Room Selection

Students waiting for the elevator on move-in day.

Choosing your housing for the upcoming year can be a big decision. Before making this decision, you may want to review:

Incoming first-year students should refer to the incoming undergraduates housing assignment page.

Reminder for Current On-Campus First-Year Students

When you entered Rochester, you signed a two-year housing agreement. The College has determined that living on-campus is important to the successful development of our students. There are only two circumstances where a contract release would be considered. Contract release options are extreme financial hardship or a medical disability; supporting documentation is required. Please submit documentation directly to the respective office and not to Residential Life. If a contract release is recommended, the respective office will reach out directly to Residence Life with the decision. Residential Life will then reach out to the student. 

  • To request a release for financial reasons, meet with someone from the Office of Financial Aid, regardless if you receive financial aid. 
  • To request a release for medical reasons, follow the instructions listed on the Office of Disability Resources. Before submitting a medical accommodation request, review the Medical Release Criteria sheet to understand the determining factors used by the Office of Disability Resources

Housing Tours 

Please check back in March 2025 for more information. 

*Room videos and pictures can be found on each area page.

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Gender Inclusive Housing

Gender-inclusive housing seeks to provide an environment that is welcoming to all gender identities and is not limited to the traditional gender binary (male and female). We recognize that same-sex room assignments are not ideal or appropriate for all students.

While we currently provide opportunities for students to live in singles in apartment and suites in mixed groups we are now expanding to include any standard double rooms and suite double rooms on coed floors in upper-class housing. This housing options also students to select roommates regardless of their sex, gender, or gender expression. Unless specific mutual requests are made by the roommates, the Office for Residential Life will assign students base on the standard gender binary (male/female).

For more information see our gender inclusive PDF.

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Housing Accommodations

Continuing students must update and submit accommodation requests to the Office of Disability Resources by April 1 each year. Students are expected to participate in the Housing Lottery first to try to secure suitable housing on their own. If they are unable to do so, their accommodation request will be reviewed.

Specially trained service animals for individuals with disabilities are permitted. Please note on your contract if you are bringing a trained animal. Emotional support animals require approval from the University.

Please do not send any medical information to the Office for Residential Life and Housing Services. Students seeking an accommodation must submit this request and all relevant documentation to the Office of Disability Resources.

Once assignments are made and mailed to students, it is difficult for us to undo a housing assignment and find another accommodation since, typically, all spaces have been assigned. Therefore, it is important for students to complete this application prior to June 1. Late submissions may result in our not being able to provide this accommodation initially, and a student would then need to wait until a vacancy occurs in an appropriate space.

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Request for Release

When you entered Rochester, you signed a two-year housing agreement. The College has determined that living on-campus is important to the successful development of our students. Residential Life does not anticipate releasing first-year students from the sophomore year of the housing requirement. We will review limited requests that have supporting documentation for financial or medical accommodations.

Students are automatically released from housing in the event that they graduate, separate from the university, or are in an approved study abroad opportunity.

Students wishing to be released for other reasons should contact housing@reslife.rochester.edu.

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Applying for Spring Term Housing

Returning from Abroad

Students returning from abroad programs should refer to the departure information provided by the Center for Education Abroad. Return housing information is also provided in that resource.

For students abroad in the fall and returning spring: watch for an email in mid-November with instructions and a link to the online housing application.

For students away in the spring and returning fall: watch for housing lottery information starting in February, instructions and a link to the online application will be posted on our website in mid-March.

Re-activated or Re-admitted Students

If you are a re-activated or re-admitted student and are interested in living on-campus, once your status change has been confirmed with CCAS, please email housing@reslife.rochester.edu.

Your email message should include when your status was changed and that you’re requesting the housing information to be sent to you. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee housing for all re-admitted, re-activated, or transfer students but we do our best. Assignments are made on a rolling basis for both fall and spring semesters. Best advice is to get your application submitted as soon as possible. More information will be provided once your application is received.

Transfer Students Applying

See the transfer student page for more information about apply for housing as a transfer student.

First-Years Starting in Spring

As with first-year students who start in the fall, spring start students will receive information via their online MyRoc portal. Admissions can assist with any questions in accessing the housing contract.

New Contract Application

Students who otherwise did not live on campus in the fall but would like to in the spring should contact the Housing Operations office at housing@reslife.rochester.edu to discuss their specific situation.

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