SMU is committed to providing an on-campus residential experience for all first- and second-year students and provides upper-division housing options for some third- and fourth-year students.
Demand for housing is very high, and we work to accommodate as many students as possible.
Residence Life & Student Housing (RLSH) processes housing applications in the order they are received, based on the student classification. Below you can learn about housing-assignment timelines and our priority order as they relate to the fall semester.
Spring housing application have a similar priority order, but the timeline for assignments will differ. Check out the Important Housing Dates calendar for specific dates.
Incoming, or new, first-year students are required to live on-campus and should complete a housing application as soon as they pay their deposit. Students should apply by May 10, unless admitted after that date.
The roommate request deadline is June 1.
Assignments are made in June and communicated to students via their SMU email address in mid-July. Housing assignments are made on a rolling basis for students who apply later than early-July.
Residency-required students, generally second-year students, must complete a housing application by March 1 to participate in Room Selection.
Students who do not meet this deadline or who do not select a room during the advertised Room Selection period will be manually assigned to one of the below options:
Non-residency-required students, generally third- and fourth-year students, must complete a housing application by March 1to be included in the lottery draw. Students who are successful in the lottery draw will be able to participate in Room Selection. Those not picked up to participate in room selection are placed on the "Stand-by" list and are not guaranteed housing. Non-required students on Stand-by should prepare a back-up plan for housing. If an off-campus lease is signed, students should email housing@smu.edu immediately to cancel their housing application to avoid cancelation penalties.
Transfer students should complete a housing application as soon as they pay their deposit. Students should apply by May 10, unless admitted after that date.
The roommate request deadline is June 1. Housing assignments for transfer students are made in early July and distributed to students in mid-July. Housing assignments are made on a rolling basis for students who apply later than early-July.
Effective Fall 2023, transfer students do not have a housing requirement. Assignments are made on a space available basis, with priority given to students who are 20 years of age or younger. Assignments are generally made in mid- to late- July. Students should prepare a back-up plan should on-campus housing not be available. If an off-campus lease is signed should email housing@smu.edu immediately to cancel their housing application to avoid cancellation penalties.
Current students who lived off-campus the prior academic year should complete a housing application in the spring semester.
Housing availability is very limited and housing assignments will only be made if space is available in late-July and August.
This includes students who were exempted from the residency requirement their first year and would like to live on campus their second year at SMU. Students should prepare a back-up plan should on-campus housing not be available. If an off-campus lease is signed should email housing@smu.edu immediately to cancel their application to avoid cancelation penalties.
Graduate students are encouraged to check out the