New York City is well known for such renowned colleges and universities like New York University, Columbia University, Barnard College, The New School, and CUNY, to name just a few. Not only do these institutions attract students who live in the city and want to stay local, but they draw enrollees from all over the world to make New York State the largest importer of college and post-graduate students in the nation.
Some students see their stay in New York as temporary, and are happy to live out their college years in a dorm room or rental near campus. But for other students, not to mention their parents, buying an apartment near campus is an investment that will pay off long after graduation. If the latter is the case, there is much to consider in terms of logistics and criteria. Proximity to campus and research facilities are key considerations, but far from the only ones.
In this article:
![Columbia University, S Kaya, flickr, Back to school: Best NYC condos for university students](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/e/eb/ebd7b48aebff5fc1809399e0eb54a0df0bd2c783/columbia-university-s-kaya-flickr-back-school-best-nyc-condos-university-students.jpg)
Some students use their apartments as a place to buckle down and study or wind down away from the bustle of school, while others like to socialize at home or around their apartment. Some nervous parents would be reassured by putting their children in a doorman building, and the students themselves would undoubtedly appreciate amenities like in-unit laundry (no lugging hampers to the machines on campus!), library lounges, or building gyms and screening rooms.
![The Rockwell, 218 West 103rd Street, Upper West Side condo](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/8/86/866d59fe24d5511f39f1b28d0577e61bb2e31ff1/the-rockwell-218-west-103rd-street-upper-west-side-condo.jpg)
Closings have recently commenced at The Rockwell, a new condominium that pays tribute to Upper West Side elegance with its architecture and interiors. While offering easy access to Columbia University's main campus, its address on Broadway and West 103rd Street allows for some separation after a long day. Apartments feature thoughtfully appointed kitchens and in-unit laundry, and building amenities include a residents' lounge, a music room, and a rooftop terrace.
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The Rockwell, #7D (Toll Brothers Real Estate Inc)
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![Skyline Tower, 3 Court Square, Long Island City](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/9/98/983762642349905f9f9e9bed90539dc7787a3726/skyline-tower-3-court-square-long-island-city.jpg)
At 778 feet tall, Skyline Tower is the tallest building in Queens and one of the tallest outside of Manhattan. It took shape on a site directly next door to CUNY School of Law, but its central address near multiple subway lines allows for easy access to universities all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. At the same time, there is much to offer closer to home, and indeed under the building's roof. Skyline vistas from even lower-floor units cannot help but inspire, and the building's double-height amenity lounge offers an excellent environment for a group study session.
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Skyline Tower, #5104 (Modern Spaces)
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![100-Claremont-Avenue](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/0/0e/0e0dd8a553fe6b9b3860316a8db05392fa815d34/100-claremont-avenue.jpg)
In the heart of Union Theological Seminary campus, the 41-story Claremont Hall houses classrooms, academic offices, and faculty-designated apartments below the condos on the upper levels. However, it also benefits from excellent proximity to Columbia University's main and Manhattanville campuses, Barnard College, and Manhattan School of Music. Residential amenities include a reading room with a leather-bound Great Books collection, and the old building's dining hall has been transformed into the Refectory Pool, a saltwater lap pool with original chandeliers. A penthouse in the building set a new record for Morningside Heights, and construction was recently completed.
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Claremont Hall, #15D (Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group)
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![Brooklyn Point, Williams New York](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/5/50/5098b8e9a8e595131dae875e4f26c3ea03845911/brooklyn-point-williams-new-york.jpg)
What’s cooler than telling your out-of-town friends that you live in one of Brooklyn’s tallest buildings with the highest rooftop infinity pool in the Western Hemisphere? Even if you’re not one to brag, you’ll still enjoy Brooklyn Point’s spacious gym, varied entertainment spaces, and walking distance to NYC College of Technology, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and the Long Island University of Brooklyn. Pratt Institute is a bike ride away, and much of Manhattan lies within a half-hour subway ride.
