Combining Sunshine with Learning: The Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in Fort Myers
I’m Ryn, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Fort Myers, Florida. I am also a big fan of learning, which can be especially enjoyable when you’re doing it in a place that’s sunny, stocked with amazing wildlife and never far from the beach. That sums up Fort Myers to a tee, and I’ve been enjoying all three ever since we moved to the area in 2020.
While many Floridians may be happily retired, others come here to hit the books at one of the top local colleges. My own college experience was at Brooklyn College in New York City, which was great for learning but not so great for the wintery weather. Brooklyn College provides an urban environment with students who commute rather than live on campus. That same type of setup is generally the norm with the local colleges in Fort Myers – although you get to skip the slush, ice and snow.
Living off-campus gives you more freedom to choose the type of student apartment, home or duplex you want to live in. It also comes with more privacy and, hopefully, fewer distractions than a dorm room would typically deliver. You’re not stuck with a ready-made roommate and are free to have visitors, pets and maybe even a garden – depending on the housing accommodations you pick.
Whatever you pick, you’re likely to be in for a solid educational foundation mingled with absolute relaxation. The Fort Myers local colleges highlighted here give you a smorgasbord of degrees, certificates and programs from which to choose. Students of all ages and backgrounds are part of the mix, which makes it a great place for learning as well as mingling with fellow students.
If I had not been in love with Brooklyn when it came time for college, I would have definitely been open a university in Southwest Florida. Here come the top three local colleges in Fort Myers, along with info on their nearby neighborhoods for your perfect version of student housing.
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
Nature and intellect converge at Florida Gulf Coast University, a notable Fort Myers college that has been going strong since 1997. The intellect comes from the smattering of programs available in fields like science, nursing, teaching and – my favorite – entrepreneurship. The nature comes from the 400 acres of restored or preserved natural habitat that’s part of the overall campus. Trails snaking through the landscape provide a much-needed break or boost in between studies, or an instant place to unwind once the day’s work is done.
Several additional perks include affordability, degree options and overall location. The school reports that 59% of its students graduate with absolutely no debt going forward. Nice! It’s also the only one of the Fort Myers colleges in this article that offers bachelor's, master's and doctorate options. And its location takes you away from the busiest areas of Fort Myers. The sprawling campus and surrounding neighborhoods provide a bit more elbow and breathing room than other area universities.
The nearest homes and apartments for rent around FGCU are in the outlying neighborhood of Fort Myers.
Outlying Neighborhood of Fort Myers
If you’re like me, you’re a fan of visiting the lively downtown areas – but you’d rather live in or around a more natural environment. That’s exactly what the outlying neighborhood of Fort Myers delivers. Here you’ll find a more suburban and relaxing feel for your Florida student housing than you get in more populated areas of the city.
In addition to less mental congestion, you’ll find a bit less traffic, as well as a greater chance to enjoy Florida’s bounty of wildlife. FGCU campus isn’t the only place to enjoy Florida’s natural beauty. You’ll be closer to other open spaces, like the well-known Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.
ATA College of Fort Myers
If healthcare is your targeted career field, then ATA College of Fort Myers may be a good choice for your advanced education. Formerly known as Southwestern Florida State College, the name changed to ATA in 2024. But the central Fort Myers location remained the same.
With two locations in Florida and three others throughout the nation, ATA specializes in programs designed for careers in the medical field. The Fort Myers campus offers diplomas and associate degrees in things like nursing and surgical assistance as well as veterinary assistance and electrical technology.
The location is a Fort Myers hotspot, close to two of the city’s main thoroughfares: Colonial Boulevard and Tamiami Trail (aka Highway 41). It’s just down the street from Edison Mall, a notable shopping complex known throughout the region. Shopping can be an ideal way to unwind after a big day of medical technology, yes? You’re also near a handful of well-established Fort Myers neighborhoods. They include:
- Metro Trade Center
- Breezewood
- Boardwalk Park Place
- Page Park
Metro Trade Center may be a neighborhood that’s tiny in size, but it’s seen astronomical growth over the past few years. Its family feel and convenient location may have something to do with it. People tend to stick around this neighborhood, perhaps because of its nearby access to shops, a walking trail and even a community park.
Several lakes provide a soothing feel to the area, as do surrounding residential complexes. Metro Trade Center is not far from the upscale, single-family home neighborhood of Florimond Manor, which is not a bad neighbor to have.
Another centrally located neighborhood with a solid feel, Breezewood is a mere hop, skip and jump from a bastion of shops and restaurants. You might even be able to walk to them if you don’t mind hauling home your take-out pizza or Chinese food. Little Ceasars, anyone?
