Current Undergraduates

Campus housing during Winter Break will be available to all students in campus housing for fall 2025 who also have a housing contract for the spring 2026 semester. Students stay in their existing fall semester housing assignment. Students choosing to remain on campus for part or all of Winter Break (12/19/24-1/15/25) must register. The registration period closes on December 8 (the last day of classes). Please log into StarRez to register. The registration link can be found on the front page. If your plans change and you need to cancel, email winterbreakhousing@reslife.rochester.edu. Include your name, room assignment, and student ID.

The Winter Break fee is $400 to support the operation and maintenance of the residence halls. This fee will be applied to student accounts.

There is no reduced fee for partial stay. Registration is a flat rate of $400. If you are looking to stay or return early you may find more cost-effective options off-campus.

Finding off-campus places to stay

Note: this is list of local businesses that may offer an option for students looking for a short stay. These businesses are not endorsed by or affiliated with the University of Rochester.

• AirBnb You may find short term, nightly options for less than $100 per night, with discounts for longer stays
  • Tip: search the AirBnB listings using the filter options to limit search results by price range
• Staybridge Suites Hotel is a short walk from campus - inquire to see if there is a UR/student discount.
• Hilton Garden Inn College Town is a located in College Town and a short walk from campus.
• The RIT Inn and Conference Center is an RIT affiliate hotel - inquire about the UR/student discount.
• Spark by Hilton is located on East Henrietta Rd. near Costco, Monroe Community College, and Rustic Village.
• A cost-free option is to ask a friend at URochester who lives off-campus if they’d let you stay with them for some or all of the duration you need housing in Rochester for.

Financial support is available for students with demonstrated financial need (those currently receiving federal and/or institutional need-based assistance using the 2025-26 financial aid application) and will be applied on a sliding scale. Aid will be provided based on the student’s level of need, ranging from 0%-100% coverage of the $400 fee. Please contact your financial aid counselor if you have questions about your level of aid. Students with financial hardship may also request support through the Basic Needs Hub.

Winter Break does not require a meal plan, however, Dining Services will have eating venues on-campus available, operating with reduced hours. A schedule of hours and services is available on Dining's website. Fall meal plans end after service on 12/18/25. Declining from fall meal plans will continue to be active during the Winter Break period, however meal swipes will end with the meal plan end-date. Additional declining can be added through Dining's website. Students will be responsible for food expenses. Spring meal plans begin 1/15/26. As always, if you are facing food insecurity, you may request support through the Basic Needs Hub and utilize the Food Pantry.

Winter Break housing is limited to undergraduate students currently living on-campus and who will continue in the spring semester. Students leaving for education abroad programs for spring term, taking a leave of absence, graduating in December 2025, commuter students, and new students arriving early for the spring 2026 term are not eligible for Winter Break housing. Undergraduates are prohibited from staying in graduate housing areas over Winter Break.

Yes, students who are registered for Winter Break Housing will be able to visit each other in other residence halls. Your Winter Break card access will allow you to swipe in to visit your friends. HOWEVER, Only Winter Break students are allowed in the residence halls, so friends and fellow students who are not registered for Winter Break will not be able to visit you on campus.

If you are anticipating a room change for spring term, please remember you must be here for move change day (Thursday, January 15, 2026).

A list of undergraduate students who register for Winter Break is provided to Public Safety and area offices.

Please direct all Winter Break questions to the Winter Break housing email at winterbreakhousing@reslife.rochester.edu.