In case anyone is still alive on this thread...I'm thinking about Santa Barbara for grad school (Fall 2017) but it seems like rentals for a room are expensive and there doesn't seem to be much available close to campus. Also, if Goleta is popular, but 6-8 miles away, do people take the bus? Or do most people have cars? Is that 6-8 mile stretch also bike-able, or is it all interstate? I don't drive, so its kind of important.
Also does anyone know of students who do live close to campus and how they do that?
What do people think of the co-ops? Ideally, I'd prefer to live alone, but that isn't fixed.
Thanks in advance for any info anyone has.