Last updated October 27, 2025
The Rising Sophomore Housing Renewal Process is designed to guide rising sophomores as they reapply to live in Residential Life housing for the upcoming academic year. All rising sophomores are required to live in Residential Life housing.
The Housing Application opens at 9 a.m. Central Time, Monday, December 1.
Before Re-applying
- Thoroughly read and familiarize yourself with the presented Terms and Conditions. This Housing Application is a binding contract and the Terms and Conditions outline all rules and regulations of WashU Residential Life housing.
- Later when completing the Housing Application, you will be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions outlined in the above document. Students who are under the age of 18 will be required to have their parent or guardian agree to the Terms and Conditions on their behalf.
Quick links
Use these quick links to move down the page.
Timeline and Important Dates
| Milestone | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sophomore Application Opens | Monday, December 1 | WashU Housing Portal under Apply |
| Sophomore House Party | Tuesday, December 2 | Risa Commons at 7 p.m. |
| Priority Application Deadline Sophomore Grouping Closes at 11:59 p.m. | Sunday, February 8 | WashU Housing Portal |
| Housing Assignments Go Live | Monday, March 23 | WashU Housing Portal under My Housing |
Eligibility
All undergraduate students who plan to be enrolled full-time in courses at the university are eligible to apply for housing. All undergraduate students are required to reside in Residential Life managed housing for their first and second year (freshman and sophomore). Residential Life guarantees housing for any eligible student who applies with us.
Study Abroad
Students studying abroad for the Fall 2026 semester should not apply for housing during the Sophomore Housing Renewal period. Students studying abroad for the Fall 2026 semester should instead apply for housing for the Spring 2027 semester. The Spring 2027 Housing Application will open on the WashU Housing Portal on Monday, November 3.
Students studying abroad for the Spring 2027 semester should apply for housing during the Sophomore Housing Renewal period and submit a housing cancellation for their spring housing when prompted by WashU Residential Life later in the fall semester.
Housing options
Sophomore students will be able to live in modern or traditional residence halls. Sophomores will be placed by Residential Life according to your preferences as outlined on your completed and signed Housing Application within the WashU Housing Portal. You can find more information about sophomore housing options at the link below.
WashU Residential Life does not guarantee placement in any specific building or facility.
Steps to applying for renewal
To access the Housing Application, you will need to log into the WashU Housing Portal. Then, select “Apply” from the Navigation menu.
- Step 1: Complete bio and contact information.
- Step 2: Select your housing preferences.
- Step 3: Fill out the roommate questionnaire.
- Step 4: Select your meal plan.
- Step 5: Sign the Housing Contract Terms and Conditions.
- Optional Step: Register for GradGuard renter’s insurance.
- Optional Step: Search for and select roommates.
Once you have signed and submitted your Housing Application, in Step 5 you will receive a confirmation from the Office of Residential Life. This confirmation will be sent to your WashU email.
Housing accommodations
Housing Accommodations are determined by WashU Disability Resources. Approved accommodations are then implemented by Residential Life. Note, your housing placement will be assigned to fit the needs of your approved housing accommodation from WashU Disability Resources.
Students will receive notification of the decision regarding their Housing Accommodation from WashU Disability Resources through their WashU email, typically two-to-six weeks after submitting their request.
Late housing accommodation requests and/or determinations submitted after the stated deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.
Important rules for housing accommodations
- Students must still complete the Housing Application through their WashU Housing Portal to be considered for a placement in housing, even if they have already been approved for a housing accommodation.
- Being approved for a housing accommodation does not guarantee that you will be placed in your first-choice residential hall or with your preferred friends. WashU Disability Resources makes determinations regarding functional accommodations in housing. WashU Disability Resources is not involved in the process of assigning a student’s specific room or specific roommates/suitemates. This process is managed by WashU Residential Life and students will be notified of their specific room assignment separately.
- Students with an approved accommodation can have no more than three (3) roommates. However, they can also apply as an individual. Applying as an individual does not guarantee a single room placement.
- Students who submit requests or appeals after the posted deadline may need to be placed as an individual, instead of with chosen roommates. Additionally, students who submit requests or appeals after the posted deadline may be placed on a waiting list for the next available room that meets their accommodation.
For questions to WashU Disability Resources, please contact their office at 314-935-5970 or by email. They are located on the ground floor of Gregg House on the South 40. Their office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How to request housing accommodations
Please visit WashU Disability Resources for instructions on how to request accommodations.
Student Requesting a Renewal of Housing Accommodations: Students who currently have housing accommodations and are seeking to renew their accommodations should reach out to Disability Resources via email disabilityresources@wustl.edu to communicate their intention of remaining/residing in University owned housing for the upcoming academic year.
