I currently have two daughters at USC. My older daughter, a current senior, lived at Webb Tower as a freshman (Webb is no longer available as an option for freshmen) and at Century Apartments as both a sophomore and junior. Both were directly available as USC Housing. Due to early capacity within USC Housing for undergraduates and my older daughter not even getting a housing lottery assignment last spring, she had to instead locate private housing near USC (or just go on a wait-list with no true option preferences available to her). Luckily, she found through a friend a large fully-furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops, two balconies and central A/C (not all options within USC or near USC have A/C) that was already set up for four roommates to share.
The result was a tremendous savings versus similar options within USC Housing and even versus the other private apartment options available near the USC campus. It was so enticing in fact that my younger daughter opted to room with my older daughter and two others USC students once she was admitted as a freshman for this year. The significant savings per student and overall was especially helpful to me, as having two daughters at USC simultaneously is, as you can imagine, rather expensive. My younger daughter is eager to continue living there going forward next year, and we have already located another freshman girl to join with her there potentially.
Or… as we as a family have been through the USC Housing process for four years already, feel free to ask any questions that you may have about USC Housing or the available options near campus.
Hi, I am a graduate student from India and I would like to know whether it is cheaper to live in the gateway apartments as compared to usc in campus housing?
@anjaneya5505 It depends on the room assignments/types. Gateway offers 10 and 12 month leases. USC Housing is basically just 9 mos (two semesters). So it also depends on whether you are evaluating it as a monthly or yearly expense and whether you even need to be there longer than the 9 mos that school is in session for fall and spring terms. Both do offer individual leases and furnished units. Element, Icon and Lorenzo are 3 other private apartment options offering the same scenario. But I do recommend Gateway over those. There are also less expensive private landlord options, but those usually require joint and several leases vs individual… so you would need to all go into a lease together and be able to trust that all will pay as needed.
Hi, I’m actually transferring to USC in the fall, which off campus housing do you recommend, I am trying to save as much money as I can since I am paying the expenses myself and USC on campus housing is expensive.
EVERYTHING about USC is expensive. My suggestion off the bat is to find where on campus most of your classes are going to be and find housing that’s convenient to that. You can walk to parties everywhere on the weekend (or take the tram or Campus Cruiser or Lyft) but for the day to day grind you’ll want to be close to your classes and the relevant academic resources. You might save some money (but not necessarily that much) living further from campus but you’ll pay for it in terms of aggravation, parking fees, not being able to socialize as much, etc.
@basketballfan18 It is further away from campus and rather expensive. They do offer shuttle service to campus. While it certainly looks nice in pictures and many have described it as sort of a resort, it does not seem to be surrounded by the best area, and its distance from campus seems a bit problematic. I have also heard a few complaints regarding having people visit, noise (thin walls?), etc. When my daughter researched the apts near campus, she sort of eliminated Element and The Lorenzo and focused on Gateway. Had she not located a cheaper private apt near campus, she likely would have rented at Gateway for her senior year.
Hello @WWWard, I just made an account on here and would love to talk to you more about housing as a recently admitted transfer student (rising junior). Can’t find the PM button. Do you mind private messaging me?
Hi, I’m also a new junior transfer student and was wondering what would be the cheapest and closest off campus options. Also, since most of these leases require one to show proof of income, how would you indicate that you’re using financial aid?
Can you give me insight about the condition of particular dorms or apartments in relation to water damage? My daughter needs to avoid water damaged buildings and this information is hard to find. Are there lots of discolored ceiling tiles? Buckets catching drips? Any buildings that were known to have flooded or been damaged by pipe problems? Daughter is interested in Biology so science classrooms are important, but info on any buildings on campus would be great.
Well this is certainly a new question. I have never seen a discolored ceiling tile anywhere at USC. Not in dorms or classrooms, although I obviously haven’t been everywhere. Why would you think would be an issue at USC? It’s a well funded and maintained campus. They don’t let anything look or be rundown, not their style. Water damage can happen in a new or old building but they wouldn’t leave any signs of it and would quickly repair. If an issue that concerns you, you can talk to housing about specific dorms.
@CADREAMIN I have no reason to think anything bad about USC. I’m sorry to have offended you. It was not intended. Good funding helps! State universities have more red tape and less ability to deal well with issues like this. It is a question that is hard to get a straight answer to, which is why I am asking in an informal setting, rather than one where someone’s job is on the line. Thank you both for your replies! One of my twins has USC on her visit list. I’ll probably just delete my questions because they are being received as offensive. I can understand that everyone is proud of their schools. I feel the same way about mine. It’s iffy for my kids health too, unfortunately. Thanks for your time.
@sdidskd Not offended at all, just an odd question cause USC is a meticulous campus so it just seemed unusual, that is all. No offense to state schools but this is no state school. It is a well funded private school with a large endowment. I am assuming you haven’t been? I think when you get there you will understand our puzzlement over the question. It’s sort of like asking if Disneyland has a lot of dead plants in its landscaping or if SCU has trash laying around (another meticulous campus where it is hard to find a fallen leaf on the ground). Makes most people familiar with it just confused, but not offended.
My recent freshman was in an older dorm that hasn’t been redone yet (and had the best time ever btw). And while not a beauty, water issues were no where to be seen. Not sure where you are from and what the health issue is, but keep in mind LA has air quality issues on some days more than others.