I started investing in student rentals 3 years ago to escape the 9-5 at the age of 33. 

I have 8 units 1 mile out from the university student center and on the edge of what might be described as "the hood."

I am interested in areas where college students and young professionals are attracted to.

Prices are high, expenses are high, and rents are modest so the strategies that can get you enough to live on, to give some examples, might be student housing, higher risk cities with low house prices and poor economic fundamentals, or starting with buying a multi-million dollar portfolio requiring hundreds of thousands or a million+ of down payment. 

If the score is low and the person is young w student loans, are there other steps I can or should take to verify that this person would be a good renter?

These are all close to two major colleges and the houses are rented to college students. 

If it can be students oriented I would go for it.

It was thought that students from a nearby school would be the primary tenants. 

I have no capital as a college student here in Pensacola FL.  

I have student loan debt in the 20k area, and drive paid off vehicles that require a lot of upkeep to keep running me 120-150 miles round trip to work.