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Off-Campus Housing Near CU Boulder

51 places found.

51 places
Two Nine North
Modern apartment complex courtyard at Two Nine North Boulder featuring a swimming pool, lounge chairs, patio tables with umbrellas, and secure fencing. Multi-story buildings with balconies surround the inviting pool area.

$2,229+/unit

Fees may apply

Two Nine North

1.8 (5)
Union 9Seventy
Modern Union 9Seventy Boulder apartment complex with a fenced outdoor pool, several lounge chairs partially in the water, and multi-story buildings with balconies and large windows under a blue sky with clouds.

$1,665+/person

Fees may apply

Union 9Seventy

2.8 (5)
Union Baseline
Outdoor swimming pool with clear blue water at Union Baseline Boulder, surrounded by lounge chairs, a gazebo, and modern gray apartment buildings under a clear sky. Green plants and trees enhance the relaxing pool area.

$1,535+/person

Fees may apply

Union Baseline

4.0 (5)
University Heights Apartments
A one-story brick building with a sloped roof, surrounded by leafless trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and a sidewalk, sits near a no-parking sign—typical of the University Heights Apartments Boulder area.

$1,480+/person

Fees may apply

University Heights Apartments

4.2 (5)
Uptown Broadway Apartments
Modern three-story Uptown Broadway Apartments Boulder with balconies and large windows, surrounded by autumn trees and parked cars, under a clear blue sky on a sunny day. Grass and flowers are visible in the foreground.

$1,959+/unit

Fees may apply

Uptown Broadway Apartments

3.8 (5)
Verdant Apartment Homes
Verdant Apartment Homes Boulder features three-story buildings with wooden balconies and exterior staircases, all surrounded by lush green grass, trees, and a clear blue sky on a sunny day.

$2,013+/unit

Fees may apply

Verdant Apartment Homes

2.4 (5)
View House
A colorful apartment building, View House Boulder, features a blue geometric mural on its brick wall, a wooden fence, and a small patio with a grill. Trees and another house are visible in the background.

$2,450+/unit

Fees may apply

View House

Violet on Broadway Apartments
Modern apartment building with tan and brick exterior, multiple balconies, and large windows—Violet on Broadway Apartments Boulder boasts landscaped gardens and a sidewalk under a clear blue sky.

$1,920+/unit

Fees may apply

Violet on Broadway Apartments

3.6 (5)
Wye Flats
Modern three-story apartment building, Wye Flats Boulder, features a brick exterior, large glass windows, and small balconies. String lights hang above a paved walkway lined with greenery and railing under a clear blue sky.

$2,425+/unit

Fees may apply

Wye Flats

4.0 (3)

About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder's off-campus rental market is competitive and expensive for a Colorado city — the combination of CU's large student body, a strong tech and outdoor recreation workforce, and limited developable land in the valley keeps rents high and vacancy low. Most students pay $1,000–$1,500/month for a shared room. The Hill neighborhood immediately west of campus is the densest student zone, with apartments stacked close enough that you can hear your neighbor's playlist. East of campus along 28th Street and in East Boulder are more affordable alternatives. Boulder is exceptionally bikeable — it's one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country — and the transit system is solid for a city its size.

University of Colorado Boulder Housing Requirements

Freshman Live-On Requirements

CU Boulder requires all first-year students to live on campus unless they are living with immediate family. The residence hall system on the main campus houses most freshmen. Off-campus housing searching becomes relevant during spring semester of freshman year for sophomore occupancy — Boulder's market requires early action.

Off-Campus Eligibility

After the required first year, students rent freely throughout Boulder, Louisville, Superior, and the surrounding area. No contracted off-campus housing system exists. CU Boulder's Off-Campus Housing office maintains listings, connects students with roommates, and provides tenant education resources.

Lease Timing

Boulder's rental cycle is aggressive. Most leases near campus turn over in May and June, but landlords list units as early as October or November for the following fall. By January, the best Hill apartments are gone. This is not an exaggeration — Boulder landlords face no shortage of demand and have no incentive to wait.

Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with University of Colorado Boulder before signing a lease.

When to Start Looking for Housing Near University of Colorado Boulder

Early Searchers

October and November of freshman year is when serious Boulder off-campus housing searching happens. The Hill's most desirable units — well-maintained houses, apartments with outdoor space, anything within 3 blocks of campus — are signed by January. Students who think they have until March are consistently shocked by what's left.

Peak Demand Window

November through January is Boulder's real competition window for fall housing. It feels absurd to sign a lease in November for the following August, but that's the market. The CU housing office will confirm this. Students who wait until spring find the good Hill inventory entirely locked up.

Last-Minute Options

Students searching in the spring for fall housing are choosing from what CU's large student body passed on. East Boulder, the Broadway Corridor further from campus, and the suburban edges of Boulder proper have more availability. Louisville and Superior (10–15 minutes away) are genuinely affordable fallbacks with direct bus access.

Neighborhoods Near University of Colorado Boulder

The Hill

Directly west of campus, The Hill is the most densely student-occupied neighborhood in Boulder. Houses, apartments, and converted duplexes packed into a compact area walking distance from most academic buildings. Most competitive for housing, most social in character. Signed fastest — sometimes in fall of the prior year.

East Campus / 28th Street

East of campus along 28th Street and in the surrounding blocks, more apartment-complex style housing at slightly lower prices. Less of the neighborhood character of The Hill, but solid access to campus via bike or bus. The 28th Street corridor has good transit frequency.

South Boulder / Broadway Corridor

Further from campus and more affordable, South Boulder along Broadway has a mix of residential streets and apartment complexes. Popular with grad students and upperclassmen who want more space. The Boulder Creek path connects it to campus by bike in about 15 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions: Off-Campus Housing Near University of Colorado Boulder

Common questions from students searching for housing.

Shared rooms on the Hill near CU Boulder typically run $1,000–$1,500/month. Solo apartments start around $1,500–$2,000/month. Boulder is expensive for Colorado — closer to Denver pricing than Fort Collins. Suburbs like Louisville and Superior are meaningfully cheaper with bus access to campus.

See how students rate the places near CU Boulder on social life, management, and quality before you tour.

Read student housing reviews near CU Boulder →
Read more about student housing near CU Boulder →
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