RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

All incoming first-year students are required to live on campus for their first two years. All incoming transfer students are required to live on campus for their first year. Students who participate in University-sponsored programs (such as internships and Study Abroad), or who request a leave of absence, will be required to fulfill the two- year residency requirement upon their return to campus.

• A transfer student is matriculating as a third-year (Junior) or fourth-year (Senior) student as of September 1. 
• A transfer student is 21 years of age on or before September 1 of their entering year. 

Yes. A committee comprised of various university offices will review any request for an accommodation under the residency requirement. Accommodations considered are typically for medical or psychological conditions, financial reasons, family, age, or other situations. The request process for residency requirement accommodations will be available April 1 – May 31. Visit the Housing & Dining Accommodation Request section on this page for details and the request form.

Accommodation requests will be answered within 4 weeks.  Students should check their Northwestern email account for responses.

• Towels 
• Toiletries 
• Noise-canceling headphones 
• Laundry bag, detergent, stain remover 
• Raincoat, umbrella 
• Warm clothes for cold nights (consider shipping winter clothes later) 
• Shower sandals 
• Cell phone charger 
• Portable fan - window or free-standing (we do not provide fans for buildings without air conditioning)
• Shower caddy 
• Power strip electrical adapter (extension cords are not permitted) 
• Photo ID, driver’s license, state ID card, passport (If you plan to work on or off campus, you will need a Social Security Card, birth certificate, or US passport.) 
• Flashlight with extra batteries 
• Twin Extra Long Bedding - All mattresses in undergraduate buildings are 36″ by 80″. They’re referred to as “twin extra-long” mattresses. Please make sure that you check the measurements of the sheets before purchasing them. USS provides linens and other products to improve your stay on campus that will be delivered to your room prior to your arrival. 

• Information: insurance and prescription cards; physicians’ name, address, telephone number; emergency telephone numbers; prescription refills, including glasses prescription; medical history  
• Current prescription medications, in their original containers 
• Over-the-counter medicines for pain relief, allergies, colds, flu, etc. 
• Glasses, contact lenses, cleaning solutions, extra lenses, cases 
• Skin care products such as soaps, lotions, sun block, aloe, acne ointment, antibacterial/antibiotic ointment, petroleum jelly, etc. 
• Extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss 
• Band-Aids, gauze, adhesive tape, “Ace” bandage 
• Other personal hygiene items (deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, etc.) 
• Ice pack/hot pack 
• Thermometer (digital or electronic) 

We encourage you to make environmentally conscious choices when moving on campus. Check out SustainNU’s suggestions below: 

• Mini-fridges, laptops, TVs, and other electronics: Look for Energy Star products or EPEAT certification products. Before you buy new, see if you can share with roommates. Residential Services’ contracted provider for mini-fridges is USS.  Please visit their website for more information. 
• Printer: No need to buy a printer; you can print at the library when necessary. We also have printing at each residential area desk. 
• Lighting: Desk lighting is one of the most efficient ways to light your space when you’re working. Consider an LED or CFL bulb for your desk lights. These last longer and are more energy efficient. Please note that desks in undergraduate housing have built-in desk lamps. We do not recommend bringing LED light strips as these often rip paint off the walls when removed which could result in a damage charge at move-out. 
• Irons: You would be surprised how many irons and ironing boards we find in the move-out donation boxes at the end of the year! Before purchasing these items, check if you can borrow them from your roommate(s) or friends. 
• Sheets and towels: Consider organic cotton and other materials (e.g., bamboo fiber), which eliminate pesticides and herbicides, making it better for your health and the environment. 
• Clothes drying rack: Save money, energy, and have your clothes last longer! 
• Furniture: Although rooms come fully furnished, some students choose to bring extra furniture items. Higher-quality and durable furniture can be donated and reused; low-quality, particleboard-based furniture usually ends up in a landfill. 
• Bottled water: Why waste $1.50 each time you’re thirsty? Evanston has great tap water, so bring a reusable bottle or cup and fill from the tap or bring a water filter. Northwestern has bottle-filler fountains in all residential facilities and many campus buildings. 
• Reusable items: Reusable water bottles, mugs, shopping bags, and food containers are a convenient and less wasteful option than single-use materials. 

• Microwaves (including microwave and refrigerator combination units) 
• Heating or cooking appliances (hot pots, toaster ovens, coffee makers - other than Keurig or similar coffee machines that automatically shut off, etc.)  
• Refrigerators with interiors larger than 3 cubic feet (Official Northwestern partner USS offers delivery of approved-size refrigerators to your room prior to move-in. Visit their site for more information.) 
• Knives with blades longer than 3 inches 
• Decorations including, but not limited to, temporary wallpaper, blankets, tapestries, flags, rugs, fishnets, etc. that are hung on a wall and cover more than 50% of the wall 
• Candles, incense, and candle warmers (unless approved for a religious or other accommodation) 
• Fireworks, explosives, incendiaries, firearms, and other similar items 
• Air conditioning units and/or space heaters
• Waterbeds 
• Lofts or loft-like risers, cinder blocks, wooden platforms, and any other sort of “bed riser” (many of our beds are adjustable)  
• Pets (other than approved service or emotional support animals)  
• All personal electronic mobility devices, including but not limited to electric bicycles, hoverboards, mopeds, and scooters 

•  All cooking or kitchen appliances (hot water pots, microwaves, coffee makers with exposed heating elements, rice cookers, ice machines, sandwich presses, etc.)  

For a complete list of policies, please refer to the Residential Services policy page. 

Please note that prohibited items will be flagged and held when received at the Mail & Package Center. If prohibited items are flagged, the student will receive an email stating that a prohibited item has been received and provide next steps. 

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. 

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

New student move-in

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. 

Summer 2025

NU Undergraduate Housing Contract Terms & Conditions - Summer 2025

Fall 2025/Winter 2026/Spring 2026

NU Undergraduate Housing Contract Terms & Conditions 2025-2026

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 religious identity, 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.

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) Students – can cancel without penalty between March 1 and March 15, 2024, at which point the contract is confirmed. 

• 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.