Guide to UNIVERSITY RESIDENCES
Come Live with Us
You’re not required to live on campus, but most first-year students choose to! Here’s why:
On-campus housing is designed to enhance your college experience. It’s safe, convenient, and supportive, offering endless opportunities to engage and connect. By choosing to live on campus, you’ll immerse yourself in college life, explore new things, and forge lifelong bonds within the campus community.
Campus is only a 20 minute walk from end to end!
Our live-in building staff offer 24/7 support!
Get involved by planning events for your hall!
Fit Your Budget
Residence hall rooms are sorted into three rate tiers to reflect their different features & amenities and help you budget.
Room Tier Rating
Value: Typically hallway configuration, restroom has 6 or more users.
Standard: Typically suite configuration, restroom has 5 or less users.
Premium: Suited room with in-suite kitchen and restroom with 5 or less users.
Your rate is also determined by room capacity. Example: a triple room (3 students) in a hall-style will cost less than a double (2 students) in a suite.
Weekly 10 Meal Plan
This table shows 2025-2026 rates for the most common room size (double) and the Weekly 10 meal plan based on room tier (2026-2027 rates will be approved in May 2026).
*Room and board is charged quarterly. The monthly rate is provided for demonstration purposes.
Building Type
In hall style, rooms share a central hallway and community bathroom. In suite style, two to five rooms are linked to a shared bathroom.
What’s In Your Room & Community
Room Furnishings
Regardless of room size (single, double, or triple), your room will come with:
→ Twin XL bed
→ Desk
→ Chair
→ Clothing storage
→ Wireless internet
→ Blinds/draperies
→ Flooring/carpet
→ Recycle bin
→ Compost bucket
→ Trash can
Community Amenities
Every residential community on campus is loaded with a full range of features including:
→ Area front desk
→ Laundry facilities
→ Shared kitchen/ kitchenette
→ Study areas
→ Computer lab
→ TV lounge
→ Piano
→ Game room
→ Bike storage
Sustainable Living
Programs & Education
Western strives to be a national leader in sustainability values, practices, and education. Our residential experience includes opportunities to learn about social, economic, and scientific sustainability. Some of our sustainability programs include Residence Hall Reuse, Go for the Green, and providing compost buckets to residents.
Learn more
Living-Learning Communities
Living in a themed community is optional and provides opportunity for a supportive environment with others of the same backgrounds, interests, and/ or identities. If you are interested in any of our themed communities, please indicate which community during the housing application process.
Pride Housing
Provides a home for students who are seeking a LGBTQ+ affirming and gender inclusive living experience. Pride Housing provides a programmatic element for a living-learning experience.
Black Affinity Housing
Centers the experience of Black identified students by providing space for students to connect. All Western students residing in the program help foster a vibrant community.
La Comunidad Housing
Centers the Latine student experience and provides space to connect with others. All residents of La Comunidad share a common interest in Latine culture, both past & present.
Honors Housing
University Residences and the Honors Program collaboratively offer a living-learning experience. Students benefit from living among a group that shares academic goals & interests.
Learn more
Learn more about our living-learning options and where the communties are located!
Gendered & All-Gender Housing
Rooms in University Residences are designated as either Gendered or All-Gender. Students confirm their gender identity & select their room gender interest during the application process.
The option you select will determine your roommate matches and what spaces are available to you in room selection.
Gendered Housing Option
The majority of rooms on campus are designated gendered spaces (Female, Male, Neutral). Selecting the gendered housing option on the application allows you to find roommate matches and choose spaces with students who have selected the same housing gender as you. You will share a room, suite and/or bathroom with students of the same gender identity.
All-Gender Housing Option
This option is for students wanting a room assignment that is not based on gender. All-gender housing is located in designated suite-style spaces across campus. Selecting this option allows you to find roommate matches of any gender and choose spaces designated for students wanting to live in a mixed-gender environment. You will likely share a room, suite, and/or bathroom with students of a different gender identity.
Room & Building Type
Building Type
Western’s residence halls are coeducational and vary in size, style and layout.
Hall Style: Rooms typically share a central hallway and a community bathroom.
Suite Style: Two to five rooms are clustered around or linked to a shared bathroom.
Room Type
Double occupancy rooms are the campus standard, but some residence halls offer triples and a few singles. Less than five percent of on campus rooms are singles. Housing tier rates are based upon a room’s capacity along with amenity-based or value added. Example: a triple room in a hall-style will cost less than a double in a suite with a kitchen.
Other Housing Options
Disability Accommodation
University Residences works in partnership with the Disability Access Center. Students requesting accommodation must complete both a Housing application by the deadline and a Disability Access Center Need Assessment by June 15.
International Roommates
Hall residents can experience other cultures, languages, and perspectives by rooming with an international student. There will be a place to indicate your interest in having an international roommate on the housing application.
Substance-Free Areas
Designated space for students who want a living environment that supports a substance-free lifestyle. There will be a place to indicate your interest in a substance-free area on the housing application.
Apply for Housing
First come, first served: Incoming students who meet the deadlines are guaranteed a spot in on-campus housing. For fall incoming students, the earlier you confirm with the $250 housing prepayment, the sooner you gain access to room selection. This means you’ll get more options to choose from when picking your room!
Note: The process for the 2026-27 academic year is undergoing updates. Please check the website for the most up-to-date information.
1
Apply for housing at housing.wwu.edu. Once the housing application opens, you can apply for housing even if you haven’t confirmed your admission yet. Late applications may be subject to temporary assignment or space availability.
