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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granville Towers Mandatory bundled meal plan; ~1,300 residents, mostly first-years | Adjacent to Franklin St | Studio-2BR suites | shared 2-bed from $1,396/person incl. meal plan | Yes | website · floor plans |
| Carolina Square Fully leased for 2026-27; waitlist opens September | ~6-min walk (W Franklin St) | Studio-4BR 456-1,914 sqft | call for rates (waitlist for 2026-27) | No | website · floor plans |
| Shortbread Lofts Rooftop terrace; every bedroom keyed with private bath | ~0.3 mi (W Rosemary St) | 2BR-4BR; en-suite baths ~1,460 sqft (4x4) | ~$1,095-$1,575/bed | Yes | website · floor plans |
| The Warehouse Per-bedroom leases available; rooftop lounge | 0.4 mi (W Rosemary St) | 2BR/1BA & 4BR/2BA 850-1,156 sqft | call for rates | Yes | website · floor plans |
| Union Chapel Hill Shuttle to UNC; large-breed pet friendly | ~0.5 mi (Hillsborough St) | 1BR-4BR flats + TH 434-1,621 sqft | 4BR from ~$1,295/bed; 1BR ~$2,000 | Yes | website · floor plans |
| Lark Chapel Hill Rent includes utilities, internet, in-unit laundry | ~0.7 mi (MLK Jr Blvd, free bus routes) | 1BR-4BR; 4x4 & 3x3 | 4x4 $1,229/person; 1x1 $1,799 | Yes | website · floor plans |
| Chapel Ridge Cheapest per-bed on this list; internet + water included | ~10-min drive; private shuttle | 1BR-4BR; 4x4-1x1 | 4x4 from $649/person | Yes | website · floor plans |
Rates and availability change every lease season — verify everything with the property before signing.
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
Staying in the dorms instead? Head back to the UNC Chapel Hill dorm dimensions and dorm packing list.