Ohio State rentals under 5 minutes from campus: what's open right now

Living close to campus saves you more than time. It changes how your days feel, from grabbing lunch between classes to getting home late from the library without a long drive. We picked five Ohio State rentals under 5 minutes from campus off the Columbus listings page, and they cover a wide range: two four-bedroom places for a group, a three-bedroom sublease and two one-bedroom options for anyone who'd rather live solo.

Every listing below is listed as under 5 minutes by car from campus, so the real differences come down to price, size, furniture and lease timing. That last one matters a lot right now. With late October here, you're likely either hunting for a spring-semester spot or trying to lock in next fall before the best close-in options go.

Begin your search at Off-Campus Universe, where you can browse current listings near Columbus.

Charming 4 BR House 4 mins from OSU is a furnished house with 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom at $2,600/month. That's the listed monthly rent for the house, so if you're splitting it four ways, sit down with your group and agree on how you'll divide it, especially if the bedrooms differ in size. It has a 1 month minimum lease with lease timing listed as "Dec 2026 to Jul 2027".

Updated 4 Bedroom Central Campus is a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse listed at $3,400/month, unfurnished. This one is set up for next fall, with lease timing listed as 8/7/2027 on a Year Lease (12 Months). If you're organising a group for the 2027-28 year, this is the kind of listing that's worth contacting early, since four-bedroom places close to campus can fill well ahead of move-in.

The View On High is a furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment at $1,509/month. It's a Sub Lease, and the lease timing is listed as January, which lines up with the start of spring semester. Because it's a sublease, ask the lister how many months are left on the original lease and whether the property manager needs to approve you.

Blume is a furnished 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment listed at $1,430/month. It's also a Sub Lease, with lease timing listed as 12/20/2026, so it could suit you if you want to move in over winter break and start spring settled. Ask whether the furniture stays with the unit and what the end date of the lease is.

Riverwatch tower is a furnished 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment at $1,250/month, the lowest listed price in this group. It's a Year Lease (12 Months), and the lease timing is listed as 9.24, so ask the lister to clarify the exact start date and whether there's any flexibility on move-in.

Why a short drive matters more than you think

It's easy to focus only on rent, but distance shapes your budget too. When you're under 5 minutes by car from campus, you may be able to skip a parking pass, drive less often or fit a quick trip home between classes. Over a full school year, that can add up. Ask each lister about parking, though, because close-in spots aren't always included.

The trade-off is usually price per square foot. Places close to campus often cost more than similar ones further out, so it helps to decide what you're really paying for. If you're on campus most of the day, being close might be worth every dollar. If you're mostly remote or only have classes a few days a week, it might not be.

This group also shows how much the lease type changes the picture. Two are subleases, which can be a quick way into a close-in apartment mid-year. One has a 1 month minimum lease, and the other two are 12-month leases, which give you more stability but less flexibility if your plans change.

One more thing to keep in mind: a short drive on a listing doesn't tell you everything about the trip itself. Ask the lister where residents usually park, whether there's a reserved spot and how traffic looks around class change times. A quick visit at the hour you'd normally leave for class gives you a much better sense of the day-to-day than any number on a page.

Ohio State rentals under 5 minutes from campus: picking the right fit

Start your shortlist of Ohio State rentals under 5 minutes from campus by deciding who you're living with. A group of four lines up with the four-bedroom house and townhouse. A group of three might look at the three-bedroom sublease. If you'd rather have your own place, the two one-bedroom apartments are the ones to compare.

Next, sort by when you need to move. Three are lined up for winter and spring, one has a lease timing that needs clarifying, and one is set for next fall. Matching the lease date to your actual plans saves you from paying rent on a place you can't use yet, or from scrambling when a lease ends earlier than you expected.

Then think about furniture. Four of these five are furnished, which is a big help for subleases and short stays since you won't need to move a bed in and out. For a year-long lease, an unfurnished unit gives you more control over the space, but factor in what you'll need to buy.

Last, ask every lister the same set of questions so your comparisons are fair: what's included in the rent, what the deposit is, how maintenance requests work and whether there are any extra monthly fees.

If two places look close on paper, write out a simple side-by-side: rent, bedrooms, bathrooms, furniture, lease type and start date. Seeing those six details in one row usually makes the better fit obvious, and it gives you clear follow-up questions for each lister.

Tips for landing a close-in place

• Reach out quickly when a close-in listing matches your needs, since these tend to get the most interest from students.

• For any sublease, ask whether the property manager has to approve the transfer and how long that usually takes.

• If you're signing as a group, ask how the lease handles each person's share and what happens if someone moves out.

• Check the move-in and move-out dates carefully against your semester schedule before you commit, and ask what happens if you need to arrive a few days early or leave a few days late.

Ready to find your place? Browse all listings at Off-Campus Universe.

This article is provided by an independent housing resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Ohio State University.