Living on campus is an essential part of the Penn experience. Available to full-time, registered undergraduate students, our campus housing provides a dynamic community of students, staff, and faculty which you can engage with as much as you choose in the many programs and activities that take place in your College House. Take time to become familiar with our housing options, rates, and application procedures before it's time to complete your application.
Room Selection
Housing Policy
All University of Pennsylvania undergraduate students are required to live in on-campus housing for their first four semesters (excluding summers), regardless of the number of course credits (CU) or class standing. Sophomore transfers are required to live in on-campus for their first four semesters. Junior transfer students are required to live in on-campus housing for their first two semesters.
- Students who transfer to Penn from another institution with second year standing and who lived on campus their first year at their previous institution may count those semesters toward the Penn housing residency requirement.
- Students who transfer to Penn from another institution with junior standing are required to live in on-campus housing for their first two semesters at Penn.
- Students who study abroad during their sophomore year may include that time toward the requirement.
- A student who has taken a leave of absence during their first two years living on campus may apply for an exemption from the residency requirement. The exemption will be approved if a student lived on campus for three complete semesters.
- Signing an off-campus lease or entering into a housing agreement within a fraternity or sorority house does not exempt the student from this policy
For more information, click here.
Room Selection
First-Year
As an incoming student to the Penn community, we know that you’re excited to learn which College House is going to be your first home away from home. That’s why our application process is designed to match students with their ideal room. Through the information you share in the Lifestyle Profile and College House Preferences, our team helps find your first assignment.
Important Dates
Fill out the Housing Application anytime between Wednesday, May 13 to Thursday, May 31 at 11:59pm EDT. The date you submit does not impact your priority during this time period.
Important Info
- All first-year students are required to live in a College House and purchase a dining plan.
- First-year students can live in a First-Year House or Four-Year House.
Room Selection
Transfer
As a new member of the Penn community, we know that you’re ready to hit the ground running and make your mark at school. That’s why our application process helps your find your first place at Penn.
Important Dates
Fill out the Housing Application anytime between Tuesday, June 16 to Monday, June 30 at 11:59pm EDT. The date you submit does not impact your priority during this time period.
Important Info
- All University of Pennsylvania undergraduate students are required to live in on-campus for their first four semesters.
- Students are eligible to live in any of our Four-Year or Upperclass communities.
Room Selection
Exchange
We know that you want to make the most of your time at Penn, and we want you to be at the heart of campus. Our Exchange Student application is designed for you to share with us your housing and lifestyle preferences, so that our team can help match you with the College House that will soon become your home at Penn.
Important Dates
Fill out the Housing Application anytime between Tuesday, October 20 to Sunday, November 29 at 11:59pm EST. The date you submit does not impact your priority during this time period.
Important Info
- All exchange students are required to live on campus and participate in a dining plan during their time at Penn.
- Students are eligible to live in any of our Four-Year or Upperclass communities.
Room Selection
Second-Year
With the experience of living in the College Houses under your belt, you now have even more opportunities to expand your communities and design how you want to live during your second-year. As a returning undergraduate student, you have three phases of room selection to help you select your next – Program Communities, Return to House, and Move to Any House.
Important Dates
- November 10, 2025: Housing Exemption form opens for the 2026-2027 academic year for current second-year transfer students who have lived on-campus at their previous institution.
- January 26, 2026: Room Selection Application opens at 1 pm.
- January 26, 2026: Housing Exemption form opens for any current first-year and second-year transfer students.
- February 9, 2026: Room Selection Application closes at 1 pm
- February 19, 2026: Program Community self-selection
- February 20 – March 6, 2026: Room Selection processes open to eligible students.
Important Info
- Members of the Class of ’29 and transfer students admitted as second-year students are required to live on-campus for the 2026-2027 academic year as part of Penn’s Second Year Experience.
- Second-year students can live in our Four-Year and Upperclass Houses: Du Bois, Gregory, Gutmann, Harnwell, Harrison, Lauder, Rodin, and Stouffer-Mayer.
Room Selection
Third-Year & Fourth-Year
The process to select a space in the College Houses for students no longer required to live on-campus begins in the fall semester with the Rising Third- & Fourth-Year Room Selection Application. This portion of the Room Selection Application is your opportunity to let us know you are interested in staying in the College Houses next academic year.
All rising third- and fourth-year students who wish to live on-campus for the 2027-2028 academic year should plan to submit the application while it is available from November 9-November 24, 2026. All applications received by the deadline will be randomized, so it is not first come, first served!
Applications selected by the randomization process will be eligible to receive a Room Selection timeslot, provided the remainder of their application is completed early in the spring semester. Those students with Rising Third- & Fourth-Year Room Selection Applications who have been placed on the housing waitlist (if applicable) will still be able to submit a Room Selection Application during the spring process. Students will be removed from the waitlist and eligible to receive a timeslot depending upon how many spaces are available when the Room Selection Application closes.
The general Room Selection Application is open from January 25 – February 8, 2027. In years past, students who have bypassed the Rising Third- & Fourth-Year application and later submit a general Room Selection Application have been automatically placed on the waitlist.
Important Dates
- November 9: Rising Third- & Fourth-Year Room Selection Application opens at 1 p.m for current second-, third-, and fourth-year students graduating December 2027 or later.
- November 24: Rising Third- & Fourth-Year Room Selection Application closes at 5 p.m.
- December 7: Notification via email about Room Selection eligibility to all students who submitted a Rising Third- & Fourth-Year Room Selection Application
- January 25, 2027: Room Selection Application opens at 1 p.m. Any student who completed a Rising Third- & Fourth-Year Room Selection Application must also complete this portion of the application to be eligible for Room Selection.
- February 8: Room Selection Application closes at 1 p.m.
- February 15: Room Selection begins
- March 5: Room Selection ends
Room Selection
Spring 2027 Housing
Are you returning from studying abroad? Are you returning from a leave of absence? We have on-campus housing available for you!
Important Dates
- Tuesday, October 20: Application Opens
- Sunday, November 29: Preferred deadline for returning students to be included in the first round of self-selection.
- Monday, November 30 - Wednesday, December 2: Returning Student self-selection
- Friday, December 4: Spring housing assignments become available for exchange students
- Saturday, January 16: Spring 2027 Move-In begins for undergraduate and exchange students.