It is located within the Town of North Hempstead and is part of the Greater Great Neck area.

[4][5][2] In the 1940s, large portions of the Waverly Hills section of the hamlet were developed with homes designed by architect H.C.

[6] Located at the northwestern corner of the hamlet, the complex's 28 garden apartment buildings were designed by architect Samuel Paul.

[4] The name reflects the fact that the land which that subdivision is located on was purchased from (and built atop) the short-lived University Golf Club – and because Russell Gardens, located across Northern Boulevard, was being developed around the same time.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.

[10][16] University Gardens is located entirely within New York's 3rd Congressional district, which as of August 2024 is represented in the United States Congress by Thomas R. Suozzi (D–Glen Cove).

[10][17] Like the rest of New York, University Gardens is represented in the United States Senate by Charles Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

[18] In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the majority of University Gardens voters voted for Hillary Clinton (D).

[10][21] University Gardens is located entirely within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Great Neck Union Free School District.

[10] Although the Long Island Rail Road's Port Washington Branch passes through University Gardens and forms part of its northwestern boundary, there are no stations located within the hamlet.

[10] The n20G bus route travels along Northern Boulevard and Middle Neck Road through University Gardens, while the n20h, n21, n25, and n26 bus routes run through a small section of the northwestern portion of the hamlet, along Middle Neck Road.

[26][27] PSEG Long Island provides power to all homes and businesses within University Gardens.

[29] Built on the site of the former University Golf Club, the subdivision operates under a set of covenants recorded with its 218 homes and 17 commercial properties under the auspices of the University Gardens Property Owners Association, Inc.; it is located in the northeastern portion of the CDP.