Lakeshore to Lecture Hall: Finding Your Perfect Student Apartment in Madison, WI
I am Mike, your guide to student housing in the Greater Madison, Wisconsin, area. Madison is a terrific city that also is the Capital of Wisconsin. Its downtown area is sandwiched between Lakes Mendota and Monona, which offer great outdoor recreation and fishing opportunities for local college students. There also are a lot of student apartments available in many great Madison neighborhoods.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Madison
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,489 | $775 | $4,680 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,747 | $528 | $4,815 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,141 | $763 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,408 | $675 | $6,450 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,450 | $675 | $6,700 |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $2,219 | $1,199 | $8,150 |
University of Wisconsin at Madison
The University of Wisconsin at Madison is the flagship university of Wisconsin’s public university system. It is a four-year university that contains many colleges and graduate schools, including a law school. The university is part of the Big Ten Conference, which ensures plenty of excellent opportunities to root for various Wisconsin Badgers sports teams. It’s located on the shores of Lake Mendota, which makes it one of the most scenic campuses in the United States.
Regent
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,288 | $1,079 | $1,549 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,653 | $1,128 | $3,001 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,155 | $1,500 | $3,450 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,509 | $1,775 | $2,939 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,949 | $2,550 | $3,349 |
Madison’s Regent neighborhood is a very compact area that is located directly south of the campus serving the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It also is due west of historic Camp Randall Stadium, which is perfect for college football fans. Regent is perfectly located to support pedestrian access to the campus and all of the great restaurants and night spots that cater to its student population.
Radio Park
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,432 | $875 | $2,050 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,711 | $646 | $3,380 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,105 | $770 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,527 | $1,750 | $4,295 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $3,074 | $2,550 | $3,400 |
Madison’s Radio Park neighborhood is situated southwest of the University of Wisconsin campus and has a very suburban feel. The neighborhood offers a blend of residential and student housing. Some savvy hunting can net great Radio Park apartments near the University of Wisconsin.
Shorewood Hills
The Shorewood Hills neighborhood offers some of the best Madison apartments near the University of Wisconsin and is located due west of the campus. It also is directly south of Lake Mendota and several local parks. Shorewood Hills is a great location for enjoying outdoor activities during all four seasons of the year and is just a short drive to the campus.
Sunset Village
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,433 | $875 | $2,050 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,747 | $646 | $3,380 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,157 | $770 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,556 | $1,750 | $3,750 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,949 | $2,550 | $3,349 |
Sunset Village offers quality student apartments in a great neighborhood that is about a 15-minute drive to the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. It’s directly south of Shorewood Hills and Lake Mendota and very close to the University Hospital. Sunset Village is a terrific neighborhood that gives students a great blend of campus-related activities and outdoor fun throughout the year.
Wingra Park
Wingra Park is another great location for renting Madison apartments near the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. The Wingra Park neighborhood is situated southwest of Regent and very close to the northern shore of Lake Wingra, which offers fishing, kayaking, and canoeing recreational activities. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum and Spring Trail surround much of Lake Wingra, which I’ve always loved to visit for hiking and mountain biking.
Edgewood University
Formerly named Edgewood College, the university is situated very close to the University of Wisconsin at Madison and even closer to Lake Wingra. It’s a private Dominican university with a 55-acre campus that overlooks Lake Wingra along its northwestern shore. Edgewood offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate degrees for its about 2,000 students.
Dudgeon-Monroe
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,482 | $800 | $2,279 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,764 | $995 | $4,720 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,093 | $855 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,553 | $675 | $5,650 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,399 | $675 | $6,700 |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $2,194 | $1,199 | $8,150 |
Dudgeon-Monroe is directly adjacent to the Edgewood campus and offers quality student apartments. The Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood is very pedestrian-friendly and makes it very easy to walk or ride to classes in all but the worst winter weather. Lake Wingra, Wingra Park, and the Edgewood Boardwalk offer exceptional opportunities to enjoy time outside and study outdoors during good weather. If you enjoy recreational water activities, Lake Wingra is easily accessible for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing – or just lounging along the shoreline.
Greenbush
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,083 | $915 | $1,175 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,363 | $840 | $1,675 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,524 | $925 | $2,390 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,083 | $895 | $2,595 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $425 | $425 | $425 |
Madison’s Greenbush neighborhood is ideally situated just northwest of Monona Bay and northeast of Lake Wingra and the Edgewood campus. It also is close to Downtown Madison, the University of Wisconsin, and Lake Mendota. Its central location puts Greenbush very close to just about everything in Madison, and it’s about a 10-minute drive to the Edgewood campus. You also can ride a bike in about the same amount of time by riding the biking and hiking trails through Vilas Park to the Edgewood Boardwalk.
Vilas
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,596 | $905 | $1,867 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,914 | $1,325 | $2,400 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,082 | $1,353 | $3,105 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,931 | $2,695 | $3,199 |
Vilas is another terrifically located neighborhood for Madison apartments near Edgewood University. It is adjacent to Vilas Park to the east and the Edgewood University campus to the southwest. Walking, riding, and driving to campus is very easy, and I love the Vilas neighborhood’s close proximity to Lake Wingra. You can visit the Henry Vilas Zoo or get some sun and maybe even do some studying at the nearby Vilas Park Beach when the weather is good.
