Another popular area is West 36th Street. It has properties within walking distance from USC's West Campus Entry (Gate 6) and is a top choice among students who want off-campus housing close to campus.

There is also Adams Boulevard, which is located on the north side of the USC campus, and is near popular dining and nightlife spots.

Communities like Echo Park and Silverlake are a bus ride away from campus, or a drive if you have a car. Other housing options to the north include Koreatown and Rampart Village, which will allow you to make it to USC via public transportation in up to 40 minutes in traffic. To the south, consider Huntington Park, which is a tranquil area with public transportation stops to USC.

Popular University of Southern California off-campus apartment complexes include The Medici, Axis, Aven, El Greco Lofts, Westwood Village, The Plaza Apartments, and more. For those still wanting to stay near campus, USC housing communities like University Gateway is a great fit, as it comes with fully furnished apartments.

Dining at USC

With Los Angeles having some of the best restaurants in America, there are plenty of options for dining around USC.

For Mexican food, there's Mercado La Paloma -- a multicultural marketplace just east of campus, where you can feast on tacos, burritos and agua frescas. Tuck into some comfort food at Philippe The Original in Chinatown for one of their french dips.

There are also more typical eateries nearby that offer affordable meals for students, including Dog Haus, Subway, Blaze Pizza, and Panda Express.

As far as bars go, 901 Bar & Grill is a hub for USC students for its proximity to campus and Greek housing. With BOGO drink deals, wings, and pizza, what's not to love? There are also plenty of affordable options located on South Figueroa Street, including Taco Bell, Five Guys, McDonald's, Carl's Jr, and Yoshinoya.

Just two miles away from USC is L.A. Live -- a place bustling with life that USC students can take advantage of. It is home to The Novo, STAPLES center, Microsoft Theater, The GRAMMY Museum -- perfect for USC students to watch sports events and live concerts. As far as dining goes, the restaurants and bars are a bit more upscale and include Yard House, Katsuya, Shaquille's and Tom's Watch Bar.

Transportation at USC

As with many California universities, parking permits for University of Southern California students are not cheap. If you choose to live further off-campus, you may be considering driving your car to get yourself to campus. Depending on the parking permit you purchase, you could be spending nearly $500 per semester. Many off-campus housing options offer parking garages, but you can also expect to rely on limited street parking.

USC also has a network of free buses for students. These buses service the main campus, the North University Park neighborhood, the USC Health Sciences Campus, Marina Del Rey ISI/ICT locations, Keck USC of Alhambra, and Union Station.

For public transportation, there are also Metro buses that will help you get around the city, from Downtown LA to your off-campus apartment at West 28th Street.

Safety

USC has multiple measures for keeping students safe around campus. The USC Trojan Mobile Safety App, managed by the USC Department of Public Safety and the USC Department of Emergency Planning, is a free app that students can use to contact emergency responders around the University Park and Health Science campuses. With the app, students can also report suspicious activity and crime and keep friends updated on their routes around campus.

USC Campus Cruisers escort students back to their cars late at night as well. If wait periods are longer than 15 minutes, their partnership with Lyft will give you a free ride to your destination so you can still get home safely.

Officers also patrol a 2.5-mile radius around USC's campus to further protect students.

Shopping at USC

USC Village is a go-to spot for many students as it is within walking distance to campus and you can shop, eat, and even exercise in your downtime. The shopping center has stores like Target and Trader Joe's to make grocery shopping a breeze. However, USC Village also is often looked at as upscale, so its fitness centers and spas are not for everyone.

With all of LA at USC students' fingertips, it is not too hard to imagine that LA's many shopping spots are just an Uber away from your off-campus housing.

The Grove, for example, has many shopping and dining options that still work for a student budget. GAP, Nike, Barnes & Noble are just a sampling of the stores to shop at.

Just near The Grove is The Original Farmers Market, where you can shop fresh produce and grub (pizza, ice cream -- the options are endless).