Pet-Friendly Colleges: A Home Away From Home

For many students, leaving their beloved pets behind while attending college can be a difficult decision. The good news is that a growing number of colleges and universities are adopting pet-friendly policies, allowing students to bring their companions with them on their academic journey. This article explores colleges that allow pets in dorms, providing a comprehensive overview of their policies, benefits, and considerations.

The Allure of Animals: Bringing a Piece of Home to School

It's hard to resist the allure of animals, and if you've had pets all your life, it's not the easiest thing to leave them behind while you're away at school. Because of these pet-friendly colleges, students are able to bring a piece of home to school which can be a great comfort when studying miles and miles away. By having their furry, scaled, or feathered friend with them, they have that familiar piece of home that they know and love.

Benefits of Pet-Friendly Policies

Bringing a pet to college can offer numerous benefits, from reducing stress and loneliness to providing a sense of comfort and home. Students can maintain a familiar routine and have a companion during late-night study sessions. For students, the companionship can help reduce stress, anxiety, and homesickness.

Considerations for Pet Owners

While the idea of having a pet in college is appealing, it's essential to be a responsible pet owner by adhering to all campus regulations and ensuring your pet is well-behaved and cared for. Having pets obviously isn’t for everyone, and that is totally OK.

Navigating Pet Policies: A Varied Landscape

The policies at these schools vary greatly, and it is crucial to research the specific rules for each institution. Many require pets to be registered, and some even have designated dormitories or housing for students with animals. Some schools might have a weight limit for dogs or require roommate approval before a pet is allowed. It’s important to note that every college will have its own pet policy, however, there are some common ones that many schools have. Before making any decisions, be sure to familiarize yourself with the specific pet policies of each institution.

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Pet-Friendly Colleges: A Detailed Look

Here's a comprehensive list of colleges that allow pets in dorms, along with details about their specific policies and offerings:

1. Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, FL)

Eckerd College is a leader in pet-friendly campuses, offering dedicated dorms for students with pets. Eckerd has had pet-friendly dorms since 1973. Domestic pets, including dogs, are allowed in specific dorms. Eight of the 12 residential halls allow dogs as long as they are 40 pounds or less. Cats, chinchillas, large birds, ferrets, rabbits, ducks, and other types of pets are welcome to live in any of these housing units. One of the cutest traditions? Each year Eckerd hosts a pet graduation ceremony for students’ pets - complete with tiny grad caps and gowns - to celebrate your four-legged (or winged) friend’s “completion” of college life alongside you!

Pet Policy Highlights:
- Small animals in cages or tanks are allowed in all halls.
- A local veterinarian does biannual health checks.
- The college also has a pet blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
- The pet must be registered with the Pet Life staff.
- Inoculation and registration requirements must be met.*Visiting pups are also permitted on campus as long as a Visiting Pet Registration Form is filled out a week in advance.Your pooch will love playing in the on-campus pet park, but St. Petersburg is also home to Fort De Soto Dog Beach, one of BringFido’s Best Gulf Coast Dog Beaches, and many dog runs, including North Shore Dog Park. Fido will have plenty of space to run and play when he’s not studying.To attend Eckerd, dogs must be at least one year old and weigh no more than 40 pounds. They are required to have lived with the student or the student’s family for at least 10 months before moving onto campus.

2. Lees-McRae College

Lees-McRae College allows students to bring a family pet to live with them on campus after two semesters in college housing. Faculty and staff at Lees-McRae College are encouraged to bring their four-legged friends to work, and students are permitted to have family pets in select on-campus residences. The college has several approved pet-friendly housing units and welcomes most conventional types of pets. The Lees-McRae College Pet Council regulates pet ownership. The college is nestled in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is surrounded by many pet-friendly trails and places to explore. The location plays a large part in the college’s mission to be a steward of the planet and all its animals. The May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on campus admits more than 1,500 injured and orphaned wildlife species each year. Students work at the center to rehabilitate animals and return them to the wild.

Pet Policy Highlights:
- Pets must be at least a year old.
- There are pet restrictions on the age of the pet, size, and certain breeds.
- The college hosts pet-friendly events throughout the year including Homecoming Dog Court.
- Aquariums aren’t to exceed 20 gallons, terrariums shouldn’t exceed 40 gallons, and snakes and rats are not allowed.

3. Stephens College

Stephens College has welcomed many types of pets on campus for more than 10 years. Stephens College has been a pioneer in pet-friendly campus living since 2004, allowing not just cats and dogs, but also small mammals, birds, and more-with approval. Stop by the president’s office at Stephens College and pick up a treat for Fido. The campus has been welcoming pets for more than 10 years and is so pet friendly, they even provide doggie daycare services for students' pets. Throughout the year, the college holds several dog-friendly events, including a pet Halloween costume party and pet graduation.

