Colorado State University Housing: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing where to live is a significant decision for students attending Colorado State University (CSU). Whether opting for the convenience of on-campus living or exploring the independence of off-campus options, CSU provides a variety of resources and choices to suit individual needs and preferences. This guide explores the different housing options available to CSU students.

On-Campus Housing

Each year, more than 6,000 students call Colorado State University home, including freshmen (who are generally required to live on campus), transfer students, upperclassmen, graduate students, and adult learners.

Types of On-Campus Housing

CSU offers a diverse range of living environments, including 15 residence halls and four apartment communities, each with its unique atmosphere. Residence halls, often referred to as dorms, are available to freshmen, transfer, and upper-division students.

Residence Hall Room Styles

Living arrangements in residence halls typically include the following options, though variations exist among halls:

Community Style: These halls feature a centrally located community bathroom on each floor or wing. Rooms can be either shared or single spaces, with priority for single spaces often given to students with qualifying disabilities.
Suite Style: These living spaces offer a more private experience. Most suites consist of two double rooms sharing a bathroom, with each room including its own vanity with a sink. Some suites may offer a private room and/or bathroom.

On-Campus Living: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fill out your housing application: After being admitted to CSU and paying or deferring your enrollment deposit, you will gain access to the housing application. This application requires a $500 deposit and a $100 non-refundable application fee. The housing application typically opens in January for those planning to live on campus the following fall semester.
Participate in roommate selection: For students starting at CSU in the fall semester, roommate selection occurs before room selection.
Choose a room: Roommate pairs and groups will be notified when they can log in to the CSU Housing Portal to select their building and room. New rooms are made available throughout the residence halls as room selection progresses. It's advisable to have multiple options in mind, as some spaces fill up quickly. If you are matched with a roommate, one of you will select a space for both of you.

Roommate Matching Program

CSU utilizes a roommate matching program powered by RoomSync, a roommate matching app, to help students find compatible roommates. You can create a personal profile, search, filter, chat, and match with other residents living in the community, and decide what matters most when narrowing down your search. The app allows you to search for a roommate with the same major, someone who goes to bed early, or someone who enjoys college football. You can list your preferences on your housing application, and the university will do its best to place you in a unit that fits those requests. You can search for and match with specific roommates in the RoomSync app, and changing your mind is not a problem.

On-Campus Dining

No matter where you are on campus, you will find a convenient place to eat. Dining center options include all-you-care-to-eat, grab-and-go, grocery-style marketplaces, and online ordering and pickup. Residential Dining Services offers a variety of meal plan options that are required for students living in the residence halls and optional for on-campus apartment and off-campus residents. Meal plans are purchased per semester together with room and board rates.

Benefits of On-Campus Living

Living on campus offers the convenience of proximity to classrooms and provides opportunities to engage with the campus community through organized hall programs and activities, on-campus events, student organizations, athletic programs, and arts and culture.

Two-Year Live-On Requirement

All newly admitted first-year, transfer, and returning students under 21 years of age, with a home address outside of the 50-mile radius from the University, who graduated high school or the equivalent two academic years prior are required to live on campus for at least two years. Residence Life and Housing supports, encourages, and works with individuals to find housing arrangements that support their growth and enhances their experience at the University.

Off-Campus Housing

For students seeking alternatives to on-campus living, Fort Collins and nearby towns such as Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, LaPorte, and Wellington offer numerous options for renting or buying. Colorado State University provides resources to simplify the search for off-campus housing, with Off-Campus Life being the primary resource.

American Campus Communities (ACC)

American Campus Communities (ACC) is a leading provider of academically oriented student communities since 1993. ACC offers fully furnished units at no extra fee. An individual lease provides each resident with their own separate lease agreement and responsibility for his/her rental installments and applicable utility and parking charges.

Lease Details

The typical lease term is approximately 11.5 months of occupancy, coinciding with the university's academic calendar. The resident is charged a total rent amount for the contracted occupancy period. The lease agreement will reflect the total rent amount typically divided into 12 equal installments due August 1 - July 1.

Payment Options

Residents can set up recurring payments using a checking account or card info through the Resident Portal to avoid missing rental installments. ACC accepts credit cards, debit cards, and ACH payments online. You're only responsible for your student's rent - never someone else's. The guarantor will need to sign the guaranty agreement.

Required Insurance

The community requires all residents to obtain minimum coverage of $100,000 in Legal Liability to Landlord (LLL) insurance. Residents have two options:

Option 1: Purchase a policy of their choosing that satisfies the minimum insurance requirements.
Option 2: If proof of insurance is not provided, American Campus Communities may place coverage for the unit under a LLL policy.

Mental Wellness Support

ACC staff is trained in peer-to-peer mental wellness support and offers programs in partnership with the Hi, How Are You Project.

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