Columbia University Housing

The residential experience is an essential component of a Columbia education. All first-year students are expected to live on-campus. If there is an extenuating circumstance that warrants additional discussion, please contact the Assistant Dean/Director of Residential Programs at 212-854-6805 or corp@columbia.edu.

If you are granted permission to commute during your first year, you may begin Columbia housing in your second year without forfeiting your guarantee of residence. However, if you do choose to commute your first year, you must apply for second-year accommodations by October 15 of your first year or risk losing guaranteed housing status.

Please note that once you begin living in the residence halls, the decision to move off-campus, into a non-Columbia owned Greek building, or to your family’s home may also cause you to lose guaranteed housing. In addition, if you do not live on-campus your first semester as an incoming transfer student, you lose the right to guaranteed housing.