single female student looking for place! (Chicago, Bridgeport: neighborhoods, safe, moving to)

[citychaos]

Hi,
I am a foreign, single, female graduate student who will start studying at IIT, main campus(chicago), and I am looking for a place which is 1) safe and peaceful that I can walk around at night, so to speak, 2) not so expensive if not cheap 3) as close as IIT and 4) with high speed internet connection(not to mention laundry).

I am a total stranger to the area, so any tips/comment, I would appreciate!!!

[assistancewschool]

MANY people contributed and then one of the moderators was VERY helpful and put this together since so many of us moving to Chicago have similar questions. I would look through this:
Read This First- ?'s About Neighborhoods Or Moving To Chicago (or FOOD!)? Read This Before Asking Your Questions!
As people refer to neighborhoods this map has been helpful to me also:
Chicago Neighborhood Map

[Drover]

I'd recommend Bridgeport/Armour Square; anywhere east of Parnell, west of the Wells, north of 35th and south of 31st would provide both a relatively quiet neighborhood (provided you're not on a main thoroughfare) and a convenient walk to campus. Plus it's one of the best value-per-dollar neighborhoods in the city right now.