New Student Housing

New Student Housing

The University of Mary Washington believes that living on campus is an integral part of a student’s complete educational experience; studies show that students who live on campus are more likely to remain at UMW, achieve a higher GPA, and matriculate compared to their off-campus peers.

This doesn’t happen just by chance.  It’s because students who feel more connected to their university are more likely to succeed academically.  Our Residence Life staff provides many opportunities for students to engage with their peers, faculty, and staff, become involved in programs, activities, and organizations, and develop skills in leadership, critical thinking, and conflict resolution.

Therefore, all full-time students who are admitted as residential students in their first year are required to live on campus for two full academic years. In order to be approved to live off campus, prospective students must consult with Admissions staff.

First-Year Student Housing Information

The first-year On-Campus Housing and Dining Agreement will become available in the housing portal at noon on Friday, February 28, 2025.  First-year (new “freshmen”) students will have an opportunity to rank order their preferences of residence hall in the housing application.  Students will also be able to identify a preferred roommate within the application, if desired.  If identifying a preferred roommate, both students within the pair should list their residence hall preferences in the same order.  Nearly all first-year students will live with a roommate.

Housing assignments are made by assigning a random number to all students who complete their housing application by May 15.  The housing software will then make assignments in numeric order, taking into account residence hall preference, roommate requests, and responses to profile questions completed during the application process.  Students who do not apply by May 15 will be placed on a rolling basis into available spaces.

There are certain circumstances which may require more individualized attention and may be manually placed at the discretion of Housing Operations staff:

• students approved for housing accommodations (efforts will be made to provide approved accommodations within preferred buildings, when possible
• students confirmed for placement into one of our specialty communities

Housing assignments will be sent out to UMW emails during the month of June.

**Application deadlines and dates of assignments are subject to change (to a later date).  Any changes will be communicated via UMW email and through UMW social media.

Transfer Students Housing Information

Transfer students may rank their building preferences on their housing applications. All buildings (first-year communities and upper-class buildings) are included in the preference ranking options. Assignments will be made based on space availability.

Note: Transfer students with fewer than 30 credits wishing to participate in the First-Year Experience, which includes taking an FSEM course and living in a first-year community, should speak with a Student Success Coordinator in Academic and Career Services.

Steps to Secure Housing

1. Accept your offer of admission by submitting your $550 enrollment deposit.
2. If you will need a housing accommodation, submit your request to the Office of Disability Resources before May 1, however accommodation applications will be accepted for review at any time.
3. Review anticipated Room and Board rates.
4. Review dining information.
5. Get acquainted with the residence halls.
6. Review the Housing and Dining Services Agreement Terms and Conditions.
7. Complete your Housing and Dining Services Agreement and housing application in the housing portal.

Housing Assignment Communication

First-year students will be emailed their room number, roommate information, etc. in late June. Students submitting housing applications after this date will be assigned housing on a rolling basis. Note that Residence Life staff will email notices only to UMW email accounts.

Transfer students will be assigned housing on a rolling basis. Students will be emailed their room number, roommate information, etc. in June. Students submitting housing applications after mid-May will be assigned and communicated on a rolling basis. Note that Residence Life staff will send email notices only to UMW accounts.

Meal Plan Information

First-year freshmen students will be assigned the required Eagle Unlimited Plan along with their housing assignment. The Eagle plan provides unlimited access to the Restaurants at the Top of the Cedric Rucker University Center, 45 meals per semester to use in the Retail Dining Shoppes, and $200 Flex Dollars each semester. Flex dollars can be used at any University Dining location. Students on this plan may also use 5 meals each semester to pay for guests in the Restaurants at the Top of the CRUC or in the Retail Dining Shoppes (Guest Meals). Flex Dollars not used at the end of the fall term roll over to the spring term, as long as you are still on a meal plan. Flex Dollars left at the end of the spring term are forfeit.  Cost per Semester: $3,033.50

Transfer students have the option of selecting from any of the residential meal plans. 

First-year students seeking a reduced meal plan or any residential student wishing to be exempt from having a meal plan may submit the Meal Plan Exemption Request Form. Meal plan exemption requests will not be reviewed for the Fall semester until after July 1 of the current calendar year.