FL · Dorms · Off-Campus

University of Central Florida Off-Campus Housing Guide (2026)

UCF houses only a fraction of its 70,000-plus students, so off-campus leasing is the default after freshman year. Students cluster along the Alafaya Trail / University Boulevard / McCulloch Road corridor east and north of campus, where a dense ring of by-the-bed student communities sits within a mile or on a UCF shuttle route.

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.

CommunityDistanceUnits & sizesRentFurnished?Links
The Verge Orlando
Closest purpose-built community to campus; in-unit W/D and internet included		0.2 mi (walkable)Studio-4BR; private bath per bedroom
780 sqft (2x2)		$649-$1,499/bedYeswebsite · floor plans
Plaza on University
Individual leases; electricity allowance, water and 1 Gbps internet included		0.3 mi + shuttle2BR-4BR; private bed + bath$1,039-$1,194/bedYeswebsite · floor plans
Knights Circle
Largest UCF complex; all Fall 2026 plans sold out with a waitlist as of Aug 2026		0.3 mi; shuttle on site2x2, 3x3, 4x4
980-1,390 sqft		$965-$1,090/bed (11-mo)Yeswebsite · floor plans
The Village at Science Drive
Electricity allowance, full-size W/D and 1 Gbps internet per bed		Adjacent; back entrance into campus3BR and 4BRcall for ratesYeswebsite · floor plans
Northgate Lakes
Individual leases with full-size washer/dryer		Minutes away; shuttle3x2, 3x3, 4x2, 4x4
975-1,400 sqft		call for ratesYeswebsite · floor plans
Aperture
Newer build; two-story fitness center and eSports lounge		2.4 mi (Waterford)1BR-4BR; per-bed on 2-4BR
586-1,698 sqft		$899-$1,069/bed (4BR)Yeswebsite · floor plans
Tivoli Orlando
Priced per apartment, not per bed - roommate groups split one rent		~10 min; UCF Shuttle Rte 61BR-4BR leased BY THE UNIT
748-1,581 sqft		$2,433-$3,644/unitNowebsite · floor plans

Rates and availability change every lease season — verify everything with the property before signing.

How this compares with living on campus

UCF's cheapest on-campus option is Apollo Community at $2,766/sem shared; $3,147/sem private. 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

Bed size matters here. Twin XL in Apollo, Libra, Hercules/Nike, Neptune, Lake Claire and Rosen — but Towers at Knights Plaza uses FULL-size beds and NorthView uses queen/full-XL. Check your building before buying sheets.

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

Staying in the dorms instead? Head back to the UCF dorm dimensions and dorm packing list.