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UMBC Residential Life provides housing to full-time undergraduate students and Walker Avenue Apartments (Capstone On Campus managed housing) provides on-campus housing to full-time upperclass undergraduate and graduate students.  In order to be considered for on-campus housing should complete a housing application through the Housing Portal.

Housing License & Procedures

Housing & Meal Plan Rates

Apply on the Housing Portal

On-Campus Housing Eligibility

To be eligible for on-campus housing, a student must be admitted and enrolled as a full-time (registered for twelve credits per semester for undergraduates or nine credits for graduate students) undergraduate, graduate, or special student at the University. Exceptions to the full-time enrollment requirement are made for the following groups:

    • Students registered to graduate that do not need full-time status to meet graduation requirements, will automatically be granted an exception to remain in housing at part-time status for the semester. They do not need to contact Residential Life; instead they should be sure to complete the Graduation Application (https://registrar.umbc.edu/preparing-for-graduation/) by the expressed deadline.
    • Students with an approved accommodation from Student Disability Student to carry less than full-time credits will be granted an exception to remain in housing at part-time status, once we receive a copy of their accommodation letter. They do not need to contact Residential Life but should work directly with SDS.

Additionally, students must fulfill mandatory immunization and vaccination requirements, as outlined by University Health Services and UMBC.

Each of our community types have their own eligibility requirements:

  • To be eligible to  live in an a Residential Life apartment, the student must have completed at least fifty (50) credits or lived on campus for two prior semesters.
  • To be eligible to live in Harbor Hall, the student must have completed at least thirty (30) credits, lived on campus for two prior semesters, or be an approved participant in a living learning program.
  • To be eligible to live in an a Walker Avenue apartment, the student must have completed at least thirty-nine (39) credits. It is important to note, that Walker Avenue Apartments is a facility owned and controlled by the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO).  Capstone On-Campus Management is agent to MEDCO in the operation of Walker Avenue Apartments.  Walker Avenue Apartments is considered university-affiliated housing, since it is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and operates with the oversight of UMBC; however, Walker Avenue Apartments IS NOT owned by UMBC.

Housing Application & Waitlist

The Housing Application is the first step for all students interested in living on campus. The application assists in the assignment, roommate matching, and waitlist process, so students should make sure they complete this application honestly and accurately.

Please note that UMBC does not have a residency requirement, and as a result housing is not guaranteed for all students.  UMBC Residential Life, not Walker Avenue Apartments, guarantees housing for the following groups of students:

  • Newly admitted undergraduate students for the Fall semester who fully submit their housing application, license, and reservation fee by May 1.
  • Newly admitted undergraduate students for the Spring semester who fully submit their housing application, license, and reservation fee by December 15.
  • Actively enrolled undergraduate students that participate in Housing Selection.

Apply on the Housing Portal

You can access the housing application using your UMBC login at umbc.edu/go/housing

Yes.  You are welcome to complete the General Interest Application after the priority deadline has passed.  Students who miss their priority application deadline are added to the housing waitlist. Waitlist offers are made, as space permits. Students will remain on the waitlist until we are able to make them an offer.

The housing license (contract) is for the full academic year (fall and spring) which means you are expected to live on campus both semesters.  Only students graduating in December and those studying aboard in during the Spring semester are permitted to live on-campus for the fall only.

Students are welcome to apply for spring semester housing. Students should wait to complete a General Housing Application (waitlist) until October if you do not want to be offered Fall housing.

Keep in mind that students, with the exception of newly admitted undergraduate students for Spring who meet the December 15 deadline will not be guaranteed housing.

Students on the housing waitlist are not guaranteed housing.  If you are on the waitlist you will be contacted via UMBC email if and when a space becomes available. Students will remain on the waitlist until we are able to make them an offer.

A housing offer, would be sent electronically to the student’s UMBC email. Students who accept their offer by completing the license (contract) and reservation fee are guaranteed housing for the upcoming license term. Offers are made based on the availability of space.

If offered a spot and a student declines or does not respond to the offer, they will be removed from the applicant pool. Students who miss their offer deadline are welcome to submit an RT Ticket to request to be added to the Housing Waitlist.

Since we may be unable to accommodate all students on the waitlist, we encourage students and families to explore additional housing and transportation options for the fall semester.  Below are two campus offices that may be of interest to you to contact:

  • Off-Campus Student Services: Supports students with off-campus housing options, carpooling programs, and commuter services
  • Transit: Supports students interested in learning about ride share programs and public transportation.

We will prioritize offers based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: application submission date, your permanent address’ distance from campus, and your housing preferences.

For example an out-of-state student with a similar submission date to a student from Catonsville would be more likely to receive an offer.

As a result, our waitlist is not a “first-come, first serve” offering system; making us unable to provide students with updates about where they are on the list.

Your housing offer will be for a spot in campus housing, but will not share with room, building or community. If you have particular questions about your housing offer please contact our office.

If you are issued a housing offer and wish to decline it or miss the deadline, you are welcome to submit an RT Ticket to be added back to the waitlist. Otherwise, you will be removed from the waitlist.

