Apply to Become a Resident Advisor by December 5th!
Interested in becoming a Resident Advisor? The RA application is now open, and we encourage you to apply by December 5th! Serving as an RA is a unique leadership opportunity, offering professional development, hands-on experience, and financial compensation while living on campus. As an RA, you’ll play a key role in building community, supporting fellow students, and making a positive impact at Carolina. Don’t miss this chance to grow, learn, and lead!
Welcome to the 2025-2026 Housing Application process! We’re here to ensure you have all the essential information, including important updates for the upcoming year, to help make informed decisions about on-campus living options at Carolina Housing.
Room Selection Information Sessions: In mid-October, we hosted two live virtual information sessions via Zoom to familiarize you with the Housing Selection process, including key updates and important considerations for this year. If you were unable to attend, we encourage you to begin by watching the recorded presentation before proceeding with the process.
Common Questions Resource Webpage: Visit this page to find answers to all the basic, foundational questions about Housing Selection and how the process unfolds. You’ll also be able to view real questions we’ve received from parents and students, providing further insights into common inquiries.
Navigating Room Selection Timeslots: Have a room selection timeslot, but not sure how the process works? Just watch our tutorial video to get all the info you need to enter your room selection timeslot with expert knowledge and confidence!
Step-by-Step Guide to the Housing Application Process: Before you dive into your My Housing Portal to begin your application, take a moment to watch our guided walkthrough. This step-by-step tour will provide you with all the information you need to make the most informed housing decision for the upcoming year.
Housing Selection 101: A Comprehensive Written Guide: In this article, Jordan Cady, the Assistant Director for Assignments at Carolina Housing, explains everything you need to know about the Housing Selection process at Carolina Housing. From application timelines to room selection tips, Cady shares key insights on securing your ideal on-campus housing for the upcoming academic year. Learn why the selection process starts early, how to navigate room assignments, and get expert advice on increasing your chances of getting your preferred room. Whether you’re renewing your current room or selecting a new one, this guide has all the details you need.
The Ultimate Guide to Roommate Groups: Thinking of sharing a room or suite with friends on-campus? Learn all about how roommate groups work in this comprehensive guide from Carolina Housing. A roommate group allows 2-8 students to be assigned housing together, and being part of a group can give you an edge in getting your preferred room. This article walks you through how to create a roommate group, the benefits of joining one, and key tips for ensuring everything runs smoothly during the application process and room selection. Whether you’re forming a group with one friend or planning for a suite, this guide has you covered.
Application Timeline The application will open on October 21st at 9am, and the priority deadline is November 12th at 11:59 pm. Remember, you must complete your housing contract online by the priority deadline to renew your room or participate in housing selection.
Campus Availability
Demand and the Waitlist We continue to expect high demand for on-campus spaces. While the exact demand cannot be known until after the November 12th priority deadline, we project a waitlist of students who applied by the priority deadline but were unable to select a room. It is not uncommon for there to be a waitlist at the end of the room selection process. Students who were unable to select a room will be placed on a waitlist, ordered by academic classification, and will receive their waitlist position and regular updates as we process cancellations.
Important Changes for the 2025-2026 Room Selection: Due to increased demand for on-campus housing, several changes have been made to the housing contract and the room selection process. Our goal in making these changes is to provide housing as quickly as possible to as many students as possible who want to live on campus. These changes will allow us to move faster through the waitlist by disincentivizing students from holding onto on-campus spaces while they search for off-campus alternatives. Please pay close attention to the sections below that outline these changes.
Housing Contract Cancellation Changes: Carolina Housing has updated the cancellation schedule to decrease the time between room selection and the first penalty increase. Previously, students had up to three months to decide if they wanted to keep their space or move off-campus and cancel for the lowest penalty of $300. Moving forward, the first cancellation penalty will now be in December, providing assigned students a month to decide if they would like to live on campus or move off-campus. The base penalty has also increased from $300 to $500.
We strongly suggest students only sign up for on-campus housing if they are committed to living on campus. However, we recognize that plans can change, and the housing contract allows for a cancellation that is substantially lower than the off-campus market. Carolina Housing will continue to review appeals to waive the cancellation penalty based on unexpected financial or medical hardships in conjunction with the Office of Student Aid and the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office.
The new cancellation schedule for returning students is as follows:
A student on the housing waitlist at the end of room selection will have until January 16th to cancel without penalty. Beginning on January 17th, students without an assignment who cancel will only be charged the $500 penalty.
Any cancellations that occur on or after August 1st are subject to prorated rent and cancellation charges equal to 50% of the remaining total contract value (both semesters).
Room Selection Timeslot Changes Given the high demand for on-campus housing and the way timeslots are assigned, rising Sophomore students were significantly overrepresented on the waitlist. Room Selection timeslots were previously assigned based on Academic classification as determined by completed credit hours. Moving forward, a slight change will be made to room selection, and timeslots will be assigned in the following order:
This model will still provide Seniors with some priority in selecting a housing assignment and ensure that the student classifications on the waitlist are more evenly distributed between rising Juniors and rising Sophomores.
Sophomore Only Spaces Morrison Hall is currently designated as a Sophomore Only building during room selection. This year, Carolina Housing will also categorize rooms in Manly and McIver as Sophomore only to provide more housing specifically for students returning to campus for their second year.