RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

 2025-2026 Academic Year

Please note that these dates are subject to change based on the university academic calendar and departmental operations. Students will be notified by e-mail about any changes.

Friday, September 12, 2025

Returning student move in begins at 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, December 13, 2025

All residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities close (students must move out but can leave belongings if they are returning in January). Students who selected continuous housing may remain in their spaces.  

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities open for Winter Quarter 2026 at 8:00 a.m.

Spring Break - March 21, 2026 to March 30, 2026

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities remain open

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities close for the academic year at 12:00 p.m.

2026-2027 Academic Year

Please note that these dates are subject to change based on the university academic calendar and departmental operations. Students will be notified by e-mail about any changes.

Friday, September 18, 2026

Returning student move in begins at 8:00 a.m. 

Saturday, December 12, 2026

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities close at 12:00 p.m. The only exception is that students who selected continuous housing may remain in their rooms over the break period. Students can leave belongings in their rooms if they are returning in January. 

Saturday, January 2, 2027

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities open for Winter Quarter 2026 at 12:00 p.m. 

Spring Break - March 20, 2027 to March 29, 2027

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities remain open

Saturday, June 12, 2027

Residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities close for the academic year at 12:00 p.m. 

Visit the Policies and Procedures page for information on the room change process.

General Information

Learning—and practicing—to live, work, and spend time with others is an essential component of the Northwestern experience. There is no better place to do this than in our campus residences.

The goal of the accommodation request process is to allow a student to fully participate in the Northwestern residential experience. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act, students with disabilities may be eligible for medical accommodation or exemption from the residency requirement. Additionally, students can request an accommodation or exemption based on religion, family situations, financial reasons, transfer policy, or other situations.

Examples of accommodations could include a physical alteration to a room, a specific room type or location, an emotional support animal, or an adjustment to the meal plan. Housing accommodations may be based upon space availability at the time of the requested accommodations. All requests will be processed in the order they were received.

The meal plan contract does not permit exceptions based on religious dictates, personal food choice or preferences (e.g. vegetarianism), or other non-medically-based, dietary requirements. If a request for a meal plan accommodation is received, the University’s dietitian will be consulted and recommend a final decision.

In rare instances when the University cannot identify an appropriate accommodation, then there may be consideration of a request for an exception to the University’s two-year residency requirement and/or meal plan contract. This may be considered for medical or psychological conditions, financial reasons, family, age, or other situations.

Submitting an Accommodation Request

Disability/Medical Accommodation Requests

To start the process for a disability-related housing accommodation determination with AccessibleNU, complete the following steps below:

• Complete the online application for housing accommodations.
• Review the disability documentation guidelines and submit applicable documentation to ANU.
• Once your application and documentation are submitted, ANU will review it. ANU will notify you via university email of the determination on your request typically within 2 weeks  of the submission of the application and supporting documentation. If ANU has questions about your request, you may be asked to meet with an advisor. Note that during peak periods, the wait to receive a determination may exceed 2 weeks.
• Rising second-year, third-year, and fourth-year students are encouraged to submit accommodation requests for the new academic year by February 1. Incoming first-year and transfer students are encouraged to submit accommodation requests by June 1.

Non-Disability/Medical Accommodation Requests

To start the process for non-disability/medical housing accommodations complete the following steps below:

• Complete the online Housing & Dining Accommodation request form on the Housing Portal. Be sure to include proper supporting documentation for your request.
• Your request will be reviewed by a representative from one or more of the following offices: Undergraduate Financial Aid, Religious & Spiritual Life, Residential Services, Northwestern Dining, the Dean of Students Office, and other campus partners depending on the primary and/or secondary reason for your request.
• Decisions will be communicated via university email to the student within four (4) weeks of submission. All decisions by the reviewer are final though you may be encouraged to reach out to your reviewer for additional context.
• Rising second-year, third-year, and fourth-year students are encouraged to submit accommodation requests for the new academic year by February 1. Incoming first-year and transfer students are encouraged to submit accommodation requests by June 1.