License & Reservation Fee

The Housing License and Reservation Fee solidify your commitment to live on-campus. Before completing the License and Reservation Fee, it is important to note:

  • The housing license is a contract.
  • With the exception of students who are licensing for just the Spring semester, the term of the license is for the entire academic year, both Fall & Spring semesters.
  • Students who are under the age of 18 when they complete the license will be instructed to have a parent/guardian proxy acknowledge the license through the Housing Portal.
  • Students must pay a $200 housing reservation fee in order to be assigned to housing; this is not the same as the Admissions/Enrollment or Orientation Deposit.
  • The housing reservation fee is mandatory. Students with significant financial need are welcome contact Residential Life prior to their application deadline.
  • Payment must be in the form of Credit Card or ACH. Students cannot use financial aid to pay the reservation fee.
  • The reservation fee money will be applied as a credit toward your first housing bill.
  • Students that finalize a license and change their mind or cancel their assignment will be assessed a cancellation fee.

Only students who complete the License and $200 Reservation Fee via the housing portal can be assigned to housing.

Newly admitted undergraduate students who apply before May 1 will pay the housing reservation fee at the time of application.

Current undergraduate student who apply by the Housing Selection deadline will pay the housing reservation fee at the time of application.

Graduate and waitlist students will pay the housing reservation fee when you receive your housing offer.

The housing reservation fee is mandatory. Students with significant financial need are welcome contact Residential Life in writing prior to the application/offer deadline.

No. The housing reservation fee will be applied as a credit to your initial housing charges.  For example, if you license for the full year, the $200 will be applied toward your fall housing bill. In the event that you cancel your housing license prior to move-in, the $200 reservation fee will be applied towards your cancellation fees.

Assignment & Roommate Requests

Once the License and Reservation Fee are received, the student can be assigned to housing. Housing Assignments are made utilizing the student’s housing application preferences and eligibility criteria.

While we try to honor students’ preference we cannot guarantee that a student will be assigned to a specific building or room. Within our co-ed communities, students are assigned to rooms, suites and/or apartments with roommates of the same biological sex, unless the student has expressed interest in Gender Inclusive Housing.

  • Incoming undergraduate and waitlist students are assigned to housing by Residential Life staff.
  • Students that apply for and are selected to live in a Living-Learning Community (LLC) are assigned by the LLC Coordinator.
  • Current residents who participate in Housing Selection get to select their specific building and room from the available inventory.

Housing assignments are communicated to students via their UMBC email account.

  • Fall residents should expect to receive their assignment in mid-July.
  • Spring only residents should expect to receive their assignment information in mid-January.

Students may have the option of requesting roommate(s). Students who do not request a specific roommate will be assigned one by the Residential Life Staff.  Assignments are made using information provided in the interest housing application.

The period for newly admitted students to request a specific roommate is mid-May until June 15 at 11:59 p.m.

  • Incoming First-year students who apply by May 1 can request one (1) or three (3) preferred roommate who is also an incoming Fall Freshman.
  • Incoming Transfer students who apply May 1 and accept their Housing Offer by can request one (1) or three (3) preferred roommate who is also an incoming Fall transfer students.
  • Students who form a group of 3, rather than a group of 2 or 4, will only be assigned together in our triple bedroom room types as space permits.

The period for current residents to request specific roommates is during Housing Selection. Current residents should review the Housing Selection Guide for more information about the roommate group formation process. Returning students who participate in Housing Selection can form roommate groups of 2 and 4 with other students participating in housing selection.

Students will receive an email with instructions on requesting or forming a roommate group in the housing portal.

  • Incoming undergraduate students should look for an email in their UMBC account in early May.
  • Returning students will receive instructions as part of Housing Selection (March-April).

If you are admitted to an LLC, you can only request a roommate who has also been admitted to that LLC.

Incoming undergraduate and waitlist students are assigned to housing by Residential Life staff.  Additionally, students that apply for and are selected to live in a Living-Learning Community (LLC) are assigned by the LLC Coordinator. Whereas, current residents who participate in Housing Selection get to select their specific building and room from the available inventory.

Assignments are made utilizing the students housing application preferences and eligibility criteria.  While we try to honor students preference we cannot guarantee that a student will be assigned to a specific building or room.

Within our co-ed communities, students are assigned to rooms, suites and/or apartments with roommates of the same biological sex, unless the student has expressed interest in Gender Inclusive Housing.

Housing assignments are communicated to students via their UMBC email account and the housing portal.

  • Fall residents should expect to receive their assignment in mid-July.
  • Spring only residents should expect to receive their assignment information in mid-January.

Due to the high demand for housing, we are unable to honor any room/roommate change requests prior to the start of the semester.  Please keep in mind that during the first two (2) weeks of each semester, room changes are not permitted.  Room Freezes allow Residential Life to “take attendance,” move any students out of their temporary assignments, and place students on the waitlist.

Students are able to cancel their housing prior to move-in by completing the Cancellation Request form on the Housing Portal.

Please be sure to review information about fees associated with canceling your housing (https://reslife.umbc.edu/apply/housing_procedures/).

Students who wish to cancel their housing after Move-In must submit a formal petition for release from the license.