Local Guide To the Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in Raleigh

Student apartments are not always easy to find in every location, but that’s not the case in the university-rich city of Raleigh, North Carolina. As you might already know, it’s best to find those apartment communities that focus more on the amenities and rental rates conducive to college life. Your goal should be to scope out the safest, most affordable, and overall enjoyable place to stay while you’re in college. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a helpful resource to guide you in the right direction?

Well, if you attend either NC State, Meredith College, Shaw University, William Peace College, or Wake Tech, we’ll show you, in this article, the top neighborhoods for Raleigh students.

NC State University

North Carolina’s largest university boasts over 34,000 students. So, on its own, this public institution makes Raleigh the most student-saturated metro anywhere throughout the First-in-Flight state. Given those demographics, there’s a tremendous market for terrific Raleigh apartments near NC State. Allow me to introduce you to the most popular and student-oriented neighborhoods.

College View

The apartment selections in this area were clearly designed with active college students in mind. It’s close to all the important campus buildings, including the massive Jim Hunt Library, a beautiful disc golf park, and within walking distance of Lake Raleigh. I’ve trekked across the rather large campus to that scenic lake multiple times myself. Finally, you’ll find well over a dozen apartment rentals devoted to “student housing,” such as 616 at the Village.

University Suites

This neighborhood is on the other side of Lake Raleigh but still less than 10 minutes from campus. It’s essentially an entire section of college housing (hence, its name). If nothing else, you won't have to labor long to find a keg party or other social event on Friday or Saturday night if you move here. It’s well conducive to all aspects of student life.

Oberlin Village

Oberlin Village offers Wolfpack students several living opportunities, everything from furnished condominiums and student apartments to eco and pet-friendly rooms. This spot also features a delightful Rose Garden and sits adjacent to the gorgeous greens at Fred Fletcher Park. Last, but not least, be sure to visit The Flying Biscuit Café for one of Raleigh’s better breakfast joints.

Meredith College

Meredith College, home of the Avenging Angels, has been around since 1891 as an all-women’s school. The campus is situated between Wade Avenue and Hillsborough Street, two of Raleigh’s busiest roads. Total student enrollment exceeds 1,700, making it the ideal size for ladies in search of a well-staffed and resourceful college, yet without the bigger crowds at NC State. Let’s look at what neighborhoods you should target if you plan to live close to the campus.

South Central

You could easily move here to be within earshot of either NC State or Meredith. Many of the living arrangements cater to those with an active lifestyle, offering no shortage of athletic amenities (gyms, pools, etc.). Of course, the other component of “active” refers to the proximity to Downtown Raleigh, where you'll only get bored if you insist upon it. Don’t forget, if you’re a budding arborist, to head over to the JC Raulston Arboretum, and enjoy the tranquil, natural ambiance.

Ridge Park

Ridge Park is about nine minutes due-north of the Meredith campus. It’s right next to the North Carolina Museum of Art, and well worth a solid hour or two of exploring the exhibits. For hungry students, you won’t want to miss the highly rated Guasaca South American Grill at Lake Boone for novel items like Arepas, Mechadas, and an array of grilled dishes.

Sunset Hills

This neighborhood contains well over 300 rental opportunities, positioned about 12 minutes northwest of Meredith College. It’s surrounded by numerous other small communities, so it’s a dense residential location. Skating enthusiasts would enjoy Sunset Hills since it’s one of the closest to Raleigh’s large Jaycee Park. Golfers have just a short drive from there to the beautiful Carolina Golf Club, right off Highway 50.

Shaw University

Shaw University is one of North Carolina’s most respected historically black colleges/universities (HBCUs). It’s only a couple of blocks south of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (which I recommend visiting), positioned just north of Martin Luther King BLVD. Where can you find a place to rent if you enroll there?

South Park

South Park is a great place to begin your apartment hunting, given that it’s the closest to Shaw University, and grants residents convenient access to Downtown. What else would you find? Try hiking around the Walnut Creek Wetland Center for its trails and/or the informative guided tours. It’s one of Raleigh’s several wildlife-rich environments. On the renting lifestyle side of things, South Park gives you lots of flexibility when searching for affordable apartments, from one-bedroom/studios all the way to 3+ bedrooms.

