What’s Changing This Year? 

As we move forward, there is one significant change we want everyone to be aware of. Beginning this cycle, housing selection will occur by housing credits in the following order:

1. Selection for 1+ Housing Credits (Rising Sophomores)
2. Selection for 3+ Housing Credits (Rising Juniors)
3. Selection for 5+ Housing Credits (Rising Seniors)

Each selection group will see the specific communities designated for them. For example, rising juniors should not expect to see Deacon Place during their selection times.

Important Dates for 26-27 Housing Selection

January 12, 2026

• 26-27 Housing Application Opens
• Off-Campus Lottery Opens

February 1, 2026

• Off-Campus Lottery Closes

February 13, 2026

• Off-Campus Lottery Results Released

March 31, 2026

• Deadline to change from Study Abroad to On Campus for participation in Housing Selection

 March 31 - April 3, 2026

• Fall 2026 Class Registration (You must be registered for fall classes to participate in Housing Selection.)

April 15, 2026

• Housing Selection for Rising Juniors (3+ Housing Credits)

Abroad for Fall 2026?

If you are planning to go abroad for Fall 2026, please keep these considerations in mind as you begin to think about Spring 2027. 

• Students who participate in study abroad/away are still subject to the residency requirement, with their semester abroad counting towards the six-semester requirement.
• Students abroad for the fall semester will select their spring semester housing in December.
• Students returning from study away programs in the fall have limited housing options for the spring and are often placed into rooms with open beds, meaning they will be living with existing roommates.



We will be unable to house all students returning from abroad for Spring 2027. Babcock Hall will reopen for Spring 2027, providing just over 200 beds for students returning from abroad. Additional availability is expected to be severely limited and unpredictable.

Most students returning from abroad should not expect to live in University housing. Continue below for details on how and when to enter the Off-Campus Lottery.

Off-Campus Lottery

Students who have earned (or are expected to earn) at least four housing credits are eligible to participate in the Off-Campus Lottery. If necessary, the lottery may be expanded to those with at least three housing credits. 

NEW THIS YEAR - If you are studying abroad for Fall 2026, your Off-Campus Lottery entry will be for the Spring 2027 semester. 

The lottery randomly selects a determined number of students for release from the University’s residency requirement. This process will open on January 12 and close on February 1. Lottery outcomes will be released by February 13. 

While we anticipate releasing many students in February 2026, some will roll into the Off-Campus Lottery that will take place during the Fall 2026 semester.

You will enter the Off-Campus Lottery in the Housing Portal. Students may choose to enter the lottery as individuals or in groups of up to four (note each individual must enter and agree to the terms). If selected, all members of a group will be released. 

Because the lottery is NOT a guaranteed release, students should NOT sign leases to live off campus unless/until they are released in writing by Residence Life and Housing. 

If released, students are expected to live off-campus from that point forward (including their senior year). When considering where you wish to live, consider an 18-month lease (January of junior year through May of senior year).

2026–27 Campus Occupancy



The University’s incoming classes continue to grow, and Babcock Hall will be offline for renovation during Fall 2026. As a result, most of Kitchin and Poteat Halls will be reserved for incoming first-year students.

Rising juniors should expect to select from spaces in the following communities: 

• North Campus Apartments, Student Apartments, and Polo Hall
• Any remaining spaces in sophomore designated communities - Davis, Efird, Huffman, and Taylor, Dogwood, Magnolia, Martin

Disability-Related Accommodations

If you currently have an approved disability-related accommodation for 2025–26, you will need to renew your request for future years. More information will be shared in early January.

Students requesting a new accommodation should begin the process through the Housing Portal after reviewing important information on our website.

For the Fall 2026 term, continuing students should provide complete documentation for consideration by March 1. 

Students with approved accommodations are assigned before Housing Selection. Our team will reach out in March to schedule a time to discuss your housing needs.