The configuration of the neighborhood is a U-shaped street, automatically providing a private and cozy feel. Not a lot of homes are typically for sale in Breezewood, which speaks to its allure and longevity. But you will generally find rental homes and apartments if you want to call this comfy haven home.
Sharing its name with two of the most sought-after properties on the Monopoly game board, the Boardwalk Park Place neighborhood of Fort Myers is equally alluring, The name alone automatically invites a high-end feel, and the homes and apartment complexes in the area add to the flair.
This is another neighborhood that may not have many homes for sale, but great opportunities to rent. It’s farther from shops, restaurants and other amenities than some of the other neighborhoods in the area, but it makes up for it with a homey vibe. Nearby Manor Park and Bowling Green Park add even more greenery to the nabe, which already features plenty of green.
Page Park
Solitude, open spaces and relative proximity to the Fort Myers waterfront make Page Park a good pick for living it up in Southwest Florida. Part of what contributes to the open spaces is an airport – but we’re not talking about an international hub with constant commercial flights. That’s what Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is for.
While Page Field used to be the main regional airport, it took on the designation of a reliever airport once RSW opened in 1983. So no, you won’t get constant wall-shaking from giant jet traffic at all hours of the day and night. You may get private business flights, perhaps even a celebrity landing or two?
Brooks Community Park is part of the neighborhood, as is the Hideaway Country Club. Both deliver even more green spaces for you to enjoy in and around your Page Park student apartment.
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW)
Formerly known as Edison State College, SouthWestern State College adopted its new name in 2014. The ideal location on College Parkway remains the same, and the student body and university perks continue to expand.
Offering associate degrees, bachelor's degrees and college credit certificates, the academic programs run the gamut from arts and sciences to nursing and firefighting. As part of the Florida College System, tuition remains affordable and the reputation stellar.
The student body and campus amenities have likewise expanded over the past decade. An increase in international students brings a greater variety of cultural backgrounds. Campus perks include Suncoast Credit Union Arena, a massive arena right on campus that holds about 3,5000 attendees. With more than 1,8000 seats, the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall hosts touring Broadway musicals as well as notable performers and entertainers.
The surrounding neighborhoods are also a hit when it comes to Florida student living. They include:
- McGregor
- Cypress Lake
- Metro Parkway Office Park
Page Park is another nearby neighborhood ideal for both FSW and ATA student housing. You’ll find details on the neighborhood in the ATA College section above.
Historic homes and tree-lined streets make the McGregor neighborhood of Fort Myers a luscious choice for living. A generous array of shops, restaurants and businesses make things convenient without being overbearing. Yes, you’ll still get plenty of breathing room among the charming homes, as well as a pretty fast jaunt to the nearby Caloosahatchee River if you desire.
This neighborhood definitely has a community feel to it, more so than other neighborhoods that may be closer to more businesses. You’ll also enjoy what may seem like a slower pace, quieter streets and more homes and gardens that make a soothing choice for Southwest Florida student living.
Located just south and a bit inland of McGregor, Cypress Lake is another cozy neighborhood with a homey feel. A smattering of restaurants and shops dot the area, including a top-notch Publix supermarket for all your feasting needs. As with other student apartments and homes near Florida SouthWestern State College, you’ll enjoy a relatively quick trip to the Fort Myers waterfront.
The neighborhood is not far from Lakes Park, which features a freshwater lake for fishing or relaxing. If exercising indoors is more of your thing, a trampoline park fitness facility is also in the area.
Stretching to the south and west of FSW, you’ll find plenty of student rentals around an area known as Metro Parkway Office Park. Several parks and lakes are nearby if you’re looking for a place to unwind around your student rental. Big box stores and a host of restaurants and other businesses are also in the area to make errands convenient.
As you might guess, the main drag of Metro Parkway is also close to this area. You could just as easily hop on the major thoroughfares of Daniels Parkway, which takes you east to west across Fort Myers, or Tamiami Trail. Tamiami Trail runs north and south, and its name comes from the fact that the 284-miles stretch of road connects Tampa to Miami.
Summing It Up
Now that you have a good idea about the top local colleges in Fort Myers and their surrounding neighborhoods, you have solid info to move forward. Making the decision to move to Fort Myers for college can be an easy one, especially since you’re now aware of the variety of programs and degrees offered at three solid schools. Once you’ve earned your certificate or degree, you’ll already have a great feel for what Florida living is all about – and chances are high that you just might want to stick around.