Boylan Heights

This is a smaller option in terms of rental availability, but many of us appreciate quality over quantity. Plus, Boylan Heights is yet another smart move for its proximity to Shaw. It’s also home to Raleigh Union Station, for whenever you want to leave town to visit relatives during fall/spring breaks (way better than the airport, in my view). Last of all, this neighborhood and Shaw’s campus are both next to the Raleigh Convention Center, an obvious advantage for event enthusiasts.

Glenwood South

Here’s another neighborhood I believe would work well, for short commuting, for most of the colleges in this article (especially NC State, Shaw, and Meredith). In addition, it’s south of Fred Fletcher Park, right across from a Super Publix, and Sullivan’s Steakhouse. That latter venue is one of Raleigh’s top dining spots, having garnered greater than 6,000 positive testimonials. Glenwood South is also right down the street from the State Capitol.

William Peace College

This private college, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, adheres to the Latin motto: Esse Quam Videri (to be, rather than to seem). Granted, if you take that message to heart, then you’ll want to make sure you have your living situation covered. The right place to live will affect everything. Therefore, I recommend researching the following neighborhoods to find the most suitable Raleigh apartments near William Peace College.

College Park

College Park has at least five solid selections, all less than 10 minutes from William Peace College. It’s also conveniently next to Downtown Raleigh, and not the worst option for other college students, like those at NC State. If you enjoy having plenty of nearby dining, then the Transfer Co. Food Hall is worthwhile, having garnered almost 2,000 positive reviews.

Oakwood

Oakwood, part of “Historic Oakwood,” gives William Peace students their closest off-campus living arrangement. If you attend this college and/or live in this community, you’ll be right across the street from the governor, who resides at the North Carolina Executive Mansion. Then again, if you’re a theater major, be sure to check out the Burning Coal Theater Company on Polk Street for frequent live performances.

Downtown Raleigh

Yes, there’s more to Downtown Raleigh than just skyscrapers, restaurants, and crowds. Many young people, students and otherwise, make the area their home. You’ll find well over 20 pages of rental listings on ApartmentHomeLiving.com, attesting to that. I could probably write a short book about things to do Downtown, but for brevity’s sake I recommend beginning with The Videri Chocolate Factory. Unless you can’t have sweets, this is a must-do in Raleigh. Then again, I always tell folks about the Whiskey Kitchen for terrific food, service, drinks, and outdoor/semi-outdoor relaxation.

Wake Tech

I can’t forget about community college student renters, which is why I’m including the state’s largest, Wake Technical Community College, AKA Wake Tech. I’ve known multiple folks who began their college career there and saved a bunch of money without compromising one bit on educational quality. Wake Tech accomplishes this marvelously, serving no less than 70,000 full-or part-time students every year through a large offering of two-degree programs. With that many students, there’s bound to be solid apartment-living options nearby.

Woods of Ashbury

Since Wake Tech is on the southern side of the city, about 18 minutes from NC State, you won’t want to pick one of those other places and suffer the commute. The traffic in Raleigh can be arduous any day of the week, which is why I recommend choosing something like Woods of Ashbury. It’s right next to the major academic buildings and offers easy access to Highway 540. You’ll find that all the nearby apartments are in terrific shape with pleasantly stylish building materials.

Park at West Lake

Although this is technically in Apex, NC (a Raleigh suburb), it’s also just 10 minutes west of Wake Tech. I would say its greatest selling point, aside from being an attractive area, is the greater distance from the more populous urban center. Not everyone digs the busy city life, and if that applies to you, then give Park at West Lake a try. The outdoor elements are outstanding, too, including Talicud Trail, The Park at West Lake Large Pool, and Middle Creek Park.

Camden Crossing

Camden Crossing works well for Wake Tech students because it's closer to Downtown Raleigh (for those desiring it) without forcing you to drive 20 minutes or more for school. This also makes the most sense if you’re planning on maintaining the same living arrangement after graduation. This is especially true for all the students who finish Wake Tech, then pursue their Bachelor’s Degree at one of Raleigh’s four-year schools.

In Closing…

I hope this helps every member of the NC State Wolfpack, Avenging Angels, and all other budding scholars and professionals find the best student apartments in Raleigh. Remember, also, that if you don’t see your dream home on this list, ApartmentHomeLiving,com has several other options, ranging in size and location. So, here’s to happy apartment hunting in Raleigh!