Residence
Hall FAQ
Is there a deadline to sign up for housing?
There is no deadline to apply for Fall 2024 housing and decisions are not dependent on when applications are received. However, those who wish to fully participate in roommate matching and room selection are encouraged to apply before July. Roommate selection begins prior to room selection. Applicants will be notified of upcoming participation opportunities and deadlines via email and the CSU Housing Portal.
The application process for the Spring is smaller, so there will be fewer action steps. Updates will still be sent via email and details shared on the CSU Housing Portal.
When is my payment for room and board due?
Room and board charges can be paid on a monthly basis with CSU’s Prepayment Plan. For payment plan users, if your payments are kept up-to-date (see payment schedule) and cover the amount billed to your student account, your account will be paid each term prior to the student account billing due date. Additional details about CSU billing and payment processes can be found at financialaid.colostate.edu/paying-your-bill
As a first-year student am I guaranteed a spot in the halls?
Yes, we are committed to providing housing to all of our incoming first-year students. CSU requires that all newly-admitted first-year students (Admissions Type “New”) and transfer students with fewer than 15 post-high school credits, who are single, under 21 years of age, and not living with their parents/guardians in the Fort Collins area, live in the University residence halls for the first two consecutive terms (semesters) of their attendance.
Are there options to switch roommates during the year?
Assignment changes will be limited only to those deemed critical by Housing & Dining Services staff including but not limited to conduct/discipline, maintenance, and/or irreconcilable roommate differences after conflict resolution efforts have been attempted.
What is it like living with a roommate?
Recent residents say it best…
“I got randomly matched with a roommate and was concerned about getting along. I called her and we had an awesome experience the first time talking on the phone. We had similar backgrounds, were interested in a lot of the same things, and had similar goals for studying, being social, and having fun. Everyone in my hall had to make a roommate contract when we first moved in. We had to sit down and talk about our expectations, which alleviated problems later because we knew what the expectations were right off the bat. She’s still one of my best friends and we still have breakfast together every week. I’m really glad I got to have that experience through a random roommate assignment.”
“I feel like you hear a lot of horror stories about the random matching, and that can be terrifying, especially coming straight from home, a familiar setting, and going straight to something brand new. I ended up with a randomly-matched roommate who is my complete opposite in every possible way, and we ended up getting along really well. We are still very close friends. One thing that we shared was a sense of humor, so that worked out well.”
“As an RA, I have seen where the roommate situation doesn’t work out as well as you would want. Some people might have conflicting schedules. I had a situation this year where one roommate was a night owl. She was up all night, which is when she felt most creative and wanted to do her schoolwork. Her roommate was up at the crack of dawn and felt most productive in the mornings. So, regardless of how well you get along personally there may be circumstances that can’t be overcome, and I think it’s okay to be open to that. There are some things that you just can’t work out and you have to be open to change in that area.”
What are some things that first-year students bring to campus that they don't actually need?
Think: less is more, with the understanding that you are sharing space with others. You won’t need your skis or snowboard at the beginning of the semester and you don’t have to bring all of your belongings at once. Breaks are a great time to switch belongings based on the time of year.
Once you are assigned your roommate, connect/coordinate with one another. Determine who will bring the larger items so you don’t end up with two of everything (i.e. TV, microfridge, futon, etc.). Printers are one item that may not be necessary in rooms, since there are many places on campus where you can print (including residence hall front desks).
Open-coil heaters are not allowed, so don’t bring things like space heaters, toasters, toaster ovens and hot plates, as they are fire hazards. These appliances are not necessary because our residence halls all have community kitchens. For more information about fire safety in our residence halls visit housing.colostate.edu/halls/policies/.
What are the rules regarding guests in the residence halls?
Hosting guests is a great way to build community and memories when living on campus. Guests can also be a sore spot for roommate difficulties if there is not good communication and shared understanding for what each of you expect. It is also important to note that those expectations can change. Hosting guests early in the semester may be different later if you have a big project you need to complete for a class or your roommate is not feeling well. It is important to talk with each other and respect boundaries with community staff available to assist. For more information about the residence hall guest policy visit housing.colostate.edu/halls/policies/#guest.
