How we make assignments
New for Fall 2023: Monthly randomization. We are no longer first-come, first-served. New Hawkeyes find community in every residence hall. The best campus experiences come from the relationships you make within your residence hall, not the location.
Housing assignments at Iowa are determined based on a variety of different factors noted below.
Living Learning Community
One factor we use to determine your assignment is based on your Living Learning Community. Students who join a LLC will live with others on the floor that share the same academic interest or identity.
New students can apply to join a Living Learning Community from February - May 2023. Returning students must apply by February 1.
All roommates must individually apply and be accepted in order to live together in the Living Learning Community.
Room selection date
The date you select your hall and room will also have an impact on your assignment.
New Students for Fall 2023: Monthly randomization. We are no longer first-come, first-served. New Hawkeyes who apply between the first and last day of a given month will be randomized together to be assigned their room selection number (spot in line.) This will occur each month, with January applicants receiving their room selection numbers first, followed by February applicants, and groups for March, April, and May 1. Online hall and room selection takes place in June.
Returning students who apply by February 1, 2023 are provided a room selection time based on the number of semesters they have lived in the residence halls. Hall and room selection takes place online in mid-February.
Roommate requests
On your housing application, you will have the ability to request roommates. Once you submit your housing application, you can search for roommates based on answers to the lifestyle questionnaire and community preferences.
Your roommate request must be mutually confirmed online in the housing portal.
New students can search for roommates March 1 - May 15.
Returning students roommate requests are due February 1.
Medical (ADA) accommodations
Our team works with any student who requests a housing or dining accommodations on an individual basis. It is important to communicate early and thoroughly with University Housing and Dining staff to ensure your needs can be met most effectively. Your accommodations needed can have an impact on your housing assignment.
If you need to request an accommodation, you will need to fill out a Reasonable Accommodation Request form. Learn more about our process here.
Changes to your space
Almost all students select their own rooms for their contract term.
If you need a room change, you will be emailed with details about how to request a room change when our team can begin offering assignment changes.
University Housing and Dining does not offer contract releases due to a roommate conflict.
Changes to your space
Our waitlist is utilized to offer a specific room type within a specific building as it becomes available.
The fall 2022 waitlist will open in September 2022 with offers being extended as space allows through December 9, 2022.
The spring 2023 waitlist will open on January 23, 2023 with offers being extended as space allows between February 6, 2023 – March 24, 2023.
Spaces are offered via email to you in the order in which your request was received. If you are hopeful to change your room assignment with a specific person, please be sure to include their name in your request.
You must respond to the room change offer in order to either accept the room change offer or remain on our waitlists. Failure to respond to a room change offer will result in the removal of your name from all of our waitlists.
This waitlist is utilized to offer space in a Living Learning Community as it becomes available.
You may place yourself on this waitlist type by emailing housing@uiowa.edu. You will need to include your name, University ID and the LLC you wish to be placed on the waitlist for.
Please note: This is only offered during the summer months.
Restroom types
Each residence hall at the University of Iowa has a variety of restroom types. Our halls offer community-style, single-user, suite-style and private restrooms. Private restrooms have very limited availability across all our halls.
Residence hall pages offer descriptions and photos of each of these restroom types.
What comes in my room?
All rooms at Iowa come with a desk, lofted bed, dresser, closet, curtains, trash and recycling containers. After that, it is up to you!
Typical furniture dimensions
One of each item per resident will be in the room.
Lofted bed: 81.5 inches (width), 58 inches (height), 40 inches (depth).
Dresser: 30 inches (width), 30 inches (height), 30 inches (depth).
Desk and chair: 48 inches (width), 30 inches (height), 24 inches (depth).
Closet: 37 inches (width), 72 inches (height).
Closet configuration varies by residence hall.
Hall furniture images
Bed configuration options
- 24 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (length), 37 inches (total bed height).
- Mayflower: 19 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (length), 36 inches (total bed height).
- 69 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (length), 74 inches (total bed height).
- 69 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (height), 74 inches (total bed height).
- Mayflower: 68 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (length), 72 inches (total bed height).
- 33 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (height), 37 inches (total bed height).
- Mayflower: 32 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (length), 36 inches (total bed height).
- 43 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (height), 37 inches (total bed height).
- Mayflower: 42 inches (mattress height), 40 inches (width), 85 inches (height), 35 inches (total bed height).
