San Diego State University is conveniently location at the intersection of Montezuma Road and College Avenue just off Interstate 8 and east of Interstate 15, which makes it an ideal location for students, professors and anyone who wants to live next to a vibrant college campus. SDSU is surrounded by dozens of communities.
The ultimate in convenience is to live where you can use public transportation or a bike to get around. Relying upon relatively inexpensive trolley or bus service to and from the university means you won’t have to pay for a parking permit on campus. Here are some options for close-by living to the San Diego State University Campus:
- The College Area, made up of College East and College West, is located along the southern rim of Mission Valley in the heart of San Diego. It’s dominated by the university and is located just eight miles from the downtown area. It’s loaded with student friendly shops and restaurants and is close to sporting and entertainment venues like Qualcomm Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers.The SDSU Transit Center, located underground on the campus is made up of a trolley station as well as a bus plaza. Transportation to the College Area, nearby towns, the airport and even the stadium is never a problem. There’s an abundance of housing options in College East and College West from condos to townhomes to single-family residences. You may pay for the convenience, however. The closer you live to SDSU, the more you’ll pay.
- Mission Valley is another popular choice. The SDSU campus is actually known as “Montezuma Mesa” as it perched on a mesa overlooking Mission Valley. It’s home to Qualcomm Stadium, Presidio Park, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, as well as major shopping malls. It’s serviced by trolleys and buses. Housing prices here are often more affordable for college students on a tighter budget.
- Normal Heights is located in the hills above Mission Valley. It’s close enough to SDSU to bike, but bus service is available to the university. It’s also near City Heights and North Park, eclectic neighborhoods with an abundance of trendy restaurants and art galleries.This hip town has mom and pop shops, a farmer’s market, book stores, and antique stores as well as music festivals and street fairs. You can walk to most everything in Normal Heights. Houses with garages and backyards can still be found for affordable prices.
The beautiful beach towns of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach are always high on the wish list of many students. If you own a car or if carpooling with other students is an option, living in a beach town, is something to consider. The commute has the potential to be long, depending upon traffic conditions. Public transportation from the beach towns to SDSU is arduous as it requires taking a bus to the respective trolley station. Housing is more expensive on the beach, but more affordable options are available a few blocks away.
Determining your budget and priorities will give you a realistic idea of which of San Diego’s beautiful communities to consider when choosing your off campus home.