Moving to a new city like Miami may seem daunting, but the Office of Admissions is here to assist in making your transition to Miami Law a smooth one. The law school does not provide on-campus housing, but Miami is a large, metropolitan city full of diverse housing options and locations in which to live within a convenient distance to campus.
This information is compiled for your convenience but is by no means exhaustive. We are not affiliated with, nor do we endorse, any property, organization, or real estate agent/office listed. We strongly advise that you call in advance to schedule an appointment or gather more information before visiting the properties.
A cost comparison worksheet is available for your use under the Additional Resources section below. Best of luck in your housing search!
Finding a Roommate
It is important to know that the budget assessed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance assumes you will have a roommate(s). Cut down on expenses by living with another law student or graduate student, preferably one who shares your study habits and preferences. The Office of Admissions offers a roommate referral service to help law students find roommates. Students wishing to be included must complete this Roommate Referral Form. In late April, the list of students will be sent to everyone who signed up, and every few weeks thereafter. Once students finalize their housing plans, they are removed from the list. Please note that this service is for Miami Law students only.
Admitted students are encouraged to join the Class of 2028 WhatsApp Group to meet other students and share housing needs and opportunities.
Selecting a Neighborhood
One of the most important factors to consider in your housing search is location. Where you live will affect your commuting time, accessibility to services and recreational opportunities, and living costs.
The neighborhoods closest to the law school are:
Coral Gables
Coconut Grove
South Miami
Dadeland
Kendall
Brickell and Downtown Miami are farther away, but the commute is opposite the flow of traffic. The commute from the Dadeland and Kendall areas would be with the flow of traffic, which may increase commute time.
Coral Gables and Coconut Grove
The city of Coral Gables, home to the University of Miami, is a beautiful residential and business district. Coral Gables is located south of Miami International Airport and southwest of downtown Miami. Rentals in Coral Gables include single-family homes, duplexes, quadruplexes, and low-rise apartment buildings, as well as many tall condominium buildings. Coral Gables has quiet streets and is home to some of Miami’s best restaurants and art galleries.
Originally settled in the 1800s, Coconut Grove (“The Grove”) remains a charming, bayside village within the urban dynamic of Miami. The pedestrian-friendly village center is filled with sidewalk cafes, galleries, parks, and bars. There are houses, duplexes, apartments, and condominiums for rent in the area.
Approximate distance from campus: 1 to 3 miles
Driving time: 5 to 10 minutes (may double during rush hour)
Metrorail stations: Douglas Road (1 stop from University station) and Coconut Grove (2 stops from University station)
South Miami, just west of campus, sprawls across US-1 in a combination of residential and commercial properties. The small downtown area has many restaurants and stores, as well as The Shops at Sunset Place (an outdoor mall) and a movie theater.
Approximate distance from campus: 2 miles
Driving time: 5 minutes (may double during rush hour)
Metrorail station: South Miami (1 stop from University station)
Dadeland is a suburban neighborhood where a large number of Miami Law students live. Rentals near the Dadeland Mall include apartment and condominium buildings. Kendall is a sprawling suburb of apartment complexes, housing subdivisions, and strip malls. Although driving time to campus may be longer, living farther west in Kendall will be more economical.
Approximate distance from campus: 4 to 8 miles
Driving time: 10 to 20 minutes (may double during rush hour)
Metrorail stations: Dadeland North (2 stops from University station) and Dadeland South (3 stops from University station)
Brickell Avenue, often referred to as the “Wall Street of the South,” is home to Miami’s international banking and business center and has emerged as a home to many luxury condominiums. The area also features numerous law firms, as well as fine dining, nightlife, and shopping at Brickell City Centre.
Approximate distance from campus: 6 miles
Driving time: 20 minutes (may double during rush hour)
Metrorail station: Brickell (4 stops from University station)
Downtown Miami is the city’s bustling epicenter, with tourist destinations like the Port of Miami, Bayfront Park, Bayside Marketplace, and FTX Arena, home to the Miami Heat. Courthouses and government offices are also located in the downtown area.
Approximate distance from campus: 9 miles
Driving time: 30 minutes (may double during rush hour)
Metrorail station: Government Center (5 stops from University station)
The following pins showcase condos and apartments that University of Miami School of Law students reported living. Different color pins designate the neighborhood:
Green - Coral Gables
Brown - Coconut Grove
Orange - Kendall
Purple - Dadeland
Blue - Downtown/Brickell
Searching for an Apartment
Realtors
Realtors can supply you with up-to-date listings and can take you around to view properties. This service is usually at no charge to you since most apartment listings used by realtors include a built-in commission from the property owner, but it is always best to check first. The Office of Admissions egularly canvases the student body for recommended local realtors who assisted them during their initial transition to Miami.
In most of the Miami metropolitan area, Streets are numbered and run east to west (so do Drives and Boulevards). Avenues are numbered and run north to south (so do Courts, Roads, and Places). Most of the main streets have both a number and a name (i.e., 57th Avenue is also known as Red Road).
In the city of Coral Gables, streets and avenues have names, not numbers, so you will need a good memory or someone helpful to give you directions when you get turned around. When looking for a street sign in most parts of the Coral Gables, look down and not up. Street names are carved on raised white stone slabs on the ground.
Main Highways and Expressways
I-95: This is the main interstate connecting the east coast of the United States. I-95 ends in Miami, just south of downtown, where it merges with US-1/South Dixie Highway. The distance between the merge and UM’s main entrance (Stanford Drive) is about 4.5 miles.
US-1/South Dixie Highway: South Dixie Highway is the main “strip” in front of the University. This is also the highway that connects the mainland to the Florida Keys.
Route 836/Dolphin Expressway: This is the main east to west thoroughfare connecting the Florida Turnpike to I-95.
Route 826/Palmetto Expressway: This is the main artery connecting the north to the south. It eventually connects to I-95 at an area called the Golden Glades Interchange.
Florida Turnpike: This toll road extends as far north as Orlando and as far south as Homestead. It also connects with US-1/South Dixie Highway. The Turnpike is a good road to use if you are traveling west of the city.
Route 874: This toll road connects the Palmetto Expressway to the Florida Turnpike. It is a handy freeway for those who live in South Dade area.
Route 878/Snapper Creek Expressway: This toll road connects US-1 to Route 874. This is a handy shortcut if you are traveling to the University from West Kendall.
To avoid wasting time in traffic, it is suggested that you leave early and stay late. The Law Library opens at 7:00 am on weekdays.
Morning rush hour is between 7:00 am and 9:00 am. There will be traffic headed in the direction of downtown Miami.
Evening rush hour is between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. There will be traffic headed away from downtown Miami.
Public Transportation
Not all students have cars, but as Miami is somewhat spread out, having a car will make things easier overall. If you do not plan to have a car, live as close to campus as possible (walking or biking distance). Otherwise, choose a place on one of Miami’s transit routes.
The Metrorail is an efficient and reliable source of transportation to campus from several housing districts in Miami. Some students use the Metrorail to get to and from campus. Miami-Dade County's elevated, rapid-transit system stretches for 22-miles: from Dadeland, through South Miami, Coral Gables, and downtown Miami; to the Civic Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital area; to the Miami International Airport; to Brownsville, Liberty City, Hialeah, and Medley in northwest Miami-Dade, with connections to Broward and Palm Beach counties at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer station. Parking is available at 19 Metrorail stations.
