Georgetown University Dorms Guide: A Comprehensive Overview of On-Campus and Off-Campus Housing

Choosing where to live is a significant part of the college experience. At Georgetown University, residential life is designed to foster community, learning, and personal growth. This guide offers a detailed look at housing options both on and off campus, catering to undergraduate and graduate students alike.

The Residential Experience at Georgetown

Living on campus at Georgetown provides more than just a place to sleep. It’s an opportunity to participate in shared dinners, late-night study sessions, and build lasting friendships. The residential experience is crafted to inspire and create a strong sense of community.

Living Learning Communities

Learning extends beyond the classroom through Living Learning Communities (LLCs). These communities connect students with shared interests, enriching their academic journey by fostering deeper engagement with specific subjects or themes.

Student Leadership Roles

Students can take on leadership roles within their residences, welcoming new residents, planning community events, and providing support to their peers. These roles place students at the heart of the campus experience, fostering a welcoming and supportive environment.

Access and Security

Students living on the Hilltop and Capitol campuses have access to their residence during the dates stated in the Housing Occupancy Agreement (HOA). All on-campus students have access to all residential buildings from 8 AM to 12 AM (midnight) daily. Nightly between 12 AM (midnight) and 8 AM, all guests, including those living off campus, must be escorted by a resident of that residential building. Sharing or transferring a GOCard is prohibited. Residential buildings are equipped with either a physical key-based lock or mobile GoCard access.

On-Campus Housing for Undergraduates

Georgetown University requires all first-year students to live on campus, offering four specific residence halls exclusively for freshmen. While on-campus housing is guaranteed for the first three years, the variety of options allows students to find a living arrangement that suits their preferences and needs.

Freshman Dorms: A Closer Look

The four primary freshman residence halls are:

Village C West (VCW): Known for its hotel-style layout, VCW features private bathrooms within each room, shared between roommates. While this is a major convenience, VCW rooms tend to be smaller than those in other dorms. The building has approximately eight floors, each with a trash room and a common room equipped with couches, an oven, stove, refrigerator, and microwave.
Harbin Hall: This dorm has bedrooms with bathrooms located outside of the room. The rooms are set up in a cluster format, with the rooms arranged in a circle with the bathroom in the middle. The clusters of rooms are single-gendered, but there can be multiple clusters of different genders on the same floor. There are about 3 clusters per floor and 9 floors in total.
New South Hall: The newest of the freshman dorms, New South offers stunning views of the Potomac River from about half of its rooms. The floor layout consists of rows of rooms facing each other along a long hallway, fostering a strong sense of community. Each room also has its own sink, which is an added benefit.
Darnall Hall: Located on the far north edge of campus, Darnall is a bit removed from the central campus area. However, Georgetown's relatively small campus size means that most places are still within a 10-minute walk. The floor layout is similar to New South, but the rooms do not have sinks. Darnall's prime location atop Epicurean, a 24-hour cafeteria, is a major draw for students seeking late-night snacks.

Upperclassmen Housing Options

Beyond freshman year, students have access to a broader range of on-campus housing options, including residence halls, apartments, and townhouses.

Residence Halls: These include single, double, and triple rooms connected to a hall and a common room.
Apartments: These units typically have two stories, kitchens, full baths, and accommodate four to nine roommates.
Townhouses: Similar to apartments, townhouses are not connected to other units and often feature small lawns. They offer a greater sense of independence while remaining close to campus. Townhouses are fully furnished and, unlike main campus apartments, feature laundry rooms and dishwashers. Two Residential Ministers live near the townhouses and a Residential Living office is located in the neighborhood.
Living Learning Communities (LLCs): These are designed for students who share common interests or identities, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

Specialized Programs

Capitol Applied Learning Labs (CALL): This program offers students the opportunity to live in dorms near the U.S. Capitol for a semester while taking program-specific classes and doing an internship for credit. The rooms have the same amenities as VCW. The freshmen CALL alumni that I know have all lauded the program because it helped them gain maturity and a sharper career focus early on in college. The downside they mentioned was that CALL’s distance from the main campus put a pause on their social lives and extracurricular activities.

Other Notable Residences

Arrupe Hall: Known for its clean, sleek, and modern design, Arrupe offers spectacular views from its common rooms and comfortable study spaces in its main lobby. The lobby also features the best community kitchen on campus and a conference room, both of which clubs frequently take advantage of. The rooms in Arrupe are spacious suites which house 2, 4, or 6 people.
Vil A and VCE: These villages have issues with mold and give off faint prison architecture vibes. Georgetown does not offer its villagers windows in many rooms, though it is worth noting that the rooftop of Vil A offers a wide view of the Potomac.

Amenities in On-Campus Housing

All dorms come with bunkable beds, desks with chairs, and closet space. Most have sinks, toilets, and showers included, while a few residence halls have communal bathrooms. Apartments come with a kitchen and refrigerator, and these are available in the common room in residence halls. Students wash their clothes in communal laundry rooms in all living spaces except for townhouses.

Residential Staff

Residence halls and some LLCs have one live-in Residential Assistant (RA) per floor, in addition to one Jesuit-in-Residence or Faculty-in-Residence.