Most undergraduate residence halls, residential colleges, and special interest communities close for Winter Break. Students must move out during this time but can leave their belongings if they are returning in January. Students who need to remain on campus over Winter Break can select a space in a continuous housing building which will remain open.

Eligibility to Request Cancellation

Contracts become effective at different times based on your class standing:  

• First and Second Year Students – upon submission of the housing contract. 

• Transfer Students – upon submission of the housing contract. 

• Upper Division (Third and Fourth year) - upon submission of the housing contract

• Graduate Students – can cancel without penalty within 5 business days of receiving assignment offer. After 5 business days, the contract is confirmed. 

Once your contract is confirmed, you will only be considered eligible for cancellation if you meet one of these criteria:  

• Academic Dismissal  

• Disciplinary Exclusion from the University  

• NU sponsored internship (including study abroad, Co-Op, Medill programs) 

• Marriage/Civil Union (for marriages/civil unions occurring after date of contract)  

• Induction into military service  

• Graduation/Degree Completion  

• Approved Housing and Dining Accommodation/Exemption from residency requirement 

Students eligible to cancel their housing contract can request to do so via the Housing Portal. Submitting a cancellation request is not an automatic release from your contract, nor does it guarantee a release; each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

If approved, and depending upon the submission date, you may be responsible for a cancellation fee and/or a portion/entirety of the contracted rate.  

Fees During the Academic Year

In addition to prorated nightly fees, all canceled contracts will be assessed a $300 cancellation fee.

Cancellation Fee Schedule

2025-2026 Academic Year

Looking to enhance your Northwestern experience? Consider applying to work for Residential Services! We offer student jobs that:

• work with your busy schedule
• are conveniently located on campus
• develop your skills
• build your resume
• provide opportunities to network and develop friendships

Undergraduate Employment Opportunities

• Desk Assistant—Graduate Desk
• HOME Line Assistant
• Summer Conference Assistant
• Clerical Aide—Residential Life 

Service Positions

Residential Services is pleased to hire undergraduate students for a range of service positions. Some involve direct engagement with residents in the residential areas. Others involve supporting Residential Service staff members in the department's central offices.

Service Position Opportunities

• Desk Assistant - Graduate Desk
• HOME Line Representative - We are currently accepting applications!
• Summer Conference Assistant

The traditional residence halls on campus range from residences with as few as 25 students to larger residences with more than 500. Each building has its own character, spirit, and unique advantages. The residence halls are a great place to live and meet people from all over the world. Resident Assistants and student leaders from the Residence Hall Association (RHA) frequently plan programs to help students meet people and be successful.

Residence hall features include:

• Resident Assistants
• Resident Directors (may live in nearby building)
• Residence Hall Association (RHA) leaders
• Programming

Explore Residence Hall Options

The residential colleges range from 40 to 250 students. Some have a single unifying theme such as international studies while others are multi-thematic. Each college is headed by a faculty member who serves as the Faculty Chair. Chairs and student officers recruit faculty and staff members for the fellows program, which supports faculty presence through meals in the college, informal presentations known as firesides, and outings around campus and Chicago. In addition, fellows routinely lead small credit-bearing seminars reserved for college members and mentor residents as research assistants through a specially funded program.

Residential colleges features include:

• Resident Assistants
• Resident Directors (may live in nearby building)
• Residential College Board (RCB) leaders
• College staffs (Faculty Chairs, Associate Chairs, Assistant Chairs)
• Credit-bearing seminars
• Theme-based communities
• Reserved dining hall spaces for faculty engagement

Explore Residential College Options

Special interest housing is for students who choose to live with others who share a special academic or personal interest. A special interest housing group may be located on a wing of a residence hall or have "exclusive use" of a small house. 

Explore  Special Interest Housing Options

All Gender Housing refers to an arrangement whereby students, regardless of sexor gender, are permitted to share a room or suite in select areas of Northwestern’s campus residences.

visit our all gender housing page for details