Carnegie Mellon University

Parents & Families

Your top priority is making sure your students are safe, happy, and in an environment that inspires and supports them in all facets of their lives. Housing Services makes that commitment to your student through the residential experience, which contributes to academic success, graduating on time, and the positive development of the whole student.

At Carnegie Mellon, first-year students are required to live on campus. We guarantee housing for students for four undergraduate years (as long as they continuously live in university housing). Students who remain in university housing will participate in Room Selection.

Students who move out of university housing and later decide to return must submit an application, which will then place them on a waiting list. Because demand for university housing usually exceeds availability, students are advised to consider their decision to move off campus carefully.

Safety and Special Accommodations

Housing Services is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community. All residence halls have secured entrances and individual rooms. Shuttle and escort services provide safe and convenient ways to navigate surrounding attractions and communities. Emergency phones located throughout the campus and residential areas provide immediate access to the CMU Police Department. Staff is available 24 hours a day to assist with urgent matters. Residence assistants live onsite and are often the first point of contact in an extensive student-life support network. Facility coordinators are assigned to each building and make sure that the buildings are safe, code-compliant, clean, and undamaged.

Housing Services is able to accommodate students with special needs in its residence halls and apartments.

Living on Carnegie Mellon's campus provides students with:

A 24/7 community of support through peers and staff and a place where safety is a top priority

A residential experience that fosters personal development, meaningful engagement, and life-long relationships

The opportunity to live with peers and friends

Convenience to academic buildings, the student center, 35+ dining locations, makerspaces, campus events, and shuttles/escort services

24-hour access to fitness centers, computer labs, study lounges, practice rooms and friends
All-inclusive living, including housing costs, utilities, cable, internet, maintenance, housekeeping, furnishings, and laundry facilities

Room Selection

Room Selection is the process when students make their university housing decisions for the next academic year. Below is a checklist that will help you and your student stay on track with the Room Selection process:

  1. Verify that your student is eligible to participate in Room Selection.
  2. Help them decide which phase of Room Selection to participate in.
  3. Be familiar with Room Selection dates and deadlines.
  4. Encourage them to find a roommate or roommates.
  5. Sign the Housing Contract.