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The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near CU Boulder (October 2026)

University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, COUpdated Monthly

By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed October 1, 2026

51 properties reviewed
246+ reviews analyzed
updated October 2026
independentno pay-to-rank
the short answer

Mountainaire Boulder leads our October 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near CU Boulder with a 1.9/5 FMP Score, followed by The Lodge and Buffalo Canyon Apartments. Across the 51 properties reviewed, students keep coming back to amenities & shared spaces and management & maintenance: the overall signals that move a property up this ranking. Browse all off-campus housing near University of Colorado Boulder for every option.

  • winnerMountainaire Boulder
  • FMP Score range1.2–5.0 / 5
  • avg walk0 min to campus
  • rent range$750–$4202 /person
the ranking

The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near CU Boulder

Sorted by FMP Score from verified CU Boulder reviews, high to low. Scores reflect current CU Boulder reviews only.

  1. Mountainaire Boulder
    1.9(8 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The top overall pick near CU Boulder, at 1.9/5 from verified reviews. Emma is the best agent at the Mountainaire appartment, since my first visit last year she was very helpful and patient, specially if english is your second language, she will make sure to…

    $1445/person/moBad maintenancePoor managementGreat locationOverpriced
  2. The Lodge
    2.7(6 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: A podium finish for overall near CU Boulder, 2.7/5 from verified reviews. We were recently looking for pre-leasing options for housing for my daughter and a room mate. Libby was incredibly helpful. She showed us options at The Lodge but also provided options at…

    $800/person/moBad maintenanceWorth the moneyYounger Crowd
  3. Buffalo Canyon Apartments
    1.2(6 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: A podium finish for overall near CU Boulder, 1.2/5 from verified reviews. The buildings are old and you can hear your neighbors foot’s steps all day, if they stay even worse they don’t let you sleep. The walls are very thin I can hear my neighbor watching tv and…

    $965/person/moGood maintenanceOverpricedWould not live here again
  4. ōLiv Boulder
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. Great experience with McKenna on my apartment tour today. She was very friendly and answered all my questions. This property is…

    $1838/person/mo
  5. The Gaslamp
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. Great place with lots of space and amenities, super nice realtors

    $1850/person/mo
  6. Hub Boulder
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. Had an amazing experience with Will while exploring and signing a lease with the Hub in Boulder. Couldn’t be happier with how me…

  7. Boulder View Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. Just recently moved to Boulder from out of state and I can't say enough good things about the team that manages the Boulder View…

    $1929/person/mo
  8. Reve Boulder Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. Let's face it, there are lots of place you can move to in Boulder and they run the full range, with plenty of great amenities…

    $1700/person/mo
  9. The Armory Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. I’ve been living at Armory Apartments for the past two years, and I’m planning to stay for another year, that alone says a lot…

    $1613/person/mo
  10. 17Walnut
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Holds a 5.0/5 overall score from verified CU Boulder reviews. I've been in a terrific apartment in a terrific location for the last three years. 17Walnut is being converted to condominiums…

The Full Ranking, One Table

Sort by any column. The rank stays with the property.
The full ranking of every listed apartment, sortable by any column.
1Mountainaire Boulder1.9/58–$1445/mo
2The Lodge2.7/56–$800/mo
3Buffalo Canyon Apartments1.2/56–$965/mo
4ōLiv Boulder5.0/55–$1838/mo
5The Gaslamp5.0/55–$1850/mo
6Hub Boulder5.0/55––
7Boulder View Apartments5.0/55–$1929/mo
8Reve Boulder Apartments5.0/55–$1700/mo
9Timber Ridge Apartment Homes5.0/55–$750/mo
10The Armory Apartments5.0/55–$1613/mo
11Parc Mosaic Apartment Homes5.0/55–$1707/mo
1217Walnut5.0/55––

Walk times are door-to-door to CU Boulder campus. Rent is per person, per month.

FMP award criteria

How We Ranked These Apartments

1

Ranked by the FMP Score

FMP Score, high to low. That’s the whole ranking. It’s our overall measure of a property, combining verified review scores with signals reviews miss, like how current the listing is kept and how responsive management is. Ties go to the property with more verified reviews.

2

Who Makes the List

Every property near CU Boulder can appear, but it takes a minimum number of verified reviews before we score and rank it. Properties under that bar sit below every ranked property and move up automatically as reviews come in.

3

How We Calculate the FMP Score

The FMP Score blends the social, management, and quality scores from verified reviews with signals that a place is actively and well run, like how up to date its listing is kept and how consistently management responds to residents. It’s built to surface genuinely well-run properties, not just the highest raw review average.

by the numbers

What Makes an Apartment ‘well-rounded’ Near CU Boulder

We ran every verified overall review for CU Boulder-area apartments through theme analysis. These are the themes students bring up most when a place feels well-rounded, by share of the reviews that mention them.

responsive helpful management
53%
maintenance and repair issues
41%
strong community feel
30%

Based on AI analysis of verified CU Boulder overall reviews, refreshed monthly. Percentages show the share of reviews that mention each theme; most reviews mention more than one. See our complete CU Boulder review data →

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best overall student apartment near CU Boulder?

Mountainaire Boulder leads our October 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near CU Boulder with a 1.9/5 FMP Score, followed by The Lodge and Buffalo Canyon Apartments.

How is this ranking calculated?

This list is ranked by one number: each property's overall score from verified reviews. Students rate a property's overall 1 to 5, and we average those scores, counting recent reviews more heavily than older ones. No self-reported data from landlords.

What makes an apartment the best overall?

The best overall apartments score highly across everything students rate (social scene, management, and unit quality), not just one. This ranking uses each property's overall rating from verified reviews.

How often is this ranking updated?

Monthly. We re-pull verified reviews and re-score every property at the start of each month, so the order reflects the most recent 24 months of student feedback. The “updated” date at the top of the page shows the latest refresh.

How many reviews does a property need to be included?

There's a minimum number of verified reviews to rank by score, and we don't publish the exact bar so it can't be gamed. Properties under it still appear, below every qualified property and ordered by review count, so a 5.0 from one review never outranks a 4.5 from thirty. Once a property collects enough reviews, it moves into the scored ranking automatically.

Is this ranking independent, or can properties pay to rank higher?

It's fully independent. There's no pay-to-rank. Position is set by verified reviews alone. Property managers can't buy placement, remove reviews, or influence the score.

for property managers

Made the List? Get Your FMP Award Badge.

If your property is on this ranking, you've earned an FMP Award. Reach out and we'll set you up with the official badge for your website, social, and print, free. It's how renters know your ranking is real.

Find My Place Award2026
11st place

Best Overall

student apartments near CU Boulder

Verified & independentUniversity of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO