How to Apply for Housing

Roommate matching will open immediately upon completion of the Housing application. Students may use the Housing and Dining Portal to connect with potential roommates based on their living preferences.

Students who do not select a suitemate through the matching process will be assigned to a space with other students of similar age, class standing, and living preferences.

If a student wishes to request a roommate who already has a Fall housing assignment, they should email rmassign@pennwest.edu for assistance.

Please note that students can only be matched with others who have submitted a Spring Housing application; students who have not applied for Spring housing will not appear in the roommate matching search.

Residence Life and Housing will begin assigning students to available spaces in mid-December. Assignments will prioritize roommate requests, room type preferences, and living learning/themed community requests as indicated in the application. Because the academic year is already underway, specific room types or buildings are not guaranteed.

Roommate matching for returning students opens November 3, 2025, through the Housing and Dining portal. Students are encouraged to create fully matched groups that fill an entire room, suite, or apartment to increase the likelihood of obtaining preferred housing during early room selection.

Students will only be able to match with others who have completed their Housing applications. Those experiencing issues should connect directly with their campus Residence Life and Housing Office.

Room retention allows returning students to keep their same space for the following academic year. Room Retention is available to returning students (typically sophomores and juniors) who meet eligibility criteria.

This period is for students retaining their current Fall 2025 assignment or space without pulling in new roommates. Each resident must individually complete the retention process in the Housing and Dining portal to confirm their space.

If a student chooses to retain their room and there are available spaces within that room, they may invite new roommates to fill those spaces. This can be done through the Housing and Dining Portal during this selection period.

Tip: All students must have a Housing application completed to be eligible for this phase.

Contact your Residence Life and Housing office during this time if there were difficulties with retention and pulling in new roommates. Students should verify that their room assignments and roommates are accurate before January 30, 2026.

Starting February 9, students who have submitted Housing applications and did not participate in Room Retention will automatically be added to the Room Selection process. This first phase of this process is to fill an entire suite or apartment. This encourages students to find full roommate groups and select together before individuals without full roommate groups are eligible.

For example, if you are interested in a quad, find three friends that would want to live in the quad with you. Also, all students must have completed a Housing application to be eligible for this phase.

Beginning April 6, students can select remaining available spaces without being required to fill a full suite or apartment. Students are encouraged to monitor the Housing and Dining portal regularly as spaces become available.

Upperclass students (upcoming juniors and seniors for Fall 2026) may cancel their housing contract for any reason during this period. Please note that the $100 Housing application fee is non-refundable. After March 27, cancellations will only be approved for reasons outlined in the housing contract, and approval is not guaranteed.

Incoming freshmen and rising sophomores are still required to meet the Campus Residency Requirement.

Students who have completed a Housing application but have not yet selected a room by this date will be automatically assigned by Residence Life and Housing.

Students may make self-selected room changes through the Housing and Dining portal during this period. After July 17, no further changes will be permitted.

Roommate matching for new students will open once your Housing application has been completed. Students are encouraged to connect early to form roommate groups. Having a full group ready allows students a better chance of securing preferred suite styles during the first phase of room selection.

Students who have completed their Housing application by May 4 will be added to the first phase of Room Selection. During this phase, students must fill an entire suite or apartment, giving matched groups priority to select their preferred housing before individuals without full groups.

Students can select available spaces without being required to fill the entire suite.

Students who have not selected a space by this time will be automatically assigned by Residence Life and Housing.

Students will have the ability to make self-selected room changes through the Housing and Dining portal during this period.

Have you fully set up your PennWest account with two-factor authentication?

• Students must set up their myPennWestaccount (using their PennWest credentials) before they can access their student portal.

Did you recently change phones?

• Students encountering trouble setting up their two-factor authentication on a new device should contact their campus technology help deskfor assistance.

Have you paid your admissions deposit?

• Students who have not paid their tuition deposit will not be able to access their student portal until the deposit is paid through their campus Admissions Office. Once the deposit has been paid, students should have access to their housing and dining portal within 24-48 hours from the time they paid their tuition deposit. Students unable to access their portal after 48 hours should contact their campus housing office for assistance.

• The Housing application is a legally binding contract. If you are under 18 at time of submission, a parent/guardian must co-sign the application before it’s considered complete.
• After you submit the application, the parent/guardian email you listed will receive a link and unique code. If they don’t receive it (check spam/junk), contact your campus Housing Office to have it resent.

• The person you are looking to have as a roommate must have completed their Housing application and paid the Housing application fee.
• If they are under 18, their parent/guardian must also have signed the Housing application.
• If your preferred roommate has already selected a room, they will not show in the roommate-matching search results. Open spaces may still exist, check your portal and act quickly.

• In your Housing & Dining Portal, go to “My Info” → “Roommate Profile”, then you may add details (major, study habits, hobbies, etc.) to help others find you.

• Use the roommate questionnaire or click “Search” in the roommate matching portal to view other students seeking housing.

• If you answer all questions, search results will only include students who matched your exact answers, which can reduce the number of people shown.
• You may skip part of the questionnaire to widen your search pool.

• Only returning students living in eligible upperclassman halls (not buildings reserved for freshmen) may retain their current space.

• Yes, students must select by the final cutoff date. After this date, any student who hasn’t made a selection will be automatically assigned by Housing. (For the 2026 cycle, the cutoff is June 24, 2026, for returning students and July 2^nd for incoming students.) Residence Life and Housing will assign any unassigned students to rooms in the following days.  After everyone has an assignment, there will be a room change period (Returning students: June 25^th – July 17^th; Incoming students: July 2^nd – July 17^th) 

• During the general room selection phase, you may choose a space in a suite with other students already in it or select a fully open suite and allow others to fill in later.

• Room selection order is determined by the date/time the application is submitted. The earlier your application is complete (signed contract + fee paid along with parent signature completed if applicable), the better your selection slot.
• Having a fully matched roommate group increases your chance of getting your preferred space.

• Singles are limited in number. If you want a single-occupancy space, apply early, match quickly, and be prepared to choose your second or third preference if your first is unavailable.

• If your ideal suite or room style doesn’t show, it may no longer be available. Select the next-best option available. You may still submit a Waitlist Request in your portal for future availability, though there is no guarantee.

• Mixed gender housing is permitted.

• After you submit your Housing application, you’ll find the Gender Inclusive Housing application under “Contracts & Request Forms” in the portal. A fully matched group that fills the suite is required.

• Groups must fill the entire space. If you cannot fill it, you may be converted to a single-gender unit or moved to a different space.

• Incoming student athletes may participate in a dedicated athlete housing process. Contact your coach early to identify possible suitemates, then complete your Housing application and roommate matching as soon as possible. Returning athletes participate in general room selection.

• Yes, transfer students are eligible for upperclassman housing. If you don’t see upperclassman spaces during your selection time, contact your campus housing office.