How to Request University Housing
Students accepting the offer of admission to UC Santa Cruz must complete the online acceptance process at my.ucsc.edu. During this multi-step acceptance process you will be asked to:
- Rank your top five UCSC college preferences. You may also choose to indicate “no preference,” as many students do, meaning you will be fine with any of our 10 colleges.
- Indicate a preference for university housing and submit payment for the required $150 advance housing fee. The advance housing fee is applied to your first quarter's housing charges and is fully refundable if you cancel your request for university housing by your housing application deadline.
Once you have completed the acceptance process, and after the acceptance deadline (May 1 for frosh; June 1 for transfers), the Admissions Office will assign you to a college. The assignment takes into account available space at each college and the preferences you have indicated.
In mid-May for new freshmen, and mid-June for new transfer students, the Campus Housing Office will send you a housing packet containing information about your college affiliation and instructions for completing the online housing application process. A space in university housing is guaranteed to all new undergraduate students entering in the fall quarter who submit all forms and required fees by stated deadlines. A specific college assignment or housing option is not guaranteed.
The housing options available to you will differ, depending on which college you are affiliated with and whether you are a new freshman or a new transfer student. Freshmen are generally assigned to live at their colleges. Incoming transfer students requesting university housing reside at the Transfer Community, regardless of college affiliation. These residential settings provide academically and socially supportive environments to help new students transition to campus life and get the most out of their UCSC experience.
The Transfer Community, located in the newly renovated Porter College residence hall, is perfectly situated on campus to provide easy access to Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS) and the Academic Resource Center (ARC). Students live at the Transfer Community for their first quarter to full academic year, at which time they may choose to move to another university housing community.
Note: If you have indicated a preference for finding your own off-campus housing, you will be mailed information about the Community Rentals Office.
Additional Information: