Choosing Between USC and Non-USC Owned Housing

By Anna Lipscomb ‘19

With USC housing selections just a few weeks away, some of you may be wondering what your options are. There are many different things to consider when choosing housing, whether it is on campus or off campus, USC-owned or non-USC owned. 

(Photo Credit: USC Housing)

1) Roommates

The number of roommates you have (one other person, a few people, a larger group, etc.) can affect your housing options. Houses are great for larger groups because they can accommodate more people and is often easy to split the costs. Apartments are great for smaller groups, as they typically range from 2-6 people. 

If you need to find a roommate, you can always search for one on USC’s housing portal which will have suggestions based on your profile and living preferences.

(Photo credit: USC News)

2) Location

USC On-Campus

There are many options for undergraduates both on campus and off campus through USC housing. On-campus options include Parkside Apartments and Webb Tower. I lived in a studio apartment at Parkside for my freshman and sophomore year. It’s affordable, located on campus, and was renovated over the summer (so most of the appliances, kitchens, bathrooms, and floors are new). It’s also close to the engineering buildings, science buildings, and architecture buildings. Webb is closer to the School of Cinematic Arts and the Lyon Center.

(Photo credit: USC Housing): Parkside Apartments

USC Off-Campus

Off-campus USC Housing can also range. With the University Village opening next school year, there will be more spots than ever for undergraduates. Annenberg House and Cardinal ‘n Gold are close to the Row. Cardinal Gardens, Century, and La Sorbonne are close to Gate 5 (Jefferson/McClintock), which is conveniently close to the Lyon Center and the School of Cinematic Arts. The University Village buildings are also close to the north side of campus.

(Photo credit: USC Housing): Annenberg House

Non-USC Housing

While most of the USC-owned housing options are north of campus, there is a lot more flexibility in location for non-USC housing. Tuscany Apartments are located near the southeast edge of campus. To the east, there is Icon Plaza. To the North, there are many choices such as Gateway Apartments, the Shrine Collection, and West 27th Place. Lorenzo, although further away, is also a popular choice and offers a free shuttle to campus every 15 minutes so students don’t have to walk. You can also find a room in houses in all directions of campus.

3) Time Duration

Are you thinking about studying abroad next year? If so, USC Housing may be an easier process for you than non-USC housing options. If you go to non-USC housing, it can be more difficult to cancel your contract and you’ll most likely have to find someone to sublease or take over your contract. 

Another consideration is if you’re thinking about staying in LA over the summer. Non-USC housing can be more convenient for that if your contract extends through the summer.

If you anticipate being here for just one semester or summer, you can also look into taking over someone else’s sublease. 

Helpful places to look for subleases:

USC Sub/Leases and Housing (Facebook)

USC Graduate Students Looking for Housing (Facebook)

4) Price

The price of housing may depend on multiple factors such as:

Unfurnished v. Furnished: Furnished apartments tend to cost more and you may be held responsible for any damage done to the furniture. Unfurnished apartments may be cheaper, but you are responsible for getting your own furniture.

Distance: Typically, the closer to campus you are, the more expensive it will be. If you plan on walking to class, you may want to pay more to be closer to campus. If you use USC transportation or ride a bike/skateboard then it will be more manageable for you to go further. This is especially true for non-USC owned housing. USC-owned housing, on the other hand, is generally around the same price range no matter where you go and tend to be more impacted by the size of the apartment and the number of people.

Number of people: Living in a single or sharing an apartment with only one person tends to be pricier than sharing with multiple people. Room type can also affect the price (a studio double is usually slightly cheaper than a normal double).

Utilities: Some apartments may charge utilities such as water, electricity, or Wi-Fi separately. Usually it isn’t a significant price, but it’s something to be aware of.

5) Room Type

Common types for USC housing include studios, doubles, triples, double lofts, etc. The most popular type that I see for non-USC housing is 2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom.

I’ve lived in a studio at Parkside, and overall I think it is a nice space because it has everything I need - a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. It doesn’t have a living room but I feel that I don’t necessarily need that. It really depends on what you and your roommate(s) preferences and priorities are.

(Photo Credit: USC Housing): Floorpan of a 2 bed/4 person apartment in the University Village

6) Furnished or Unfurnished

Unfurnished apartments are usually cheaper, but you’ll have to take care of getting your own furniture. You can furnish your apartment without breaking your budget by renting furniture from companies or buying it used from students. Look out for these deals at the end of the semester because there will be a lot of students moving out and/or graduating who are trying to sell or give away their stuff.

One place you can start is Free & For Sale (Facebook)

7) Companies

If you choose non-USC housing, there are many different management companies that you can choose from. Do your research and ask other students about their experiences with that company before choosing one. 

8) Parking

Since parking is so scarce in LA, you’ll most likely need to purchase some kind of parking permit or spot for your car. USC Transportation publishes the monthly and semester-long rates for parking permits. Sometimes you can get free parking at non-USC places if you sign during a promotional period or sublease from someone that has it, but generally you should be prepared to pay for parking.

9) Other features

Judy made a checklist of other things you should consider for housing such as laundry and internet access. USC Housing also offers a building search where you can look for USC-owned housing with certain features such as air conditioning or recreational facilities.

Good luck on your housing decision and fight on!

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