The purpose of on-campus housing is to provide students with a safe, affordable, and low-stress place to live while pursuing their educational goals. For some students this means little more than a place to lay their heads when sleep forces them to interrupt their busy academic and social schedules. For other students, on-campus housing is a home away from home where lifelong friendships form and the transition from family life to independence can happen at a more measured pace.

Residence Halls
Most first-year students at Iowa choose to live in one of the 10 residence halls. The halls have plenty of new students—as well as sophomores, juniors, and seniors. More than half of the residents of each hall are first-year students. For more about the benefits of living in the residence halls, see:

Why Live in the Residence Halls?

With 12 halls and more than 5,900 residents, there are lots of options in terms of facilities, environments, and activities. The easiest way to get a sense of the opportunities is to explore our pages devoted to each of the halls.

Residence Halls - Main Page
Meal Plans & Menus
Living-Learning Communities
Costs/Room & Board
How to Apply
Disabled/Special Medical Needs Accommodation

Expanded Housing at The University of Iowa

"Expanded housing was one of my best experiences at Iowa."

Expanded housing is created by converting locked floor study lounges to student living areas. We DO NOT use lobbies or hallways for expanded housing. Eight or fewer students are assigned to each lounge. The basic amenities of residence hall rooms are included in expanded housing. Each student will have a bed, but because of space restrictions, students will share desks, dresser space and hanging space for clothes. There is one telephone jack and we provide a telephone. As in all residence hall rooms, local service is provided. Each space has wireless internet service available for resident use.

"I was terrified when I found out that I would be in expanded housing. However, it was probably the best experience that I've yet to encounter at the University. I am still really close with everyone I lived with at the beginning of the year and it was a really sad day when I had to leave!"

Students are assigned to expanded housing when there is no longer any available permanent space. Expanded housing enables students who request to live on campus to receive housing. Students assigned to expanded housing will be reassigned to permanent space based on their original housing application date.

"We had a ton of space in the room, HUGE windows looking over campus toward the Old Capitol, and air conditioners that always worked."

During the first few weeks of fall semester, a number of permanent spaces will be identified due to "no shows." Cancels are also received from students who decide not to continue at the University. These cancellations allow students from expanded housing to be assigned to permanent space. Over half of our expanded housing students historically receive a permanent assignment by the beginning of October. In fact, some students assigned to expanded housing may receive a permanent assignment before they arrive on campus!

"Expanded housing was way better than having a normal room."

Students are charged a greatly reduced rate for expanded housing-$10.00 per day-plus the cost of their selected meal plan. When a student is moved into a permanent space, housing charges will be pro-rated according to the rate for the permanent room and the number of days remaining in the semester.

"I actually really enjoyed the expanded housing because I was left with three guys that I got along with extremely well. We had a great time together and we joked about how we wish we would have stayed in that lounge together for second semester."

When your application is considered for a permanent room assignment, you will be assigned to any open space that is available. Your preferences for building and room may be considered if there are multiple vacancies, but will not be used if the student is next on the list to be placed and there is only one vacancy. In that case, a student has the potential of being placed in any building on campus.

"Don't be afraid if you get placed in expanded housing. You'll be surprised how easy it is to get along with your roommates. I guarantee you'll be sad when they move out."

Students who live in expanded housing do not have a binding contract with University Housing & Dining. They may leave the housing system at any time until they accept a permanent assignment. However, most students tell us they prefer living in expanded housing than living off campus. If a resident in expanded housing chooses to cancel the housing contract in order to move off campus, they must contact the Contracts and Assignments Office at 319-335-3000 for further information.

"Expanded housing is not the end of the world, it is actually a really great way to meet people on campus and adjust to being away from home."

For more information about living on campus, go to www.housing.uiowa.edu and click on the "Living on Campus" link, then "Things you need to know about living on campus". Here you will find a listing of important dates, what to bring, what not to bring, etc. Because space is limited in the lounges and you will be living with seven other students temporarily, we recommend that you bring only the basics you will need for a few weeks. We can't provide storage for those students in expanded housing, so if it doesn't fit comfortably in your expanded space, it may have to go back home.

"Don't get stressed about being in expanded housing, it's not bad and you get to meet a lot of people. You get enough space to live but there are other places you can go if you need your space."

No matter which hall becomes your home, you are encouraged to take advantage of the services and social aspects of the U of I residence halls. The residence halls offer many services to help new students make a successful transition to college academics, as well as adjust to the responsibility of living in a residence hall. The residence hall staff is available to provide support as you pursue your academic and personal goals. You can get involved in a variety of ways in your residence hall, including social events, educational activities, recreation, student government, and student employment.

The quotes are taken from actual students who have lived in expanded housing.

Living-Learning Communities
Living-Learning Communities are a very popular housing option. They provide a supportive and engaging environment where students are challenged intellectually, and they offer the advantage of bonding with other students who have similar academic goals.

Living-Learning Communities

Coming to Campus
After you've applied to the University, been admitted, and received your room assignment, you'll need to get ready to move in. Your first weeks at Iowa are going to be filled with lots of new people, new information, and important decisions, and your new living space is only part of the equation. The following pages have been created to help you plan for your move so that moving in can be a snap, leaving more time and energy for more pressing matters those first few weeks.

What to Bring
Getting Settled
Getting Involved

International Student Housing
On-campus housing for international students is available in all the residence halls. Learn about the experience of living in the residence halls by reading this specially designed resource for international students.

Live On: Living On-Campus For International Students

Graduate, Professional, and Family Housing
The University provides a limited amount of on-campus housing for graduate and professional students, as well as students with families.

Graduate and Professional Student Housing
Housing for Families