Housing and Student Success

The Department of Student Success serves the non-academic needs of Palo Alto University students from the time they decide to attend PAU to the day they graduate and beyond. The Department includes the areas of Student Support for tutoring, time management, and student involvement with clubs and organizations, International and Veteran Student Services, the Writing Studio, the Office of Accessible Education for any needs related to ADA accommodations, and the Office of Financial Aid.

The most common question we get from admitted students is, "How can I find housing?" We appreciate how stressful it can be to find housing on top of starting a new program. Below you can find some helpful information for you as you start your search. 

• PAU does not provide student housing. All PAU students are responsible for finding appropriate housing independently. Please refer to the PAU Student Housing Resources link at the bottom of this page.

• Housing in the Bay Area is expensive! We highly recommend you plan on having a roommate or two. The easiest way to find a roommate is to connect with your fellow incoming students (the Facebook group is a great option.)

• Start early. Apartments can go quickly, so we encourage you to begin your process now if you haven't started already and ask that you do not wait until just prior to classes to begin your search. 

• Apartment brokers are much less common in California than on the East Coast. Most students will rent directly from an owner or from a rental company. You can also consider working with a property management company.  

• There are low-income housing programs, but they often have long waitlists and may not be eligible for full-time students. California also often refers to programs as "Below Market Rate." One example is Alta Housing.  

• A student budget may not permit housing in the City of Palo Alto. We recommend you center your search in places like Cupertino, Mountain View, Redwood City, Los Altos, Santa Clara, or San Jose. Generally, the further South or East you get from Palo Alto, the lower the prices. However, please keep in mind that traffic can be challenging, so check commute times before securing in outlying areas.

• If you find that a company or landlord needs proof of your enrollment at PAU in order to rent, please let us know. We can provide verification.

• Craigslist is a common source for housing in California. In general, use common sense. If an apartment seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do not share your personal information until you feel confident the list is legitimate, and never transfer funds until you have secured the correct recipient. 

For housing resources, please visit this webpage and follow the links at the bottom of the page titled Helpful Links Webpage and Housing Tips Webpage.  We welcome your questions about Palo Alto and greater Bay Area community resources at studentsuccess@paloaltou.edu.    

We are excited to announce a new program for PAU students that will provide 24/7 virtual access to medical and mental health care from anywhere in the United States - at no cost. Whether you're under the weather, anxious, or overwhelmed, you will be able to talk to a licensed provider from your smartphone or any web-enabled device. Licensed providers are available to offer medical and mental health support via phone or secure video visits. 

Through TimelyCare, part of TimelyMD a leading telehealth company specializing in higher education, all students have access to:

• Medical - On-demand virtual access to a medical provider that can treat a wide range of common illnesses like cold and flu, sinus infection, allergies, and more

• Scheduled Medical - Appointment-based options to speak with a medical provider

• TalkNow - 24/7, on-demand access to a mental health professional to talk about anything at anytime

• Scheduled Counseling - Speak to a licensed counselor (up to 12 visits per year)

• Group Sessions - Weekly Guided Meditation and Yoga Group Sessions, plus specialized discussions throughout the year.

Due to rising costs, PAU is not participating in the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) this year. Students interested in purchasing health insurance are encouraged to purchase a place through Covered California. The Covered California Health Exchange is the government agency offering subsidized Obamacare plans for this state. The California Health Exchange was created to assist citizens and legal residents with applying for marketplace coverage in order to comply with the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). When the law was passed in 2010, each of the 50 states had to decide to either create a state-run health insurance exchange or offer enrollment through a federally-operated exchange. This state chose to create its own exchange and called it “Covered California”.

Covered California offers a range of plans, including low-cost plans that may be subsidized.