University of California - Santa Barbara
- Off-Campus Housing

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

University of California - Santa Barbara - Off-Campus Housing - Off-Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

Undergrads Living Off Campus 67%
Freshmen Living Off Campus 5%
Average Off-Campus Room & Board $10,348

Best Time to Look for a Place

The best time to look for a place in Isla Vista is in January, a year before the corresponding school year.

Popular Areas
  • Downtown Santa Barbara
  • Goleta
  • Isla Vista
Average Rents
  • Studio: $1,000
  • 1 BR: $1,500
  • 2 BR: $2,500

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

After awhile, one room for all of your belongings gets old. Venturing into the town of Isla Vista to rent a house can be quite intimidating, so here is a cheat sheet to guide you through the process of finding a house in Isla Vista:

1. Start looking in January, and try to sign a lease by March. Pick some friends and walk up to houses you like, knock on the door, and ask if the house is available to rent for the upcoming year.
2. Some houses will have applications available right away, while some are in a lottery.
3. Go to the rental companies like Sierra and Meridian Group and get their rental lists in order to apply for the houses they own. The Housing Department in the UCen has a good list of “who not to rent from.”
4. If you are late in doing all of the above, turn to the Daily Nexus and answer some ads. Sometimes housing cooperatives, such as an all vegetarian house or an athletic team house, are a good way to meet people like you and to find a place to live.
5. Get used to expensive rents, but if you start early enough, you can find some deals. Houses on Del Playa, although pricey, have great balconies and decks that sit on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Most people say it was worth living on Del Playa for a year, just to experience it.

Goleta and downtown are also good areas to rent in. Goleta is mostly residential neighborhoods, a short drive from campus, and fairly quiet—reminiscent of the neighborhoods some students may have grown up in. Rent can be cheaper in Goleta, as well. Downtown is as expensive as Isla Vista. Many students live downtown during their senior year, once they are over the Isla Vista party scene and old enough to go to the downtown bars. Plus, lots of jobs and internships are downtown, but it’s a 15-minute drive to campus. Overall, Santa Barbara has enough housing options that students will most likely find the type of arrangement that best suits their interests—it’s only paying for that “perfect place” that can be the problem.

 

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

UC Santa Barbara Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Off-Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Barbara

worldway

Sociology '15

4.6
A

I Still Live on Campus, Have a Couple of Friends Happy Off-Campus

I'm a freshman don't plan on moving off campus til Junior year, I have a couple of friends who waited to late to get a dorm, they live off campus and they love it.

Apr 26, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Off-Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Barbara

UCSBlove

Neuroscience and Neurobiology '12

5.0
A+

Expensive, but Amazing

Anywhere in IV is a great place to stay, although oceanside DP obviously has its perks.

Apr 10, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Off-Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Barbara

samanthagutierrez

Economics '13

2.3
C

Apartments Are Expensive

The apartments in IV are expensive and definitely the quality is below what is should be for the prices we have to pay.

Apr 05, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
User rating for University of California - Santa Barbara - Off-Campus Housing is 3.5 out of 5 based on 57 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus housing on the following topics

What is the off-campus housing selection like near campus and is it worth it?

How helpful is the school in helping students find off-campus housing?

Facts

Did You Know? The best time to start searching for your apartment is in January, in order to beat the rush of students who will soon be looking for a new place to live. By March, you should sign your lease; you'll be ready to move in to your new home by June or July.

For Assistance ContactWhat's This?

The Community Housing Office
University Center, Room 3151
(805) 893-4371
Their services include off-campus online rental listings, a survival guide, roommate listings, landlord/tenant dispute resolution, roommate dispute resolution, and move-in and move-out videotaping.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Michael Cooper
Hometown
Danville, CA
Major
Sociology/Sports Management minor

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "University of California - Santa Barbara 2012: Off The Record"
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)