Local Expert's Guide To the Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in San Antonio

Hi, I'm Rhonda, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert and your guide to places to live around San Antonio colleges and universities. San Antonio, Texas, is one of the most dynamic cities in the Southwest. It combines old-world charm with a vibrant future. It is my family's home, and I was fortunate to start my collegiate career there.

The city is rooted in education, with over 30 institutions and 100,000 part- and full-time students. There are 14 major colleges and universities. San Antonio boasts professional programs for law, nursing, religion, and healthcare. The metroplex of 2.5 million people has a robust community college system, with a handful of technical and vocational schools throughout the city limits.

University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is considered the largest university in the city. I attended UTSA for a couple of years. Most recently, my niece has chosen to study in its hollowed halls. Admittedly, the school (and the city) have grown significantly since.

The University was founded in 1969 on a 750+ acre campus and has a stellar reputation as a research university. The student body, undergraduate and graduate, numbers roughly 35,000.

The mascot of UTSA, a Roadrunner (and yes, the jokes have been done to death), was chosen by a landslide election in 1977, beating out its competitor, the 'armadillo.'

UTSA has on-campus housing. However, there are numerous neighborhoods nearby that cater to San Antonio's students.

College Park

The College Park area is directly west of the UTSA campus. Students looking for a place to call home each semester will find a mix of modern and more traditional apartment homes for a single student or roommates. College Park is known for reasonable rents, and standard amenities (including pools), and is close to the UTSA campus in case the alarm forgets to go off.

University of the Incarnate Word

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), known locally as 'Incarnate Word' is an iconic academic institution in San Antonio. The nickname can be confusing for newcomers to the city as it is often used to refer to both the High School and the University.

UIW is located on Broadway, a main city artery, in the traditional neighborhood of Alamo Heights. In 1881 the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word founded the private university with high arches and impressive architecture on 154 acres near downtown San Antonio. It is the state's largest Roman Catholic university offering undergraduate and graduate programs, professional degrees, and certificates.

Alamo Heights

Old Alamo Heights is one of the oldest areas in San Antonio. It is a picture of suburbia with tree-lined streets and quiet nights. Part of the University of Incarnate Word campus sits within its borders.

The neighborhood has some impressive upscale eateries, art murals, walking trails, and the headwaters of the San Antonio River.

The neighborhood continues to build, providing a mix of traditional rental houses and apartment condos with modern apartments and lofts. Alamo Heights is relatively costly but extremely convenient, nestled between Hwy 281 and Hwy 368, to the university and downtown, both five minutes away.

Terrell Hills

Terrell Hills sits immediately east of the University of Incarnate Word campus. The area is an older San Antonio neighborhood similar to Alamo Heights. However, along Hwy 368 (Broadway Street), which divides the sister areas, are numerous apartments, lofts, and condos that welcome students from all over San Antonio. Older in design, many area locations are tucked behind oak trees and are surprisingly affordable for the single student who values a quiet study space.

A short 10-minute drive from the university campus, the area also allows easy access to Hwy 281 - one of the main downtown freeways. Many of my friends grew up in Terrell Hills and still live nearby.

Mahncke Park

South of the UIW campus is an eclectic area known as Mahncke Park. Located on the edge of Midtown, the neighborhood surrounds the park area. Most of the housing options are also east of Broadway Boulevard, the university's easternmost border. It connects museums, the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, the San Antonio County Club, eateries, and bike trails in a unique green space development. One of my favorite museums in the area is the Witte Museum, a city icon. Walkable for the adventurous, the area is a pivot point for most of the city.

Trinity University

Trinity University is a bit of a family tradition. It was founded by the Presbyterians in 1869. Several cousins attended the iconic private liberal arts institution with roughly 2,500 students. Ranked in the top 50 liberal arts schools by U.S. News & World Reports, Trinity, as it is known to the locals, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and professional designations.

Located west of Highway 281, the university is bordered to the north and south by E Hildebrand Avenue and E Mulberry Avenue. Easily identified by its red brick buildings nestled between large oak trees, Trinity University maintains high academic standards and a competitive admissions process.

The university combines urban and suburban environments and is central to numerous clusters of multi-resident apartments and single-family rental homes.

Monte Vista

Monte Vista sits west of the university campus, spanning the major north-south thoroughfare of McCullough Avenue. It is one of the city's many historical districts and links the San Antonio Zoo with the beloved Breckenridge Park and Golf Course. The neighborhood's central location, Midtown, allows easy access to parks, restaurants, entertainment, and campus.

Housing options are abundant especially the closer one goes toward San Pedro Avenue. Modern complexes with trendy amenities are interspersed with more traditional apartments, duplexes, and rental homes. The cost in the area is competitive, but the Monte Vista area offers something for every budget.

Midtown San Antonio and The Strip

Also known as the St Mary's Strip for the impressive number of local eateries, music venues, and coffee houses along a short distance, The Strip near Midtown is similar to 6th Street in Austin or even Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The Strip is a lively hub of arts and entertainment.

Traditional and affordable housing in the area clusters at the beginning and end of the strip, but for those who work while attending Trinity University, the three-mile distance is an easy commute.

Tobin Hill

Tobin Hill is a trendy neighborhood directly south of Trinity University. This is one of my favorite areas. I love the energy and the endless food court that surrounds an open green space. There is always a quiet place to enjoy the city. This district is considered an eclectic mix of restaurants, open space, and modern apartment developments with unique amenities. Pearl Brewery and the San Antonio Museum of Art are within walking distance of many of the housing choices. There are also more traditional apartments or rental homes at affordable prices but still within 10 miles of the campus.

Tobin Hill is bordered to the west and south by major freeways, Hwy 281 and IH-35, allowing for easy citywide access or a quick road trip. Overall, the district is centrally located for Trinity University as well as St Mary's and other institutions.

The little big city of San Antonio, Texas, is a dynamic collage of an urban-suburban environment. Still growing, this quintessential community mixes history, a wealth of colleges and universities, culture, and community for one of the best-kept secrets in the Southwest.