Student Housing and Student Apartments in San Francisco

Student housing in San Francisco is scarce and expensive, so most students at SF State, UCSF, the University of San Francisco (USF) and the Academy of Art rent off-campus apartments or share flats. SF State students look in the Sunset, Parkside and Ingleside; UCSF students in the Inner Sunset and Mission Bay; USF students around Lone Mountain, the Richmond and the Western Addition.

Snestico shows today's student apartments in San Francisco from Realtor.com and Redfin, from studios to shared three-bedrooms, with median rent by size and the BART or Muni commute to your campus from every home. Each listing gets a fair-price check, and you can open it for every photo and what it costs split between roommates.

Moving for one semester or a summer program? Filter by move-in date and furnished homes, and start looking two to three months ahead, since well-priced shared flats go quickly.

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Student Housing in San Francisco

Housing near SF State

SF State students rent in Parkside, Ingleside, Stonestown and the Outer Sunset, many within a short walk or a ride on the M Muni line to campus. Shared houses with three or four bedrooms are common here and usually cost less per person than apartments downtown.

USF off-campus housing

University of San Francisco students look around Lone Mountain, the Inner Richmond, NoPa and the Western Addition, where Victorian flats are often split between roommates. Muni buses along Fulton and Geary connect these neighborhoods to campus.

Near UCSF: Parnassus and Mission Bay

For the Parnassus campus, the Inner Sunset and Cole Valley are close and on the N-Judah line. For Mission Bay, students and residents look in Mission Bay itself, Dogpatch and Potrero Hill, along the T-Third line.

Homes for Rent in San Francisco Right Now

Live homes for rent in San Francisco right now, with photos and prices. Open one for every photo, nearby schools and what it costs to split with roommates.

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Where Students Live in San Francisco

Vibrant, diverse, great food

Near UC Berkeley, student-friendly

Tech hub, modern buildings

Residential, near ocean

Universities Near San Francisco

University of California, Berkeley

Approximately 2 miles away

Stanford University

Approximately 25 miles away

University of San Francisco (USF)

Approximately 3 miles away

San Francisco State University

Approximately 7 miles away

UC San Francisco (UCSF)

Approximately 1 mile away

Golden Gate University

Approximately 2 miles away

Student Tip: Use Snestico's proximity filter to find housing within walking or biking distance to your campus. Our AI considers commute times and public transit routes.

Housing Options in San Francisco

What homes rent for in San Francisco right now, by size.

Why Use Snestico in San Francisco

Neighborhood Guide for San Francisco

• Mission District
• SOMA
• Castro
• Haight-Ashbury
• Sunset District
• Richmond District

• Near UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCSF, and more
• Tech hub with abundant internship opportunities
• Excellent BART and Muni public transit
• Mild climate year-round
• Diverse neighborhoods and cultural experiences
• Beach access and outdoor recreation

Interactive neighborhood map

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Complete Housing Solution for San Francisco

Live Realtor.com and Redfin listings, plus more through AI search

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Common questions

Where do students live in San Francisco?

Near SF State in the Sunset and Parkside, near UCSF in the Inner Sunset, and along BART and Muni lines. Many students share flats to afford the rent.

How do I check the commute to campus?

Set your campus as your commute and Snestico shows the drive, walk or bike time from every home.

When should I start looking?

Two to three months before your move-in date; well-priced shared flats go quickly.

Is there off-campus housing near USF and SF State?

Yes. Most students at the University of San Francisco and SF State live off campus. Set your campus as the commute to compare homes by the real trip.