Returning Student Room Selection Process Overview
The Returning Student Room Selection process allows rising 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year residential undergraduate students to secure on-campus housing for the 2026-2027 academic year. This process includes two phases: Phase One – Contracting, held at the end of the Winter Quarter, and Phase Two – Room Selection, which occurs in the first few weeks of the Spring Quarter.
Review the NU Undergraduate Housing Contract Terms & Conditions for 2025-2026.
If you are looking for summer housing information, please visit the Summer Housing page.
Residency Requirement
All rising 2nd year students are required to complete both phases of the room selection process to meet the two-year residency requirement. Rising 3rd and 4th year students may complete the contract if they wish to live on campus again next year. All students planning to live in a fraternity, sorority, or Evans Scholars house only need to complete Phase One – Contracting.
Important Dates for the 2026 Process
Phase One - Contracting
|
DATE |
PROCESS |
|---|---|
|
Monday, March 2 |
Contract Available for Returning (Current) Students at 9am CT |
|
Friday, March 13 |
Last Day to Earn Residential College Points |
|
Saturday, March 15 |
Priority Deadline for All Contract Submissions for Returning Students (Rising 2nd year students who submit after this date will not participate in room selection and will be assigned to an available room at the conclusion of RSRS; Rising 3rd & 4th year students who submit after this date will be added to the housing wait list and will not receive priority numbers or participate in room selection.)
|
Please review the returning student flowchart to understand how you will complete phase one. (pdf)
Phase Two – Room Selection
|
DATE |
PROCESS |
|---|---|
|
April 15, 2026 |
Residential College Room Selection (All Years) |
|
April 16, 2026 |
Rising 3rd and 4th Year Student Room Selection |
|
April 21-23, 2026 |
Rising 2nd Year Student Room Selection |
|
May 1, 2026 |
2026-2027 Assignments Confirmed & Waitlists Open |
Housing Cancellation
Rising second-year students may not cancel their housing contract due to the two-year residency requirement. Rising 3rd and 4th year students may cancel their contract without questions or penalty until 11:59pm on March 15, 2025.
Beginning, March 15, 2025, students will only be released from housing for the reasons listed below. You can read more on our cancellation tab on this page.
- Academic dismissal
- Disciplinary exclusion from the University
- Northwestern sponsored internship (including study abroad, Co-Op, Medill programs)
- Marriage/civil union
- Induction into military service
- Graduation/degree completion
- Approved Housing Accommodation or Housing Exemption
All Gender Housing
All Gender Housing allows students, regardless of sex, gender, or gender identity, to share a room or suite. You will be able to select All Gender Housing as a preference in the room selection process.
Continuous Housing
Continuous Housing allows eligible students to stay in undergraduate housing through Winter Break. You will be able to select Continuous Housing as a need in the room selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FAQ page for detailed information on the room selection process.