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/0/5c/2663872/fdb8b1dc0347d2a29d979d3ff92afb79-5926b1890e2994dbc4ddaa067498e941.jpg)
Brooklyn Point, #29G (Compass)
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![Zeckendorf Towers, Union Square, Dock Drumming](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/5/51/51c1d3d1bb6c29b6f5148d4a865211ee78cc3de2/zeckendorf-towers-union-square-dock-drumming.jpg)
The four-towered complex sits close to New York University, Hebrew Union College, Cooper Union, the New School, Baruch College, and more. As such, there’s a good chance that some of your classmates live in the 670-unit high-rise. Zeckendorf Towers lets you get together for a study session at the large rooftop garden, or enjoy the bustle at Union Square next door, where the weekend farmers’ market sells more nutritious eats than late-night ramen.
Zeckendorf Towers, #G9A
$1,550,000 (-8.6%)
Flatiron/Union Square | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 739 ft2
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/8/a0/2648584/a5d0cdbcf417fce2c2c693894dabef83-80cbde5ac4e793b2adf9e6b10032c27d.jpg)
Zeckendorf Towers, #G9A (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
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![Vandewater, Savanna](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/c/cc/cc1febe54752acfd3b0d3e1733a869eea051500e/vandewater-savanna.jpg)
If you need to focus on your studies, then Vandewater is for you. The tradition-minded facade vibes with the collegiate atmosphere of nearby Columbia University. Morningside Heights has its share of fun hangout spots, yet it’s a far cry from the mayhem of the city center. Full-service amenities will take care of housekeeping distractions, and a few laps in the spacious pool will cool you off after a late-night study grind.
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![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/8/ec/2666184/6815a4f15847b5a26a50fe779856dc30-d3dae304d69e4e4a6baca3efabb38772.jpg)
Vandewater, #10B (Brown Harris Stevens Development Marketing LLC)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/8/ec/2666184/ad5edcfe6cb2c15ccda77993f62f2230-db1dd803fb521f6c4c9c7ceca1071ee7.jpg)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/8/ec/2666184/04902669d63cf03a67a9b47fffa16d21-82833c22f1629a30058977cb55f6a741.jpg)
![The Roosevelt Island Tram, Edgar Omar](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/d/d9/d91869677258f4e99a6855df4e0a9a2449548225/the-roosevelt-island-tram-edgar-omar.jpg)
For all their advantages, New York universities often lack “true” campuses with a cloistered, communal feel. A rare exception is the state-of-the-art Cornell Tech complex on Roosevelt Island on the East River. The House at Cornell Tech gained considerable attention as the largest Passive House residential building in the world; between this and its proximity to campus, it is in high demand. A short distance away, Riverwalk Court lets one get the full campus experience one F train stop away from Midtown.
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/7/bd/2632663/71dedb909dd962ae3c799e1a8102f4ef-2cd62d401d9701f6ca44fd4df90bb64c.jpg)
Riverwalk Court, #15E (Compass)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/7/bd/2632663/191da4a945d822f24eb5b4a7c5715d5a-4f22a5296f0a78dde0b35a51577ed893.jpg)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/7/bd/2632663/e881a438c1af990e7240fec930aefbaa-84b6e6f4358be9a0fd428064c239a73d.jpg)
![5 Beekman Street, Douglas Elliman](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/5/5a/5a022fdb76ea5480ededd688ee231c1dffb672b1/5-beekman-street-douglas-elliman.jpg)
Located at 5 Beekman Street, The Beekman Residences effectively sits within the Pace University campus, which scatters across the adjacent blocks in the City Hall district. After you finish your studies, impress your date with a sumptuous, ten-story atrium built in the 19th century, then follow up with observatory-like views from floor-to-ceiling windows in the 51-story skyscraper.
The Beekman Residences, #22C
$1,400,000 (-3.4%)
Financial District | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 703 ft2
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/a/dd/2481626/db4eacc69fccd58611ca0e4c1b21c058-78e39417285634ff26ccea8e080785cd.png)
The Beekman Residences, #22C (Level Group Inc)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/a/dd/2481626/3c92360c13949b70a5ff850e8894a552-7b1c96b42037f15f28b0a928ab4208ed.png)
![Kips Bay Towers, Carl Mikoy](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/8/82/8241077181a2c789680aab42537140cdeb23a325/kips-bay-towers-carl-mikoy.jpg)
The Kips Bay neighborhood in Midtown South is home to the city’s greatest medical center cluster, with the Bellevue Hospital Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, VA New York Harbor, and Beth Israel Medical Center located within a small radius of late and great architect I.M. Pei’s minimalist, no-nonsense Kips Bay Towers. Medical students living here also have easy access to the NYU College of Nursing and the NY Dentistry College.
