Apartments near Illinois College of Optometry

Lake Meadows Apartments is one of the closest Illinois College of Optometry Housing options, only 0.4 miles from the college.

Amber has properties available at distances ranging from approximately 0.4 miles to several miles from Illinois College of Optometry, giving students options close to campus and across nearby Chicago neighbourhoods. 

Students should ideally book their Illinois College of Optometry housing 4–6 months before the start of their academic term to have more choice of properties and room types.

The main intake at the Illinois College of Optometry starts in August, with the fall term beginning around then, and ICO also refers to Fall enrollment as August enrollment.

The college recommends Bronzeville, Bridgeport and South Loop as popular areas for students looking for off-campus housing near ICO.

Students looking for Illinois College of Optometry housing can choose from a range of off-campus properties across Chicago. The college itself offers the Residential Complex (RC), located directly across from campus, while students seeking greater independence can explore Private student housing in Chicago. Amber lists several Illinois College of Optometry off-campus housing options, including apartments with private rooms, shared apartments and other room types. Some popular options include Eden Commons and Aspire Residences. Current listings start from around US$849 per month, depending on the property and availability.

Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) is located at 3241 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, in the Bronzeville neighbourhood. Established in 1872, it is the oldest continuously operating optometric educational institution in the United States. ICO holds Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) accreditation & continued its strong academic and research profile in 2025–26, with students and faculty presenting research at the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting. Its popular programmes include the Doctor of Optometry (OD) and postgraduate residency programmes in areas such as ocular disease, primary care, cornea and contact lenses, and vision rehabilitation.

Living in Illinois College of Optometry off-campus housing gives students the flexibility to choose a home based on location, budget, and preferred amenities. Amber offers several options close to campus, making it easier to find Chicago student housing. Popular listings include:

Located at 3241 S. Michigan Ave, the Illinois College of Optometry provides convenient transportation as it is within a 2-minute walking distance to the Michigan & 32nd Street bus station (CTA route numbers 1, 4, X4, & 29) and 11 minutes away from Sox-35th Red Line and 35th/Bronzeville/IIT Green Line stations. Full-time ICO students automatically receive the CTA Ventra U-Pass, which is built directly into tuition fees to provide unlimited rides on all CTA buses and 'L' trains throughout the academic term. For regional suburban commuters, the Metra Rock Island Line is also highly accessible via the nearby 35th St. / "Lou" Jones Station.

The social activities at the Illinois College of Optometry include challenging clinic courses as well as a lively community led by the Student Council (also known as the Student Association), which drives campus governance, event planning, & student advocacy.  The college has several clubs that deal with professionalism and academics, among others. These include the esteemed Tomb & Key Honor Society, the Private Practice Club, & the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). Students also connect through service groups like SVOSH (Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity), whose members engage in international eye care mission work, in addition to various cultural and advocacy clubs, & recreational societies that enrich life outside the classroom.