Best cheap(ish) housing options for grad students?

Hey everyone!

My partner and I are both starting AD degrees at CU Boulder in the fall. We have a uhhhh pretty tight budget this year, so we’re wondering if there are any places close enough to the school to commute by bus (or bike) but far enough from the downtown areas of Boulder that housing costs are relatively cheap.

Does anyone have experience with living in an area like this? Are there any areas that are particularly popular for grad students? Do places like this exist at all? Any perspectives are helpful!