Where students live
East Summit Street runs straight along the campus edge and holds University Townhomes, Paloma and Campus Pointe — this is the main student corridor and where the cheapest confirmed per-bed rent in town sits. Downtown Kent, around South Depeyster and Main, is a genuinely redeveloped centre with 345 Flats a block from campus. Further out, Golden Oaks, Lincoln Street and Morris Road hold the quieter, cheaper options a mile or so from class.
Kent has an unusually clear market: most of the big buildings state per-bed pricing plainly and several are furnished as standard. Two cautions. University Oaks presents the same dollar figures as a whole-unit rent on its own site and as a per-person rent on the listing aggregators — the pattern only makes sense per bed, but confirm it in writing. And Copper Creek appears in listings with a “30+ minutes” distance that looks like a data error rather than a real commute.
Apartments & rentals students actually use
| Community | Distance | Units & rates | Furnished? | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Townhomes 1898 E Summit St | Across from campus | $599 per student; furnished bedroom option from $659 | Furnished option | university-townhomes.com |
| 345 Flats 345 S Depeyster St, downtown | 1 block | 4BR $689-$699, 2BR $899, 1BR $1,465 per bed; studio $1,225-$1,305; 450-1,282 sq ft | Fully furnished | 345flats.com |
| University Oaks 500 Golden Oaks Dr | 0.7 mi / 12-min walk | 3BR $699-$954, 2BR $759-$1,710, 1BR $1,225-$1,630 — confirm the basis; 598-1,015 sq ft | Fully furnished | universityoaks-kent.com |
| Campus Pointe Kent 1841 Ashton Ln | On-site PARTA stop | 4BR $724, 3BR $803-$819, 2BR $972-$982 per person; 944-1,492 sq ft | Fully furnished | campuspointekent.com |
| The Province 609 S Lincoln St | 1.3 mi | Studio to 4BR, by-the-bed from $750; 1,035-1,535 sq ft | Fully furnished | theprovincekent.com |
| Paloma Kent 1450 E Summit St | 0.6 mi / 11-min walk | 4BR $799, 3BR $829-$859, 2BR $1,029, 1BR $1,819-$1,869 per bed; 752-1,612 sq ft | Fully furnished | palomakent.com |
| Pinewood Apartments 1200 Spruce Ct | Minutes away | Studio $689, 1BR $849 per unit; 288-576 sq ft | Not stated | kentpinewoodapartments.com |
| Eagle's Landing 936 Morris Rd | 1.3 mi | 2BR/1BA $1,100-$1,180 per unit; 730 sq ft | Not stated | eagleslandingkent.com |
Compiled from property sites and public listings, August 2026. Rates move every lease season and several properties here publish nothing at all — verify with the property before you sign.
Getting to campus without a car
One of the best deals in this guide. PARTA runs five campus routes that are free to everyone, no student ID needed on campus — and the county-wide routes are also free once you show a FLASHcard. Express services cost extra but stay cheap: $1 to Akron, $5 to Cleveland. Kent Central Gateway downtown is the hub for both transit and parking. Campus Pointe even has its own PARTA stop on site.
How it compares to a dorm
What you’ll need
Most rentals here come furnished — use the checklist’s furnished filter and focus on bedding, kitchen and bath.
Apartment checklist Apartment shop