Please note: Regardless of eligibility for housing accommodations, students must follow all WashU Residential Life housing processes and procedures to secure campus-owned housing. Housing spaces are limited and assigned on a first come, first served basis. Neither the presence of a disability nor eligibility for a housing accommodation guarantees campus-owned housing, a specific location, or roommate.
Is it necessary to request housing accommodations?
- For dietary restrictions > No. WashU Dining Services works to support students with special dietary needs, this includes those with medically restricted diets and those with food allergies and intolerances. Dining Services is generally able to meet the needs of students requesting specialized meal plans so all students with special dietary needs are encouraged to work with dining services to make dining on campus enjoyable and safe. The process for requesting dietary accommodations is outlined on the WashU Dining Services website.
- For transportation and proximity to academic buildings > No. All on-campus residential buildings are considered to be within close proximity to academic buildings and other campus facilities. Students whose disabilities may limit their ability to walk and/or carry a heavy backpack for long distances are encouraged to utilize the Campus Circulator and/or Medical Escort Service when traveling across campus. More information about these options can be found on the WashU Parking and Transportation Services website.
- For environmental allergens > No. The university has conducted tests of environmental allergen levels throughout the Residential Life buildings. The results of these tests found that there is not a significant difference in allergen level between the various building types. To reduce exposure to environmental allergens, students are encouraged to follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology by bringing allergen-proof fabric covers for bedding, a dehumidifier, and/or HEPA filter air purifier for use in their residence hall rooms.
- For distraction-reduced study space > No. By nature, residential housing is not a distraction-reduced environment. Students are encouraged to explore the many study spaces throughout campus to find a quiet study location and are welcome to contact WashU Disability Resources for recommendations.
Finding roommates and forming groups
- One of the members of your group will need to click the “Create Group” button below. This person will automatically be assigned the Group Leader role.
- Rising sophomores are encouraged to form or join groups of four (4).
- The Group Leader will set the group’s name, password, desired group size, and choose which selection process the group is taking part in. All of these aspects of the group can be changed by clicking “Edit Group”.
- Once the group has been created, the Group Leader can click the link to “Search for Roommates by Username” to find and invite their roommates to join the group. Alternatively, their roommates can click the “Join Group” link and join the group by entering the group’s name and password.
- It is not necessary to create a group right away. Instead, you can click on the “Suggested Roommates” link or “Search for Roommates by Preferences” to find students that match well with your preferences.
- Once you’ve identified a student you would like to invite to group with, you will be able to request to join their group or invite them to join your group. If you have not created a group at this point, you will be taken to the group creation screen before an invite is sent.
Important notes
You can only be a member of one group.
Please note that applications will not be processed in the order they are received.
House Party
Find potential roommates to group with through our House Party on Monday, December 2 at 7 p.m. We are here to help you all get to know one another and answer any questions you may have! At our House Party, you will participate in structured conversations designed to assist you in finding roommates.
House Party
| Monday, December 2 | 7 – 9 p.m. | TBD |
Complete your group on the Housing Portal
Complete your Group on the WashU Housing Portal prior to the deadline listed under Important Dates. To complete your Group, please follow these steps:
- Identify a group leader within your planned group.
- Once identified, the group leader will do the following:
- Log into the Housing Portal.
- Click on Applications from the menu options.
- Select Fall 2026-2027 from the drop-down menu.
- Select the application for the upcoming academic year.
- Create a group within the housing application. This will include a group name and password.
- After group creation, anticipated group members must do the following to add themselves to the group:
- Log into the WashU Housing Portal.
- Click on Applications from the menu options.
- Select Housing Application from the drop-down menu.
- Select the application for the upcoming academic year.
- Add yourself to the group using the group name and password set by your group leader.
- After group creation, group leaders can also add group members.
- Students can group with any student who has submitted their housing application prior to the priority deadline listed under Important Dates. However, we recommend forming your group with individuals that share your class year.
Students can group with any student who has submitted their housing application prior to the priority deadline listed under Important Dates.
There are no gender restrictions placed on the forming of groups.
Forming a group of one
Individuals who wish to participate in the process as an individual are able to form a group of one.
Cancellation policy
For an in-depth understanding of the Cancellation Policy, please review the Terms and Conditions within the Housing Agreement that will be linked at the top of this page.
Cancellation Requests must be submitted via the Housing Portal. Cancellation Requests will not be received via phone call, email, or any other method.
For the 2026 – 2027 Academic Year Application, students can cancel at no penalty anytime on or before March 31, 2026. After March 31, 2026, students are subject to the $2,000 Cancellation Fee.