Pet Policy Highlights:
- If you don’t have a pet or are unable to bring one, you can still participate in the pet-friendly community by fostering a pet from a local shelter.
- If you have a pet that is not listed on their allowed pets list, don’t worry!
- The annual fee for a dog or cat is $220, for a cage- or aquarium-dwelling pet is $50 and free for fish.
- Pets must be vaccinated, dogs and cats spayed or neutered, and dogs crated when unattended.
College-bound canines will love the town of Columbia as well. There are dog-friendly hiking trails and a beachside park at Stephens Lake, and an off-leash 200-acre park and hiking trails at Grindstone Nature Area. Restaurants like Shakespeare’s Pizza Downtown and Main Squeeze provide dog-friendly patio seating for dinner with friends.
To attend Stephens College, dogs must be at least six months old and registered with the city of Columbia.

4. Stetson University

Stetson allows a variety of animals in two of its residence halls and hosts a service dog program that allows students to train and foster future service dogs. Stetson University opened its doors to dogs in 2010, allowing them to reside in three on-campus residences. The university also allows faculty and staff members to bring well-behaved pets to work. In 2017, a local Eagle Scout built Stetson Dog Park, adjacent to the pet-friendly University Village Apartments. The park, accessible only to students and faculty, provides plenty of grass and shade for dogs to run and play.

The Florida climate also makes it easy to take a dog out for a walk, so you could say the climate is pet-friendly.
Students are responsible for flea control and damage to the dorm.
Students can bring their pet to other areas of the campus as long as the dog is leashed.
Dogs up to 50 pounds are welcome to live on campus. They must be at least one year old and have lived with the student or student’s family for one year prior to move in.

5. Washington & Jefferson College

W&J’s pet friendly dorm is aptly referred to as the Pet House (Monroe Hall) and houses up to 32 students and their family pets. Washington & Jefferson College was a trailblazer in pet-friendly housing, and its standout feature is the “Pet House” in Monroe Hall-a dedicated dorm for up to 32 students and their pets. Presidential pups are welcome in three pet-friendly residence halls and in the on-campus housing for live-in staff at Washington & Jefferson College.

Dogs, cats, and small animals are all welcome in the Pet House.
Fish are welcome in all other residence halls.
The ranking of Washington and Jefferson is due to cats, dogs, and fish being allowed.
Dogs and cats must be 40 pounds or less and spayed or neutered.
Gerbils, hamsters, small birds, guinea pigs, fish, and turtles are also allowed if they are in cages or aquariums.
For an off-campus meal, students can take their furry friends to nearby Kopper Kettle where pups can enjoy “Paws on the Patio” every Friday night. Washington & Jefferson College is just 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh, home to many dog-friendly attractions like the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.Dogs up to 40 pounds and at least a year and a half old are welcome in Washington & Jefferson College's Pet House residences. Pets must have lived with the student for at least six months before applying.

6. University of Northern Colorado (UNCO)

UNCO welcomes dogs and cats to two residence halls on campus: Belford Hall and Lawrenson Hall. At the University of Northern Colorado, students in three of the more than dozen residence halls on campus are allowed to have dogs and cats. Belford is entirely dedicated to pet-friendly single rooms, while only specific pet wings allow for cats and dogs in Lawrenson.

Students are limited to one pet.
The animals must be at least 6 months old and no more than 40 pounds (18 kilograms).
While dogs are allowed on this campus, this ranking is the result of the amount of living space being restricted to just three floors.
Students can take active canines to run off leash at Rover’s Run Dog Park or for a stroll along the Poudre River Trail in Greeley, or visit nearby Fort Collins for additional pet-friendly activities. The excitement of Denver and the Colorado Rockies are also within a two-hour drive.Dogs up to 40 lbs and at least six months old are welcome on campus.

7. Johnson & Wales University

Johnson & Wales University has two pet-friendly dorms on each of its campuses. Johnson & Wales University Providence students might be known as the Wildcats, but felines aren’t the only furry faces allowed on campus. Dogs are welcome on select floors of three residence halls, and each one features a designated pet relief area with waste bag dispensers.

Pets must not be poisonous or endangered and must be a state-approved breed.
Dogs and cats must be over one year old and no larger than 40 pounds.
There is a required $250 cleaning fee per academic year.
The ranking is determined based on the fact that both cats and dogs are welcome in some residence halls, as well as some caged animals.
Some dog breeds are restricted such as German shepherds, pit bulls, Akitas, wolf hybrids, and any breeds that the city ordinance considers aggressive.
Fish are permitted in all residence halls if they are in single tanks that are 5 gallons or smaller.

8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

UIUC allows up to two companion animals per room in one of its apartment-style residence halls (Ashton Woods). Residents of the on-campus Ashton Woods apartments are permitted to have up to two companion pets.

Companion animals are considered any animals typically thought of as household pets and do not include exotic pets.
Although it will allow more than one type of pet in a dorm, there is only one unit, Ashton Woods, that allows pets.
Before making the decision to bring a dog to college, students should consider the amount of free time they’ll have, the cost of caring for a dog, and the age and activity level of the pet.

9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Are you a cat lover? MIT has been one of several cat-friendly colleges since 2000. MIT allows only cats, in limited numbers and in preapproved spaces. MIT will allow cats in four of the dormitories, but you have to get approval from the MIT student government body’s pet chair that represents the dormitory residents.

