It's OK to have questions! To help sort the ins and outs of living on campus, below are many of the most frequently asked questions from future residents. Logically, we start with the basics.
Because of the educational benefits and campus connections created by living on campus, first-year students at UNC Chapel Hill are required to live in on-campus residence halls or at Granville Towers during the entirety of their first academic year. Summer residency does not factor into the completion of this requirement.
Students who live in on-campus residence halls will be assigned to a designated First Year Experience community or in one of the Residential Learning Programs. A limited number of first-year students will be allowed to live in other University housing as deemed appropriate at the discretion of the Executive Director of Carolina Housing with approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. At Granville Towers, students will be assigned to First Year Experience floors located in each of the three towers.
The only exceptions to this policy include:
A student applying for a waiver of this requirement must meet the following conditions:
Questions regarding this requirement should be directed to the Carolina Housing Assignments Office at 919-962-5401 or [email protected].
First-year students (who do not opt for a Residential Learning Program) will be assigned housing in one of the designated First Year Experience communities:
2025-26 First Year Halls to choose from:
South Campus:
North Campus:
Granville Towers is also a community where students may choose to live, and the First Year Experience will be on select halls in that location.
A limited number of first-year students will be allowed to live in other University housing as deemed appropriate at the discretion of the Director of Carolina Housing with approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
Visit our Rates page for updated costs. These rates include all utilities: laundry, wireless high-speed internet, water/sewer/trash and electric. All rooms are air-conditioned.
Residence halls only close over the Winter and Summer Breaks. Visit the Break Housing page for more information on what to do if you want to stay on campus during these times.
For students who applied by May 29th, your student account will be billed in July. Payments are made through the Cashiers office and not directly to Housing.
Visit our How to Apply page for the 5 easy steps to submitting your Housing Application and receiving your Housing Assignment!
All of the applications that are received by May 29th are assigned a random lottery number. The lottery number determines the order in which the system will process the 3,000+ applications on file. To make your housing assignment, the system identifies your preferences and seeks vacant rooms starting with your first choice and progressing down the list. If nothing is available in any of the locations you preferenced, a random housing assignment is made.
Although Granville Towers is considered a partner to Carolina Housing, Granville Towers is managed by a private entity, and contracts are issued independently of Carolina Housing. It’s important to note that contracts are not transferable between Carolina Housing and Granville Towers. You can access the Granville Towers website at http://www.granvilletowers.com/.
No. Because applications are randomly ordered before assignments are made, all students who submit an application by May 29 will receive equal chance of getting assigned to one of their preferences.
Yes. Single rooms are very sparse on the UNC campus, so it is very difficult to get assigned to one. If you have a severe medical condition that requires you live alone, please submit a Medical Accommodations Request.
No. Apartment communities are not available to first-year students. This option will be available beginning your sophomore year.
The preferences you list on your Housing Application are guidlines that our automated program looks at while making your room assignment. As our system processes the application in the lottery-number order, we can't guarantee you'll be assigned to any of your preferences if space is not available at the time your application is processed.
First-year students who cancel after submitting an application are charged a $300 penalty up until opening or taking possession of the room key, whichever occurs first. After opening or receipt of room key, the cancellation penalty is 50% of the contract. We do not charge a cancelation penalty if you do not attend Carolina. Please go to the Housing Contract page and refer to the "New Students: Cancellation Policies" section for more details.
Sure! You may form a group of up to 8 students, requesting a roommate and/or suitemates. It is important that all students who wish to be assigned together are in the same roommate group within the housing application.
If you don’t have a roommate in mind, don’t worry! We will place you with another first-year student – it’s quite common.
You can also use roommate searching tool within the Housing Portal (myhousing.unc.edu) to search through potential roommates based on their living and study habits and exchange email communication through the portal.
The First Year Experience, also known as FYE, at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is a campus-wide, collaborative effort which provides first-year students with the resources and support they need to successfully transition to the University. Our goal is to provide all first-year students with a socially supportive environment which will enable them to meet new people, immerse themselves in the UNC culture and establish valuable academic connections. Carolina Housing has partnered with campus offices and academic departments to create a rich and comprehensive FYE program.
There is no sign-up necessary; first-year students are automatically part of FYE and can choose to participate in as many events and activities as they would like!
FYE programs and events vary slightly from year to year. You'll learn more about each event when you move on campus during the Week of Welcome. Here is a list of some of our signature programs, grouped by subject matter:
Transitions: These programs help students connect to campus, get to know their communities, and prepare for the next step.
Diversity and Social Justice: Students can expect opportunities to learn more about social justice and engaging with a diverse population on-campus.
Social and Academic: FYE provides opportunities to connect with other students and academic resources to truly feel like a part of this community and to feel supported in the college transition.
Educational: There are opportunities provided to gain the knowledge to stay safe and be well as you explore your first-year.
Sure. Beginning after the second week of fall semester and continuing throughout the academic year, students can request a move through their community office. You can also use the Room Reassignment Portal at the Housing Reassignment Request page.
Yes. You will need to complete a Medical Accommodations Request when you fill out your Housing Application.
No. Housing provides all of the necessary materials to bunk or loft your beds. Self-built lofts are not allowed.
Yes, please visit the When You Arrive section of this website to learn more about approved/not approved items. If you have a question about an item not listed on that page, please contact Carolina Housing.
Students can become an RA (Resident Advisor) as soon as they reach sophomore standing. The RA application process begins during fall semester for the following academic year.