Bay Creek
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,624 | $800 | $3,170 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,948 | $995 | $4,720 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,434 | $855 | $4,840 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,699 | $675 | $6,450 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,436 | $675 | $6,700 |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $2,219 | $1,199 | $8,150 |
Bay Creek is a good location for commuters who don’t mind a short drive of about 15 minutes to the campus. The neighborhood is situated east of Lake Wingra and due west of Monona Bay, which makes it close to nearly everything in Madison. Bay Creek is about a 2.5-mile drive to Edgewood University, which makes it within reach of those who prefer to ride a bike to school and save on parking and gas costs.
Wingra Park
As good as Wingra Park is for renting Madison apartments near the University of Wisconsin campus, it’s even better for Edgewood University. The Wingra Park neighborhood is very close to the northern shore of Lake Wingra and the fantastic Edgewood Boardwalk that leads to the university. It also is close to Downtown Madison and all of the great activities there, and near the University of Wisconsin campus.
Herzing University - Madison
Herzing University is a private institution that mostly is focused on nursing degrees and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 1,800 students. The university’s Madison campus is located in the northeastern part of the greater Madison area and a couple of miles east of the Dane County Regional Airport. The University is ideal for commuters because it is situated just north of the Route 151 and Interstate 90 interchange.
Ridgewood
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,226 | $895 | $1,520 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,534 | $950 | $2,500 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,859 | $1,050 | $3,000 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,222 | $1,300 | $3,560 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,730 | $2,295 | $3,165 |
Student apartments in Ridgewood are ideally located near the interstate, which makes it very easy to drive to Herzing for classes in just a few minutes. The Ridgewood neighborhood is mostly residential and partly surrounded by great parks for outdoor recreation. It also is about 8 miles from Downtown and 4 miles east of Dane County Regional Airport.
Burke Heights
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,294 | $895 | $1,605 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,531 | $950 | $2,735 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,899 | $1,050 | $3,240 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,221 | $1,300 | $3,560 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,730 | $2,295 | $3,165 |
The Burke Heights neighborhood is adjacent to Route 51 and Highway 30, which gives commuters easy access to the university’s campus. The neighborhood is about 5 miles south of Herzing University and less than 2 miles from Dane County Regional Airport. Burke Heights has more recently constructed student apartment homes available for rent and is ideally situated for working students.
Hawthorne
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,324 | $895 | $1,725 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,549 | $950 | $2,889 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,935 | $1,050 | $3,450 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,297 | $1,300 | $3,560 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,238 | $1,722 | $2,600 |
Hawthorne is another newer community in the Greater Madison area and is about 3 miles southwest of the university along Route 151. Dane County Regional Airport is about 2 miles away, and it’s very easy to drive to Downtown Madison along the 151. Hawthorne has a distinctly suburban atmosphere, with traditionally styled apartment buildings and homes available for rent.
Carpenter-Ridgeway
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,562 | $895 | $2,550 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,802 | $950 | $3,591 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,102 | $900 | $4,276 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,515 | $1,300 | $4,884 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,224 | $1,722 | $2,600 |
The Carpenter-Ridgeway neighborhood is another great community in which Herzing students might seek housing. It’s located on the northwest side of Route 151 and about 5 miles away from the university. Carpenter-Ridgeway provides easy access to Downtown Madison and all of the great restaurants, shopping, and nightlife that it offers. The neighborhood is relatively new among those in the Greater Madison area and has several parks located nearby, as well as Lake Mendota about 3 miles to the west.
Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College is located southeast of Dane County Regional Airport and very close to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing. It offers more than 150 degree programs that give students vocational training in many fields that are in demand across the country. It’s a terrific alternative to a traditional bachelor’s program and can lead to rewarding careers that don’t require massive student loan debt to cover high tuition costs, unlike many larger universities.
Berkeley Oaks
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,052 | $895 | $1,300 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,264 | $950 | $1,621 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,464 | $900 | $3,199 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,439 | $1,219 | $2,300 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,098 | $1,722 | $2,475 |
The Berkeley Oaks neighborhood is located directly west of the Dane County Regional Airport and near Highway 113. The highway makes it easy to drive down and around the airport’s southern end and then up to the college. Berkeley Oaks has a blend of older and newer homes and is just a couple of miles east of Lake Mendota. Several high-quality parks are nearby, which is ideal for those who enjoy getting outside and enjoying all four seasons of weather.
Brentwood Village
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,455 | $975 | $1,860 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,629 | $950 | $3,245 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,207 | $900 | $4,276 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,960 | $1,219 | $4,884 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,098 | $1,722 | $2,475 |
Brentwood Village is another great neighborhood that is situated very close to Lake Mendota and many terrific local parks. It’s less than 2 miles west of the airport and even closer to the lake. Warner Park is situated due north of the community, and Sherman Avenue makes it easy to drive to Downtown Madison, while local roads will take you to the technical college.
Hawthorne
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,324 | $895 | $1,725 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,549 | $950 | $2,889 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,935 | $1,050 | $3,450 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,297 | $1,300 | $3,560 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,238 | $1,722 | $2,600 |
Hawthorne is about a mile southeast of the campus of Madison Area Technical College and the Dane County Regional Airport. The neighborhood is located directly south of the Route 51 and Route 151 intersection, which makes it very easy to drive to Downtown Madison. Hawthorne has a friendly suburban feel, with traditionally styled apartment buildings and homes available for rent.
Get Started on a Rewarding Career at a Madison-Area School
Madison offers exceptional higher-education opportunities that can lead to very rewarding careers for people of virtually all ages. The University of Wisconsin at Madison is a world-class university, and the city’s private universities provide students with highly marketable job skills that are in demand. Plenty of student apartments are available to meet just about any budget, and there are lots of great recreational opportunities.
