Renting an Apartment in USA as International Student: Credit, Guarantors & Lease Tips (2026) Landing a US university spot is one milestone — actually securing a place to live is the next real hurdle, and it's one nobody fully warns you about. Most American landlords screen applicants using three things: credit score, income at 2.5–3 times the rent, and rental history. A new international student typically has none of the three. Here's exactly how renting an apartment in USA a