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New York City is home to nearly 600,000 students, while New York State is the nation’s largest importer of college students; statistics show that among freshmen who leave their home states to attend college, more come to New York State than any other state. And when living in a dorm or a rental apartment is not an option, there’s a lot to consider when moving to NYC for college.
Of course, proximity is a top consideration, yet other factors are also in play. Perhaps you need a place to double down and cram, a chill spot to unwind, or maybe somewhere to party, whether at your place or somewhere nearby. Perhaps wish to commute by bike. Maybe you’re looking for an in-house gym or want to be located near a certain library or research center. Or maybe you just want to be in a part of the city where students generally prefer to hang out. Whatever you’re looking for, CityRealty’s list of best condos for college students will satisfy any wish list.

Designed by CetraRuddy, the elegant design of Dahlia embodies the flower for which it was named. The gracious two- through four-bedroom apartments are well appointed with high ceilings, generous proportions, abundant natural light, large chef's kitchens, and master bedrooms closed off from the living areas. Amenities include a massive 5,100-square-foot elevated terrace, fitness room with yoga studio, game room, lounge, children's playroom, pet spa, and bike room. Private storage and 12 parking spaces are available for purchase.



What’s cooler than telling your out-of-town friends that you live in Brooklyn’s tallest building 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.



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.



If you need to focus on your studies, the 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.



For all their advantages, New York universities often lack “true” campuses with a cloistered, communal feel. A rare exception is the brand new Cornell Tech complex on Roosevelt Island on the East River. Riverwalk Court lets you get the full campus experience one F train stop away from Midtown, along with an amenity package that blows any dorm out of the water.


The studio crit is coming up in fifteen minutes, but the glue has barely dried on your balsa-wood building model, the product of a grueling all-nighter. Fear not, because at Astor Place, getting to class at Cooper Union, the country’s premier architecture school, means riding the elevator downstairs and crossing the street. Afterward, celebrate the jury’s passage with your sleep-deprived classmates with a romp through the bars and lounges that abound in the neighborhood.



5 Beekman Street 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 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.



There are many options if you’re looking for an apartment near the Fashion Institute of Technology, yet the Chelsea Stratus is perhaps the best fit. The Stratus earns its status through five-minute walking distance to FIT, equal proximity to the showrooms in the trendy Flatiron District, a one-station commute to the Garment District, the lively hubbub of the Chelsea neighborhood, and wide-ranging amenities that include a roof deck that looks far across the city from the top of the 40-story skyscraper.



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.



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.


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
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