Housing Selection Process

Housing selection begins in June for the Fall semester and March for Spring. The system is based on housing points ─ rising sophomores are by default assigned two points, rising juniors have three, and rising seniors have four. Students form groups of up to nine individuals during the selection process, and the housing point average of all of the members is used to determine their place in line for selection. The selection process happens on a first come, first serve basis. Roommate groups with the highest housing point average are given the earliest time slots, and those who go later choose from the dorms remaining. Group members appoint one person to be the Group Sponsor, the group member selects the dorm during their time slot by logging into Hoya Housing. Students can change their groups easily right until the end of the first two weeks of the semester. Students can have their housing points taken away for misconduct and can earn more points as well. Earning housing points is an enigmatic process ─ rumor has it that students can earn extra points by attending their floor’s Interhall Council meetings, yet nobody I know has received an invitation to them.

Cost of On-Campus Housing

Price differences between residences are based on the type of accommodations offered. Residence halls range from $4,377 to $4,662 per semester, while apartments cost between $4,662 to $4,789.

Off-Campus Housing Options

For students seeking alternatives to on-campus living, Georgetown University provides resources and guidance for finding suitable housing in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Popular Neighborhoods

Georgetown students often reside in the following D.C. neighborhoods:

Georgetown: Offers proximity to campus but can be more expensive.
Burleith: A quieter residential area close to campus.
Foxhall: Known for its residential feel and green spaces.
Glover Park: A family-friendly neighborhood with local shops and restaurants.
Palisades: A charming neighborhood with a small-town vibe.
Dupont Circle: A vibrant area with numerous cultural attractions and dining options.
Adams Morgan: A culturally diverse area with many shops and restaurants.
Pentagon City and Crystal City: Offer affordable alternatives to D.C.

Nearby cities and suburbs also offer options:

Read also: Georgetown Admission SAT

Arlington, VA: A conveniently located suburb.
Alexandria, VA: A small and walkable city just across the D.C. line.

Resources for Finding Off-Campus Housing

The Office of Neighborhood Life (ONL) provides helpful resources and tips for finding roommates and housing off-campus. Students can begin their search with OCHListings, a platform specifically designed for Georgetown students.

Georgetown has also partnered with WeLive to offer fully-furnished apartments to students in Crystal City, Virginia. Additionally, the 4stay platform can be used to search for rooms and homes around campus.

Homestays

For students interested in experiencing life with an American family, homestays are a great option. Student Roomstay is one platform that connects students with homestay opportunities.

Tips for a Successful Off-Campus Housing Search

Start Early: Begin your search three to four months before your move-in date.
Prioritize Safety: Ensure the property has essential safety features like fire alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and emergency exits.
Conduct a Thorough Walkthrough: Take pictures and videos documenting the space and any damages before you move in. Share this information with your landlord or the leasing office.
Understand Your Lease: Leases are legally binding, so make sure you understand all the terms before signing.

Being a Good Neighbor

ONL compiles an annual Hoya Neighborhood Living Guide tailored to students living in the neighborhoods surrounding Georgetown’s main campus. This guide includes advice for new D.C.-area residents, promoting positive relationships between students and the community.

Transportation

The GUTS bus system connects Georgetown with transportation hubs around D.C., including the Dupont Circle, Union Station, and Rosslyn Metro stations operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Many students living outside the D.C. area use a mix of local bus and/or rail systems, including Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) or Arlington Transit (ART), to connect to the WMATA and GUTS bus systems.

Graduate Student Housing

Georgetown University also provides housing resources for graduate students, recognizing the unique needs and considerations of this population.

On-Campus Housing for Graduate Students

Currently, 55 H St. NW is Georgetown’s only on-campus housing option for graduate students. Located in Georgetown’s Capitol Campus, 55 H St. offers competitive rent rates for its location in D.C.’s NoMa neighborhood. All utilities are included, and students can pay for housing through their Georgetown student account.

Amenities at 55 H St.

Each floor has a community room with a kitchen, dining area, and study lounge. Rooms are furnished with a bed frame and mattress, a desk and chair, a dresser, and a built-in closet. The property is open 365 days a year and offers 24/7 security with an officer always on duty.

Transportation from 55 H St.

Free Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles (GUTS) stop outside 55 H St. and take students directly to Georgetown’s Hilltop campus, local grocery stores, and Metro stops.

Application Process

Applications open in February for housing agreements beginning in August. 55 H St. offers both 9- and 12-month housing agreements, with the 12-month option covering housing for students during the summer term.

Additional Resources

Both Graduate Studies and Georgetown University offer resources for newcomers to D.C. Explore Graduate Studies’ tips for incoming students and browse the university’s guide to the city.

Maintaining Your Residence

Unit Care

Residents are responsible for regularly discarding trash to avoid attracting insects and rodents. Students living in townhouses have designated trash disposal areas.

Common Area Maintenance

University staff clean common areas in residential buildings.

Damage Responsibility

Individuals or residential communities are liable for damage exceeding the housing deposit. If you believe a charge is unjustified, submit an appeal via the Damage Billing Appeal form on Hoya Housing, including documentation like photos and work orders.

Room Condition Reports

A report on the condition of each room, apartment, or townhouse is provided to students to report issues within the first week of move-in.

Inspections

During inspections, staff will ensure smoke detectors, emergency exits, and window delimiters are functional. Prohibited items will be confiscated.

Prohibited Animals

Residents with approved service animals are exempt from the rule against prohibited animals.

Laundry

Laundry rooms are available in all residential buildings. Unattended laundry is collected monthly. Items in good condition will be stored for up to 7 days. After 7 days, unclaimed items will be donated.

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