Unlike some college pet policies, MIT doesn’t require that your cat is over a certain age or that it lived with your family before moving to school with you.
You also have to make sure your roommate is fine with having a cat, so make sure you find a pet-friendly roommate.
The application to have a cat isn’t approved unless the cat has had all shots and is spayed or neutered.
MIT’s ranking is due to its pet policy being restricted to cats in four dormitories.

10. State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton)

SUNY CANTON has had a “Pet Wing” since 1997! SUNY Canton has a pet wing for pet owners that wish to live with their best friends.

While cats, fish, ferrets, and other small animals are allowed, dogs, birds, snakes, and spiders are not.
A small caged pet or one cat are allowed, so this is more cat-oriented than dog.
On top of this, the residence hall director must approve all pets on-campus.
This is part of the university’s goal of promoting a family-like atmosphere.

11. Lyon College

Lyon College might be small, but its pet policy is big on heart. Lyon College allows dogs in one designated pet-friendly residence hall that houses up to 20 students and their furry friends.

Students can live with cats, dogs (under 50 lbs), or fish in designated pet-friendly dorms-as long as pets arrive within the first two weeks of the semester.
This helps everyone settle in together without mid-year surprises.
Campus canines and their humans are welcomed with an encouraging letter from the college’s Presidential Pets, Cuddles the cat and Finn the dog, who also serve as the Deans of Pets and Directors of Pet Life.
Dogs can even get their own education at Pet Obedience Classes.
Lyon College welcomes dogs up to 50 pounds who are at least a year old.

12. Pfeiffer University

Pfeiffer University started allowing furry friends on campus in 2017. Pfeiffer University introduced its pet-friendly dorm in 2017, and it’s quickly become a highlight of campus life.

They welcome aquarium pets, as well as dogs and cats through an application.
Creating a more comforting, connected student community.
You’ll want to get your application in early, however, since only one residence hall is available to pet owners and space is limited.

13. Alfred State College of Technology

At Alfred, dogs under 40 pounds, cats, and rabbits are all welcome to stay with their student owners. At Alfred State College of Technology, dogs are more than just pets - they’re part of the campus community.

Students can bring a part of their hearts along with them for their college journey.
The policy aims to create a comforting and home-like atmosphere to two- and four-legged residents.
To find out which breeds of dogs and cats are not allowed, check out the pet policy.
Dogs up to 40 lbs, as well as cats and rabbits, are welcome to reside with their student owners in Robinson/Champlin Hall as long as they are registered with Residential Life before residing on campus.

14. University of Florida

The University of Florida allows residents to have both service animals and pets on its campus. The University of Florida allows students to bring small caged animals or fish.

You’ll need to contact the housing office before bringing your pet and understand that the pet policy is up for renewal each year.
These animals include reptiles, small rodents, and small birds.
Iguanas are not allowed because lizards aren’t allowed to be more than 6 inches from the tip of their snout to their tail.
Chinchillas, salamanders, geckos, frogs, and non-predatory birds are allowed.
However, they can’t weigh more than a half-pound.
Written permission from the Village Housing staff is required to be able to have any of these pets on campus.
Students are required to make sure that the living quarters of their pets are kept clean.

Additional Pet-Friendly Colleges

Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Clarion, PA): Students living in designated animal-friendly housing may have a pet, including cats, dogs (under 40 pounds when fully grown), birds, ferrets, chinchillas, fish, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, amphibians, and small reptiles. Snakes must not exceed six feet in length and must be nonvenomous.
Delaware Valley University: DelVal welcomes not just cats and dogs, but also less traditional companions like ferrets, rats, and rabbits. Students must provide proof of vaccinations and commit to responsible pet care to be approved.
University of Wyoming: The University of Wyoming offers pet-friendly campus apartments for upperclassmen and married students who want to bring a cat or dog to college life-just one per resident.

Service and Emotional Support Animals: A Legal Perspective

While there are only some colleges that allow pets on campus for enjoyment and companionship alone, all campuses are required to allow emotional support and service animals. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), colleges are required to allow service animals on campus and in the dormitories. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) are both federal laws that require public and private campuses alike to allow service animals and/or emotional support animals in campus housing.

Service Animals

Service animals include dogs and miniature horses that have been trained to provide services related to a person’s disability. If the services provided by the service animal are not obvious, the college may ask whether the animal is a service animal and what services the service animal has been trained to perform. Colleges may ask for the service animal to be removed if the service animal is not housebroken or if the service animal is out of control.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals are animals whose presence alleviates a person’s symptoms or disability. Unlike a service animal, an emotional support animal does not need to be trained to perform a specific task or service.

Legal Protections

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are allowed to accompany their handlers into any public or private space, with the exception of certain religious organizations. You are not required to show any kind of registration or documentation that your dog is a service animal, nor are you required to demonstrate your dog’s training. It is possible to bring your emotional support animal to college with you, but you will need to make sure that your ESA is valid. Obtaining an emotional support animal letter is essential if you wish to bring your ESA to college with you. To ensure your emotional support animal is official, you must speak with a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state.

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