RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

New first-year and transfer students will move in on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Most new students will move in on September 9. Scroll to the Early Arrival information below for instructions if you have permission to arrive prior to September 9.

Prior to Arrival

• Sign up for a move-in appointment
  • The week of August 4, 2025, each new NU student will receive an email (sent to their u.northwestern.edu student email account) with information about signing up for a 25-minute move-in time the week of August 11. Move-in appointments must be scheduled by August 22. 

    • Students will select a move-in appointment based on their assigned unloading zone (based on room and building assignment) between August 11 and August 15. The unloading zone will be listed in your assignment email.

    • All students have the same opportunity to select their desired appointment time as students assigned to different unloading zones do not compete for appointments. The appointments selected on Monday will not impact the availability of appointment times for students selecting on Tuesday or Wednesday.

    • The schedule for selecting your move-in appointment is as follows for the listed unloading zones. All times are Central: 

      • Monday, August 11: 9:00 – 11:59 a.m.
        • Unloading zone: Campus Drive 
      • Monday, August 11: 1:00 – 3:59 p.m.
        • Unloading zone: University Place 
      • Tuesday, August 12: 9:00 – 11:59 a.m.
        • Unloading zones: Sargent & Jones 
      • Tuesday, August 12: 1:00 – 3:59 p.m.
        • Unloading zones: Elder & Allison 
      • Wednesday, August 13: 9:00 – 11:59 a.m.
        • Unloading zones: Patten & Foster Walker North 
      • Wednesday, August 13: 1:00 – 3:59 p.m.
        • Unloading zones: Locy & Chapin 

      Sign up for all parking lots will be available at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 14 through August 22. You can view the move-in map and guide to view the unloading zone locations and assignments (these documents will be posted in Summer 2025). Parking is available in select locations after your move-in appointment (a map will be posted in Summer 2025).   

  • After signing up for your move-in appointment, you will receive a link to print your unloading permit. This permit will allow you to enter your assigned unloading zone near your residence hall or residential college at the time of your appointment.
• Review the Items to Bring

Move-In Day (September 9, 2025) 

• Use the Self-Check In link emailed to you the morning of September 9 to expedite your check-in process
  • This will activate your Wildcard to use as your room key
• Place your unloading permit on your car dashboard
• Drive to your designated unloading zone (see below) at your assigned time on September 9
• While the driver remains in the vehicle, contracted vendors will unload the vehicle and move items to your room
  
  • If you do not have a Wildcard, visit your area desk to pick up a temporary card. 
• Once the vehicle is unloaded, the driver moves the car to a designed parking location (see Parking on Campus After Unloading below)

At your selected time on September 9, head to the following designated unloading zones where professional movers will unload your vehicle and bring your belongings to your room. Please note that you will not be permitted to enter the unloading zone outside of your assigned time or to make repeat trips to the unloading zone. Long term parking locations are listed below.

Outside of your unloading time, parking will be available in four campus lots:

We anticipate that the parking garages and parking structure will fill quickly. Ryan Field is available as overflow parking for both garages and the parking structure. Continuous shuttle service along Sheridan Rd to Ryan Field and back will run throughout the day. As you exit your unloading zone, a Peer Adviser will hand you a map to assist in navigating to the long-term parking locations. 

Northwestern University Residential Services partners with University and Student Services (USS) who provides a Ship-To-Your-Room service that allows you to have your belongings waiting for you in your room when you arrive. Deliveries from USS will take place through September 8. Students moving in prior to September 8 should note that their items might not be delivered until this day. 

Acceptance of items for regular mail and package delivery for the residence halls, residential colleges , and special interest communities begins on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. We encourage you to schedule deliveries to arrive after this time. Mail delivery to mailboxes will begin on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. For more information about mail and package services, click here.

Please note that the campus cannot accommodate storage pod deliveries. 

Northwestern University Residential Services partners with University and Student Services (USS) who, in addition to shipping services, provides mini-fridge rentals as well as bedding and linens. Similar to the Ship-to-Room service, your items will be placed in your room prior to your arrival if you order by the published deadline. 

Click here for a move-in map and addresses to unloading zones for each building.

Click for maps to show you how to get from the unloading zones to long term parking at Ryan Field. 

Maps will be published here in August 2025

Requests to move on campus as early as 8:00 a.m. on September 3, 2025, are considered based on the needs of the resident, space availability, and appropriate staffing to support students living on campus prior to the designated move-in dates. If approved to move on campus early, residents may be placed in a temporary housing assignment. The charge for early arrival is $50 per night and is applied to the student account unless the stay is sponsored by a school or department. Any student who desires early arrival housing should review the Undergraduate Early Arrival Request page for additional information. The early arrival application will be available on the Housing Portal from August 11-22, 2025. Students who arrive early but are not approved will be charged an additional rate. See the early arrival page for full details. 

International Wildcat Welcome occurs before the general new student move-in date. See below for additional information regarding international student arrival.

Students who are approved for early arrival do not need an unloading permit and should be aware that parking policies are enforced between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. However, we ask that you indicate in the move-in appointment system that you will not need a permit. Please note that move in assistance is only available on September 9 due to the need to move a high volume of students in over a short period of time. During all of move-in, carts are available at area desks.  

If you have a Wildcard, on the day of your scheduled early move in:

• Check in using the Self-Check In link that will be sent to your Northwestern email address
• Go to your building and use your Wildcard to enter the building and go to your room
  • You can also go to your area desk to check in and borrow a moving cart
• At your room, tap your Wildcard once on the card reader, wait 60 seconds for your access credentials to download, then tap again for entry
• If you have any trouble, contact or visit your area desk

If you do not have a Wildcard, on the day of your scheduled move in:

• Check in using the Self-Check In link that will be sent to your Northwestern email address
• Go to your area desk when you arrive on campus to obtain a Wildcard or temporary access card
• Go to your building and use your Wildcard or temporary access card to enter your building and go to your room
• At your room, tap your Wildcard or access card once on the card reader, wait 60 seconds for your access credentials to download, then tap again for entry
• If you have any trouble, contact or visit your area desk

New international students move in on September 7, 2025, at no additional cost. Students arriving before this day are responsible for the early arrival housing charges based on the date they move in and must complete an early arrival request form to notify us of when you plan to arrive to campus.  The cost is $50 a night for students who are approved to arrive prior to September 7. Each student will be responsible for these additional charges that will be applied to your student account. 

All International students arriving early will need to check in at their Area Desks. 

International students with questions about arriving prior to September 3, 2025, should email us at housing@northwerstern.edu. 

After moving in, students and family members will participate in different tracks of activities. Events for students include:

• 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Residential College welcome events
• 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Community meetings and dinner with Resident Assistants
• 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. - First Night Northwestern events

Visit our frequently asked questions page for answers to common questions regarding move-in. 

If you have any questions about move-in, please contact Residential Services at (847) 467-HOME (4663). We are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Questions can also be directed to housing@northwestern.edu.