What items are included in a typical room in the residence halls?
Every room comes with the following (one per student):
- Bed
- Mattress (twin extra-long, 39” x 80”)
- Desk and chair
- Dresser
- Wardrobe/Closet
- Trash can & recycling bin
Curtains are also on room windows. We recommend students bring bedding (twin XL), any personal items, clothing, and study tools. Talk with your roommate about who will bring larger items, such as a microfridge and TV, to make sure you are utilizing the space efficiently. For specific move in information as the new semester approaches visit housing.colostate.edu/move-in.
Are there online floor plans students can see after they get their hall assignments?
What's the role of a Resident Assistant (RA)?
How much is the housing deposit and is it refundable?
The $300 housing deposit serves as a reservation fee and contractual guarantee. University Housing will refund in full, deposits for students who cancel on or before June 1 for the fall semester (December 31 for the spring semester). No refund is given for cancellations received after June 1 (December 31 for spring). The $50 application fee is non-refundable.
Returning students who participate in the residence hall room selection process can also receive a refund for cancellations prior to June 1; no refunds are given for cancellations after June 1.
In May of the academic year, deposits will be refunded to the University account of all students who fulfill the academic year contract or will roll over to the next contract term for those students who return to the residence halls or university apartments.
Can I bring my pet to the residence halls?
Is there air conditioning in the residence halls? Do I need to bring a heater or fan?
Are there learning communities for specific majors?
Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) are programs organized to introduce and integrate academic and social learning in residence hall settings through faculty involvement. Visit https://www.lc.colostate.edu/ to learn more about RLCs at CSU.
What opportunities are there for student leadership and involvement in the residence halls?
What are some of the challenges about transitioning into college?
Should I bring a car to campus?
Parking on campus is permitted, but is limited and requires a permit year-round (including summer and during breaks). We encourage students to make use of the various alternative transportation options available on campus and throughout the Fort Collins community.
- Bike
- Bicycling is a sustainable, easy, and affordable way to get around campus. There are over 300 miles of trails within city limits, lots of bike parking, and several on-campus bike fix-it stations, including The Spoke, a fully functional bike shop in Laurel Village.
- Spin E-Scooters & E-Bikes
- Spin electronic scooters and bikes are a great way to travel short distances around campus. 500 e-scooters and 400 e-bikes will be available on CSU’s campuses and throughout Fort Collins. Rent easily through the app. pts.colostate.edu/spin/
- Public Transit
- Your RamCard doubles as your bus pass. Ride any Transfort route in the city, via bus, MAX, or FLEX. FLEX is a regional bus with direct stops to and from Loveland, Longmont, and Boulder. Another service, Bustang (no discounts are associated with your Ramcard), provides service to Denver, Colorado Springs, and the I-70 mountain corridor.
- Car Share
- CSU has fourteen ZipCar rentals across campus. ZipCar is an affordable, sustainable alternative to bringing a personal car and purchasing a parking permit that allows students under the age of 25 to check out vehicles that include insurance.
- Game Day Repark Program
- Students with residence hall parking permits must park in specific lots reserved for them on the six Saturdays a year when the Rams play at the on-campus stadium. To learn more about the repark program visit housing.colostate.edu/transportation-parking
Visit pts.colostate.edu/students to get more transportation information.
Do you offer hall tours?
Continued demand for campus housing requires all available rooms to meet the need. As a result, model rooms are not available for tours.
Visit housing.colostate.edu/housing/halls/explore and housing.colostate.edu/housing/apartments/explore to see photos, videos, and 360 virtual tours of our facilities.
Visit the CSU Admissions Office to see our community-style demo room or for more information on full campus tours, visit days, and special events.
Check out our Interactive Green Room for ideas on how to make your residence hall room sustainable.
Can I live on campus over the summer?
Students who take summer classes are eligible to live on campus in our summer session housing hall over the summer. More information is available at https://housing.colostate.edu/summer-session/.
Summer housing move-in and move-out dates may be flexible on a case-by-case basis. Contact the University Housing residence halls for more information and to make specific date requests.