hot music venues like The White Horse, a hip honky-tonk.