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/e/49/2651294/a27545baddd326098307a3e5c3bec4f8-1221e4a7ccef5302531a8b8ddca89dd1.jpg)
Kips Bay Towers, #2F (Compass)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/e/49/2651294/33a7b3ae8e30c1a3c670449728740a3b-1388f36c50c1a90c5ffcf7a617107c94.jpg)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/e/49/2651294/e80d3e2732e553d26180086278d92b81-c1a54d093a9657e45ecaad66031f2f7f.jpg)
![215-West-28th-Street-01](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/9/93/93cda696695b38c36fef6d0bcbaf39fed15b3c3a/215-west-28th-street-01.jpg)
There are many options if you’re looking for an apartment near the Fashion Institute of Technology, but Maverick brings its striking design right across the street from the celebrated campus (where work is winding down on a new academic building) and a short distance from the shops and showrooms of the Garment District. Students also enjoy easy access to Whole Foods and popular restaurants (a far cry from the dining hall!) as well as amenities like a state-of-the-art gym and indoor pool, a thoughtfully planned library, and a roof deck with lounges for studying and relaxing alike.
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/9/74/2639689/33e6e192c7a7b23fe3e914efcc5dee78-41c5a5ccb99b5ec6760551eb26e08846.jpg)
Maverick, #11A (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/9/74/2639689/62ed4a213631bac50844ea79735f171e-d455a291c2dc03a4531e3ccb1500d1e1.jpg)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/9/74/2639689/bad5f78a9a7c21270b5cf12cb6696454-bf0664d9899ce0ed3ba24637a25af3a8.jpg)
![Morningside Park, Owen Hearey](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/1/19/19ad22cbec323d698ed7317a411999d3a6fc8caa/morningside-park-owen-hearey.jpg)
The stately campus of Columbia University perches atop the hill on the other side of Morningside Park, which sits across the street from the 22-story One Morningside Park. Equally tempting is the verdure of Central Park, which comes in panoramic view from the upper floors. Nearby Harlem and the Upper West Side have got you covered in terms of quaint dining and nightlife, and the 110th Street-Cathedral Parkway station of the A, B, and C trains will take you to any destination in the city, academic or otherwise.
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/3/46/2622563/43c367993f5523ae0be286929268d8a5-2f40573a45ce86d0b7b2d0db251d90c4.jpg)
One Morningside Park, #7A (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/3/46/2622563/370513279e7641c88bb58781e80fa2f2-5913bdaffedcc9f648a80b54cc689368.jpg)
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![Georgetown Plaza, roof deck](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/assets/smart/1004x/webp/6/69/69b2b860652dec839aa7814e34cef82b69140d2b/georgetown-plaza-roof-deck.jpg)
Don’t let the no-frills facade of the 31-story housing block bum you out, for Georgetown Plaza, located near both Cooper Union and New York University, is happening both inside and out. Invite your friends to hang out on a balcony high above the city, chill on the large rooftop deck, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or step outside and seize the night in one of New York City’s liveliest neighborhoods for culture, dining, and nightlife.
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/3/c7/2641011/3bded766d0015c46162fc5900c389939-968c3e6c02facdb26e3f87b91542df6d.jpg)
Georgetown Plaza, #27D (Compass)
![](https://thumbs.cityrealty.com/smart/1024x/webp/3/c7/2641011/f946e5af9cf80d1e34fa41cb6d3173be-9a8b62783c7e9061a32a4e77e1606652.jpg)
Flickr photo credits: Columbia University - S Kaya; Zeckendorf Towers - Dock Drumming; The Roosevelt Island Tram - Edgar Omar; Astor Place - Jeffrey Bary; Kips Bay Towers - Carl Mikoy; Chelsea Stratus - Andreas Komodromos; One Morningside Park - Owen Hearey
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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