Living on Campus

How to Become a Residence Hall residentWOU student on her bed

Freshmen students have four residence halls (dorms) to choose from (Heritage, Ackerman and Landers), and the rooms in each vary. Most times students share with one or two other people; sometimes students have their own rooms. Students can choose their roommates if they want, or they can use Room Sync, an online tool that connects incoming students based on their preferences around study habits, sleep schedules and cleanliness. Of course, we invite you to stay on campus as an upperclassman, too; there are several residence halls and apartments at WOU that cater to non-freshmen.

Because freshmen students are required to live on campus (with limited exceptions), you and your family will need to fill out a

University Housing reservation after you are admitted to WOU. Similar to most institutions, the University Housing reservation, which costs $50, is available online after students have WOU Portal access.

WOU wants freshmen to start their college life with a good foundation, and that’s why WOU requires freshmen to live on campus. There are a lot of other great reasons, too.

Top 5 Reasons Living on Campus is Great for Students

Get better grades
Research shows that students who live on campus have a higher average GPA than the general student population. That’s likely because the library is close, residents miss fewer classes and students who want to study are paired with roommates who share the same priority.

Safety is top priority
Located across the street from the Campus Public Safety building, residence halls are extremely safe for students. Everyone has his or her own entry fob (electronic key), and a Campus Public Safety officer is always around if you need help. They’ll also walk with you back to the dorm from anywhere on campus late at night.

Everything is close
The dining hall, fitness center, library, classes, coffee shops, campus jobs and university center are just minutes from your residence hall room. What could be more convenient than that? And when you need to go a little farther afield, Wolf Ride can take you there. For student who bring cars to campus, parking is easy to find. And on-campus resources such as the counseling center and other support offices are merely steps away.

Create a community
The friends you make when living in the residence halls will be friends for life. You’ll build relationships that will support you whenever you feel overwhelmed or homesick. Who knows, your college roommate might be the friend you turn to when you need a work reference or are looking for a job.

Athletics events
The residence halls are only a few steps from New P.E., McArthur Stadium, the softball and baseball fields and the soccer pitch. You can support your Wolves in all three seasons by filling the stands and cheering your teams. Plus, admission to games is FREE!