Family Student Housing
Family Student Housing (FSH) at UC Santa Cruz offers more than just a place to live—it’s a supportive, family-friendly community designed for students and their families. With spacious two-bedroom apartments, on-site childcare, shared outdoor spaces, and family-centered programs, FSH provides year-round, below-market housing in a vibrant, close-knit environment.
Residents of the current FSH (located on the west side of campus), will be invited to begin relocating to a newly constructed complex on Hagar Drive during the 2025–26 academic year. The new location builds on the community’s strong foundation while expanding access to campus and enhancing resources for student families.
New Family Student Housing on Hagar Drive
Opening in the 2025–26 academic year, the new Family Student Housing complex on Hagar Drive has been thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of student families. This updated community will continue to offer affordable housing and strong support systems while providing expanded access to campus and enhanced family-oriented amenities.
Key features of the new Family Student Housing complex:
- 120 two-bedroom apartments across 30 residential buildings (four units per building)
- A dedicated Community Center with central office
- Early Education Services (EES) building
- Play areas and outdoor spaces for children
- Community garden with usable plots for FSH residents
- One reserved parking space per apartment, with additional visitor and A-permit parking nearby
- Below average rent for the Santa Cruz area
Supportive services and programs
A variety of educational enrichment and co-curricular programming opportunities are included in the residence rate
Residential Community Service Program services on evenings and weekends
Apartment overview
New Family Student Housing apartments will feature modern, single-story, unfurnished units with two bedrooms and one bathroom—thoughtfully designed to support student families. Each apartment includes:
- Approximately 800 square feet of interior living space
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Private outdoor patios or decks
- Open kitchen, living, and dining areas
- In-unit washer and dryer
- Dishwasher and microwave
- Water, refuse collection, internet, and all utilities included in rent
- Campus internet and Xfinity on Campus streaming
- One reserved parking space per apartment
Eligibility
To live at Family Student Housing, you must:
- Be a UCSC student (undergraduate or graduate) in a degree-seeking program. You may be a currently registered UCSC student or a student who has accepted an offer of admission for a future UCSC term.
- Plan to reside with at least one eligible family member on a full-time basis.
Eligible family members include:
- Your child(ren) (must have 50% or more physical custody)
- Your spouse or adult partner
- A parent, grandparent, or sibling
Please note:
Non-degree seeking (visiting) students are not eligible. Postdoctoral Scholars with families may be considered after all eligible UCSC students have been accommodated.
Documentation is required during the application process to verify eligibility. Check the required documents section below for details.
Family Student Housing 2025-26 rates
Rates for July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.
No meal plan required; however, dining plans are available.
| Monthly Rent |
|---|
| $1,973 |
| Security deposit: $500 |
How to apply
Ready to apply? Follow the steps below to confirm your eligibility, prepare your documentation, and submit your application through the Housing Portal.
- Log in to the Housing Portal and complete the Family Student Housing application.
- Waitlist applications are accepted year-round, and are processed as follows:
- Applications are ordered by family status, beginning with families with children below the age of 18 first.
- If applying with adult immediate family members only (e.g., parent, sibling, or child 18 years or over), apply as a “family without children.”
- As apartments become available, offers are made in order of date of application and according to the length of notice applicants require (from 24 hours to 30 days).
- Questions? Email fsh@ucsc.edu
Required documents
Be prepared to upload all required documentation when you apply. All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
If you have children in your household:
- Birth certificate or adoption papers for each child, if you are claiming parenthood
- Proof of custody, if you are claiming single parent status
- Doctor’s verification of pregnancy with due date, if you are claiming an expected child
For all other immediate adult family members:
(e.g., partner, parent, sibling, or adult child)
- Current photo (required for all household members 18 and over)
- Birth certificate for each adult family member
For couples without children:
- One partner must be a registered UCSC student
- Provide one of the following:
- Valid marriage certificate
- Domestic partner certificate
- Affidavit of Adult Partnership
- And two of the following documents demonstrating a long-term, mutually dependent relationship (must pre-date application date by at least six months):
- Joint property ownership
- Joint checking or savings account
- Joint responsibility for loans or debts
- Will on behalf of one partner that names the other a beneficiary
- Insurance policy held by one partner that names the other as a beneficiary
- Executor or durable power of attorney granted by one partner to the other
- Co-parenting documentation showing at least 50% custody of minor child(ren) by one of the partners
- Other documentation may be submitted for consideration.
Forms and applications
Important policies and considerations
Listed below are some housing conditions and regulations that potential applicants may want to consider before applying.
- Applicants should be aware that we are unable to honor requests for specific apartment styles or locations.
- Family Student Housing apartments are unfurnished.
- Residents are able to remain at Family Student Housing during the summer months as long as they will be a registered student in the fall.
- Following at least one-quarter of occupancy, residents are eligible for a one-quarter waiver of student registration requirements, provided that they obtain permission from management and register for classes the following quarter.
- Pets (including dogs and cats) are not permitted.
- Service and support animals must be registered and approved in advance by the Disability Resource Center.
- Parking for additional vehicles is available in remote parking lots only.
- Residents are responsible for telephone services.
- Campus internet and Xfinity on Campus streaming are included. Family Student Housing has two available networks:
- ResWiFi
- FSH-Family
- Apartments are not soundproofed and residents should expect some noise common to any multi-family residential environment. In addition, some areas of Family Student Housing can seem louder than others due to their siting within the acoustic topography of the campus. We will be happy to discuss these specific considerations with you at the time that an apartment offer is made.
Mail and contact info
Student mailing address
If you’re a current Family Student Housing resident, use the address below as your campus mailing address. Be sure to include your apartment number!
Student’s/Resident’s Name
Apt #XXX Koshland Way
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Please note: When you move to the new Family Student Housing complex, your mailing address will change. The street address will depend on your specific unit. Be sure to refer to the FSH Unit Addresses to confirm your correct mailing address after relocation.
Housing verification letter
After move-in, you can obtain a Housing Verification letter in the Housing Portal if you need to demonstrate that you currently live in UCSC university housing in order to open a bank account, obtain a driver’s license or identification card, or for any other need.
Finding Family Student Housing on campus
Family Student Housing is currently located at Heller Drive and Koshland Way, near the UCSC west entrance. Use the map above to explore the area or get directions.
New apartments and an Early Education Center are being constructed at Hagar Drive and Coolidge Drive. This will be the future location of the Family Student Housing community, opening during the 2025–26 academic year.
Who to contact
Family Student Housing office
Questions about billing, policies, keys, maintenance, programs, events, mail and day-to-day residential life:
Phone: (831) 459-4080
Email: fsh@ucsc.edu
Looking for more resources for student parents?
Visit our Students with Families page for housing, childcare, and campus support resources.