Continuing Student Housing Selection Process

Continuing Student Housing Selection Overview

Current Rutgers students re-apply for on-campus housing through an annual housing selection process that allows students to search for and select a room or apartment online. During housing selection, students must first apply for a housing selection number. Completion of the initial housing selection application is required for participation in the process to select any housing space on-campus. Obtaining the housing selection number is not binding until you select your space.

Applications for housing are available January 20, 2026 through February 3, 2026. Selection numbers will be sent out on February 4, 2026.

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Housing Selection General Information and Policies

Who May Participate

• Full-time, matriculated students currently attending classes on the New Brunswick campus (living on or off campus)
• Students currently in a Rutgers sponsored study abroad program

How to Obtain a Housing Selection Number

1. All eligible students who wish to live on-campus are required to apply for a housing selection number between Tuesday, January 20, 2026 and Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
2. All applicants will receive notification of their housing selection number via email on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
3. Once you receive a housing selection number, please be sure to review the housing selection options to know when to participate in each process:

Eligibility Guidelines for Upcoming Selection Process and Types of Housing

 As part of the University’s housing selection process, eligibility for specific housing types is determined by class year. This structure helps ensure fair access to available spaces and supports the developmental needs of our residential community.

Upperclassmen Students (Rising Juniors and Seniors) 
Rising juniors and seniors (class years 2026, 2027 and 2028) will be eligible to participate in the apartment selection process. ALL campus apartments will be offered in this selection.

• Apartments: Groups of 4,3, 2 and 1 interested in single-bedroom or double-occupancy bedroom apartments should apply within this process.
• Traditional Residence Hall Single Rooms: Singles within Residence Halls are very limited and may be offered to eligible individuals who apply as a group of 1 based on the number of credits earned to date. 

Rising Sophomore Students
Students entering their second year (class year of 2029 or later) will be eligible to apply for and select spaces in traditional residence halls and suite-style housing only.

• Suites: Groups of up to 6 students interested in Crosby, Judson, Morrow, Thomas, or Winkler Suites on the Busch Campus should review the application procedures and apply by the deadline.
• Traditional Residence Halls: Individual students up to a group of 2 interested in living in a traditional residence hall with double occupancy. Traditional residence hall single rooms are very limited and may be offered to students in groups of 1 based on the number of earned credits.
• Residence Life guarantees housing for all rising sophomores that apply for the housing selection process on time. Any remaining vacancies from the upper classman selection will be offered in the Traditional Residence Hall selection. 

Special Housing Timelines

You may be a part of a special housing program which is coordinated along with another academic department. Below are some of the other special housing timelines that students may be a part of.

Special Program Housing Timelines

Application	Sign Up Dates	Notification	Selection
Housing Selection	Jan 20 – Feb 3	Feb 5
Rutgers Honors	Jan 20 – Feb 3	Feb 9	Feb 10
DRC - Douglass Residential College	Jan 20 – Feb 3	Feb 11	Feb 12

Applications for housing are available January 20, 2026 through February 3, 2026. Selection numbers will be sent out on February 4, 2026.

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Seniority Explanation

A seniority system is used within the housing selection process. Each student will receive points based on their class year. Class year will be determined by what is listed via your school affiliation by 11:59pm on February 2, 2026. 
Changes to class year after this date will not be accepted.

1. Eligibility order will be determined first by group size with the total number of points the group has, then the lowest housing selection number within the group.
2. The more total points a group has, the higher they will be on the eligibility list.
3. Single rooms will use total earned credits to determine eligibility, rather than class year. 
4. Pharmacy students should subtract two years from the class year, since they are in a six-year program. This will ensure pharmacy students have the proper points. For example, 2029 pharmacy students will actually be counted as having a 2027 class year.
5. The Rising Sophomore preference guarantees housing for all rising sophomores that apply for the housing process on time.

Sign Up for a Housing Option

1. Each housing option process has specific eligibility requirements and deadlines to apply as specified above.
2. Complete and submit the required application according to the instructions for the particular housing you prefer.
3. All students in a group will be required to complete an application for each housing option and indicate their requested roommates’ RUID numbers and full names.
4. Once you commit to a space, through a housing selection process, you are bound to your housing agreement and cannot participate in any other selection process. Take this into serious consideration before committing as your housing agreement cannot be cancelled unless you are withdrawing from the university.

Notification of Eligibility

1. Once students sign up for a housing option, groups will be notified of their eligibility status on the day specified within the housing selection calendar.
2. If the group is eligible to choose a room during the process, the website will indicate the specific date and time they may log in and choose a room.

Select a Space Online

If deemed eligible to select a space online, one person in the group (or yourself, if applying as a single) will be required to log into the application website and select a space for the group.

Please note: Only one member of the group is required to log into the system and select a space. All roommates within the group will receive a confirmation email once a space has been selected.

Applications for housing are available January 20, 2026 through February 3, 2026 . Selection numbers will be sent out on February 4, 2026.

Apply

FAQs

What if I miss the housing selection process application deadline? 

Students who do not apply during that time will not be eligible to participate in the housing selection process and must sign up for the Late Housing Selection Process which begins after the final Residence Halls selection, anticipated April 1, 2026.

Will I get a better housing selection number if I apply earlier?

No. The date and time you apply does not affect your housing selection number.

I know seniority points are based on class year; what if my class year changes during the selection process?

If a student’s class year changes, our office will continue to use the original class year as of February 2, 2026 for housing selection purposes. No changes to class years are accepted after this date. 

Why do sophomores receive preference for housing?

Recent studies indicate that students who reside on campus for the first two years of their academic career maintain higher overall GPAs than students who live off campus, higher levels of social support among their student peers, as well as display increased persistence towards graduation. Recognizing these positive effects, Residence Life guarantees housing to all rising sophomores. 

I didn't get my first choice of housing. Now what?

If you are unsuccessful in obtaining your first choice of housing, please review the housing selection calendar to participate in future processes.

Once I choose a space, can I back out? 

No. Once you commit to a space through digital signature, you are bound to your housing agreement and cannot participate in any other selection process. Take this into serious consideration before committing as your housing agreement cannot be cancelled unless you are withdrawing from the university.

I like the space I'm in now; can I have the same space next year?

No. Students may not sign back to their current space.

I want to live in Sojourner Truth or Livingston Apartments; what are my chances of getting either?

Sojourner Truth & Livingston Apartments will be available in the Apartments Selection Process, for Upperclassmen - Rising Juniors & Seniors will be eligible to select spaces there.

I want a single room; what are my chances of getting one?

Single rooms will use total earned credits to determine eligibility, rather than class year. This means a majority of singles are selected by seniors. This year, single room selection will take place as part of the Residence Hall Selection Process, but still use earned credits to determine eligibility.

What if I'm a part of a special program such as DRC, SAS Honors, Honors, or a Living-Learning Community?

Special programs will be assigned in separate processes which will be specifically outlined by the community coordinators.

I currently live off-campus but would like to live on-campus next year. Can I still apply?

Yes. Students currently living off campus can take part in the housing selection process. 

What if I need to request medical accommodations?

Students can review the information at https://ruoncampus.rutgers.edu/housing-info/special-accommodations