I'm a college student as well, and my dog is my best pal! I kid you not. It's awesome having such a great companion. He's not your typical Yorkie, weighing in at 14lbs, but I love every ounce of him. I take him as many places as he can go with me, he's seriously a great companion. I took such pride in training him and it's been an absolute blast. My first real dog, besides all the family dogs. I never knew I'd be chatting on a YT forum, constantly researching the best dog foods out there, etc. Now, I don't live alone, I'm still living at home, but whatever my future may hold... is definitely involving Jackson. I hope to move out next year and he will of course be with me! I also highly dislike cats lol, so while dogs are a lot more work, I also think they're ALOT more fun! I really enjoy taking Jackson to the local parks, dog parks, my cousins little league ball games, car rides just so he can sniff around outside, going to friends/familys house with their dogs, he really leads a better life than I do! LOL ... but anyways, here's your questions
1. I know Yorkies can be yelpy, but are their barks loud enough for people walking by - outside of your apartment - to hear them? It's hard to tell from the videos on YouTube how loud they are.
YES! They have a very loud, high-piercered bark. However, if you train them right from the get-go, that will help greatly! I let Jackson know from the beginning I didn't want barking. He never barked until he was around my dad's barkaholic of a dog but I can still control him even when she's going nuts, which is nice. I used the "Coins in a can" trick where you fill up a can with pennies and shake it everytime he barked and say "Quiet!" Orr you could use a squirt bottle and squirt them w/ the same effect.
2. Would the dog get stressed if it was consistantly living in two different places? On the weekends I always go home to my family, so the dog would be home for about 2.5 days each week and at my dorm the other 4.5.
I do it with Jackson! During most of the week, I live with my mom & stepfather and then usually from Friday-Monday, I go to my "other" house at my dad's which is about 45 minutes away which a pool, a fenced in yard, a hot tub and two other dogs which is nice. Jackson LOVES it - and looks at it as his vacation home! LOL. Now, in the beginning, as a young pup.... he did not like the car. But I had him crated. Then I just bought a strap that hooks on to his harness and buckles into the belt, and he LOVES car rides! The whole time, he's got his head in the air smelling everything. And my dad, his girlfriend and my brother (and their dogs) LOVE to see Jackson.
3. How much do Yorkie puppies typically cost? I feel so uncomfortable looking for one to buy because the prices range anywhere from free, to $200, to $2000.
I know I got Jackson for $550, which is considered pretty cheap, but I wouldn't call her a reputable breeder. I saw her ad online and her dogs got together and wa-la - pups! Jackson is also not your "standard" Yorkie as he is 14lbs so I guess I "Got" what I paid for me. But personally, I really love him the way he is and always wanted a bigger Yorkie.
4. Does anyone know a good place to buy a Yorkie in SoCal, specifically within Orange County?
Can't help ya there!
5. Will the Yorkie get stressed if I have odd hours at times? Sometimes I'm awake at 7 in the morning and go to bed at 1, other times not until 12 PM and staying up until 3 or 4 AM. It varies widly depending on the quarter at school. I would still be at my dorm for hours and hours each day though, so the amount of time isn't an issue, it's the time of the time. 
Hm, well in the beginning that may not work. Schedule is KEY espeically when it comes to potty training. Before Jackson, I was one of those college kids who didn't go to bed until 2am (not partying, I was usually just online or watching TV) and not up til 10am or so. When I got a puppy, all that changed. For the first few weeks, I was waking up 2x in the middle of the night with him to let him outside and up every morning by 7am. I was so worn out, I was passing out by 9pm at night. Trust me, it's gotten better! The first few months are tough though. But now Jackson is 8 months old and he pretty much follows whatever schedule I do. Sometimes, like last night, I didn't go to bed until 1am so neither did he. I always let him outside right before bed tho, so that he will sleep later w/ me. So this morning he slept until 9:30 with me. I might add when Jackson was waking up in the middle of the night, he was in a crate... the moment I let him sleep in my bed, he was sleeping thru the night. Make sure your dog is potty trained before doing that tho.
6. Is this the basics of what you do with a Yorkie or any dog for that matter?: feed them, give them water, give them baths, brush and cut their hair, brush their teeth, wipe their eyes, give them shots and take them to the vet 1-2 times a year, pick up their poo until they are potty trained, walk them, play with them, buy them toys. (Yes I know silly to ask, but like I said I've never owned a dog before.)
Yeah, basically. They are NOT cheap, for sure. Each of Jackson's vet appt's were all over $100 for the first few times. The vets usually charge a "New client" fee, at my vet was $45, then the shots, then the "Check-up." The first year is definitely THE most expensive because you have to buy everything! Plus, hopefully you get him neutered, and that can get pricey. I found a nice clinic around my house to do that surgery and it was only $65! Great deal. Yorkies are known to have teeth problems too, and a lot of times get double rows of teeth where their baby teeth come in at the same time as adult and a lot of times they need pulled.
7. I'm going to Japan in July and won't be back until August 1. Will the month of August and half of September be enough time to train the Yorkie at my home and then take it to my dorm where it can be happy and obedient?
Where is the dog going to stay when you're gone?
8. What's the youngest I can get a Yorkie? 8 weeks?
It should be 12 weeks, definitely, especially if they are small. 8 weeks is too young. I did get Jackson at 9 weeks but he was bigger.
9. Frankly I think Yorkies with long coats are ugly (and girlie), lol. Is it normal to have them with short hair?
I personally don't like the long coats either and most the Yorkies on this board have short hair! Check out my album, you can see Jackson, even tho he needs a haircut again. Click on my profile and then View Albums.