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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 Procedures

Housing & Meal Plan Rates

Apply on the Housing Portal

Housing Interest Application & Questionnaire

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 finalize their housing application during the open contracting period (February 1- May 1)
  • Newly admitted undergraduate students for the Spring semester who finalize their housing application during the open contracting period (October 1- December 15)
  • Actively enrolled undergraduate students finalize their housing application during the advertised open contracting period.

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 submit the application outside of the open contracting period in order to be 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 contract (license) 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 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 submit an application 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 contracting deadline will not be guaranteed housing.

Housing Contract & Reservation Fee

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

  • With the exception of students who are contracting for just the Spring semester, the term of the contract is for the entire academic year, both Fall & Spring semesters.
  • Students who are under the age of 18 when they complete the contract will be instructed to have a parent/guardian proxy acknowledge the contract 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 contract and change their mind or cancel their assignment will be assessed a cancellation fee.

Only students who complete the contract 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 to 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 contract for the full year, the $200 will be applied toward your fall housing bill. In the event that you cancel your housing contract prior to move-in, the $200 reservation fee will be applied towards your cancellation fees.

Assignment & Roommate Requests

Once the Contract (License) and Reservation Fee are received, the student can be assigned to housing.

Roommate Requests
Students may have the option to form a roommate group based on the timing of their finalized application.  Students will receive specific instructions for requesting a roommate in the housing portal.

Students who do not request a specific roommate will be assigned one by the Residential Life Staff.  Roommate assignments are made using information provided in the interest housing application.

Housing Assignments

Students may have the option to select their room assignment for the upcoming academc year. Room selection is only available to students with a Finalized application prior to mid June.Housing Assignments are made utilizing the student’s housing application preferences and eligibility criteria.

Students who elect not to participate in room selection will be assigned to housing by Residential Life staff.

Housing 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.

Newly admitted students should expect to receive their assignment and roommate information in mid-July or mid-January via their UMBC email.

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 who finalize their application for the academic year may have the option of requesting roommate(s) and will receive specific instructions for requesting a roommate in the housing portal.

  • Students may form groups of 2 or 4.
  • Students participating in Walker Housing Selection may form groups of 3, but will need to contact the Management Office in advance due to limited 3-bedroom apartments.
  • Students can only form a roommate groups with those students who have finalized the same application as yourself (Walker Avenue or Residential Life).
  • Due to the different housing selection cycles, current residents are not able to request incoming freshmen or transfer students as roommates during the Housing Selection process.
  • Groups that do not meet size requirements and those with students who did not finalize their housing license will be considered incomplete, and may be split into individual groups of 1. 

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.

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.

Room selection is only available to students with a finalized application prior to the publicized room selection dates. 

Students who elect not to participate in room selection or who contract for housing after housing selection has taken place will be assigned to housing by Residential Life staff.

Housing 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; the form can be found on the last page of the housing application. .

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 contract.