Apartments students actually rent
Every community below is real and was checked against its own website in August 2026 — the links go straight to each property's site and floor-plan page so you can compare layouts and current rates.
| Community | Distance | Units & sizes | Rent | Furnished? | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Village Cheapest per-bed rent near UCR, driven by shared double-occupancy bedrooms | Adjacent to campus (walkable) | Studio, 2x2, 3x3, 5x5; private bath 200-408 sqft per bedroom | $500-$745/bed double occ; $1,045-$1,215 single | Yes | website · floor plans |
| Highlander at North Campus Furnished units available but not standard on every plan — confirm at signing | 1.8 mi; on the bus line | Studio, 2BR-4BR; shared or private 4x4 856-1,533 sqft | $739+/bed shared; $1,149-$1,199 private | Both | website · floor plans |
| University Village Towers Gated with pool and study lounges; promo entry rate advertised at $850 | 1.3 mi (walkable) | 1BR-4BR incl. a 2BR townhome 410-1,180 sqft | 4x4 $985-$1,235/bed; townhome $945 | Both | website · floor plans |
| GrandMarc at University Village Parking, cable and up-to-1-Gbps Wi-Fi included; in-unit W/D | 1.4 mi; under a mile on foot | 1x1, 2x2, 4x4 (+ Premium/Upgraded) 677-1,415 sqft | 4x4 $1,029-$1,229/bed; 1x1 $2,700 | Yes | website · floor plans |
| Alight Riverside Rent bundles furniture, electricity, water, internet and in-unit W/D | ~1 mi west | 2x2 and 4x4 only | $1,199/bed (4x4); $1,569 (2x2) | Yes | website · floor plans |
| 3099 Iowa Brand-new construction, move-ins late 2026; up to 6 weeks free advertised | Across from north campus | Studio-3BR BY THE UNIT ~400-1,600 sqft | studio from $2,202; 3BR from $3,849/unit | No | website · floor plans |
| Canyon Bluffs Standard apartment lease rather than a by-the-bed student contract | ~2 mi (Canyon Crest) | 1BR-3BR conventional | 1BR from $2,895/unit (call to confirm) | No | website · floor plans |
Rates and availability change every lease season — verify everything with the property before signing.
How this compares with living on campus
UC Riverside's cheapest on-campus option is Aberdeen-Inverness at $12,708/year for a triple — though that figure bundles a required dining plan. Remember that campus rates often bundle things an apartment does not — and an apartment lease usually runs 12 months instead of the academic year.
See on-campus rates & what's included
What you'll need
Furnished units still need bedding, kitchen basics and cleaning gear; unfurnished rentals add the big anchors — mattress, bed frame, sofa and a table. Our checklist filters by furnished vs unfurnished so you only pack what your unit is missing.
Apartment checklist Apartment shop