Priority application periods:
Fall Quarter: February 1 - May 1
Winter Quarter: October 15 - November 30
Spring Quarter: January 15 - March 1
2
Pay your housing prepayment in MyHousing or through the mail. If you have not paid by the deadline, your application will be cancelled.
Housing prepayment deadlines:
Fall Quarter: June 15
Winter Quarter: December 15
Spring Quarter: March 15
Find a roommate in Roommate Manager. Search for compatible roommates in MyHousing (only available for residents moving in Fall). To room with a specific student, you will need to coordinate during Room Selection.
Roommate Manager closes on June 30.
Check MyHousing for Room Selection/Assignment.
Once your prepayment is submitted, you will be given a room selection timeslot. If you do not select a room by the deadline, your room will be assigned. Room Selection is only available for residents moving in for Fall Quarter.
Fall Quarter: June 30 deadline for Room Selection; students who don’t select a room will be assigned one in late August
Winter Quarter: Rooms assigned late December
Spring Quarter: Rooms assigned late March
Your housing priority date is the date you apply for admission to Western. Students who submit their housing prepayment immediately after receiving a housing offer have a greater chance of finding a room in one of their housing preferences. 3 4
Housing Priority Date
Roommate Options
The residential experience is designed to help you learn about yourself and how to live and work with others. Your roommate experience will teach you something about yourself, and even more about others, relationships and community.
Note: The process for the 2026-27 academic year is undergoing updates. Please check the website for the most up-to-date information.
1
Search for a compatible roommate using our roommate tool to find someone with similar characteristics to your own.
2
Live with someone you met prior to attending Western! Plan to coordinate picking the same room in Room Selection.
3
Search for a compatible roommate during Room Selection by viewing roommate profiles of students already in rooms.
Learn more
Things to Know
Roommate Coordination
If you have a specific student in mind to be your roommate, you will want to coordinate to pick the same space in Room Selection. We recommend being in communication while in the Room Selection tool.
Room Selection Priority
Room Selection priorty is determined by the date you submit your housing prepayment. The earlier to confirm admission to Western and submit your housing prepayment, the sooner you can access Room Selection.
Track Your Status
Track your status in MyHousing to ensure you have completed all of the steps! You will also receive notifications in MyHousing throughout the application process.
Compare the Halls
Residential Neighborhoods
The 16 residence halls on Western’s campus are spread across three residential neighborhoods: North Campus, the Ridge, and South Campus. We encourage incoming students to explore the different neighborhoods and building options online and in-person during campus tours to help them decide where they select a room during the Room Selection process. Each building has a community webpage with details!
North Campus
North Campus is popular among incoming freshmen because of its view of the bay and its proximity to the Viking Union, Wilson Library, and Red Square.
Edens Hall*
Typically standard tier
Double & triple rooms
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Elevator access throughout
Priority for Honors students
Edens North
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Elevator access to most floors
Priority for Honors students
Higginson Hall*
Typically standard tier
Double rooms
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Elevator access to most floors
Nash Hall*
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Elevator access to most floors
Mathes Hall
Typically value tier
Double rooms
Community restrooms
Elevator access to most floors
*Showroom available during the following campus tours: Fall Preview Days, Visit Days, and Admitted Student Days.
For more information on campus tours, scan here:
Campus tours
The Ridge
The Ridge consists of 8 residence halls perched in the forest above central campus and offers easy access to dining, Carver Gym, and the Rec Center.
Alma Clark Glass*
Typically standard tier
Single, double & triples
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Elevator access throughout
Priority for Pride, Black Affinity & La Comunidad
Kappa
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Sigma
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Omega
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Delta
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Substance free areas
Alpha
Typically value tier
Single, double & triples
Community restrooms
Substance free building
Beta*
Typically standard tier
Double rooms
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Gamma
Typically standard tier
Double rooms
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
South Campus
South Campus communities consist of Fairhaven, which boasts the highest number of freshman, and Buchanan Towers, which has in-suite kitchenettes.
Buchanan Towers
Typically premium tier
Single, double & triples
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Elevator access throughout Kitchenette in every suite
Buchanan Towers East
Typically premium tier
Single, double & triples
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Elevator access throughout
Kitchenette & living room in every suite
Fairhaven Complex
Typically value tier
Single & double rooms
Suite-style restrooms
All-gender space available
Some elevator access
Every residence hall is open to students of all ages and class standings. Double occupancy rooms are the campus standard, but some halls also offer triples and a few singles. Each community has a front desk, laundry facilities, community kitchens, study areas, computer lab, TV lounge, piano, game room, bike storage & limited permit parking.
Dining at WWU
Dining at WWU provides three buffet-style dining halls and variety of retail locations across campus, all dedicated to serving fresh, flavorful, and diverse food options for easy eating. Choose from five flexible meal plans designed to suit your eating habits and budget.
Fuel Your Academic Journey
Enjoy rotating events, cultural celebrations, and interactive programs that unite students through food. Whether you’re studying late or dining with friends, we’re here to fuel your academic journey!
Meal plans
Commitment to Sustainability
Dining at WWU is committed to zero-waste initiatives in all locations and supports the Real Food Challege national campaign for healthy, fair, green food systems on college campuses. We source food from 43 regional partners and local farmers, among other practices!
Residential Meal Plans
Meal plans are required for students living in residence halls. Each meal plan comes with a quarterly allowence of meals, guest meals, to-go meals, and dining dollars. Dining dollars may be spent in any campus cafes and markets and carry over quarter to quarter.
Restrictions & Food Allergies
In all dining locations, there is a range of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. Dining at WWU is committed to providing you with the tools you need to have a safe and comfortable dining experience. Most students with food allergies successfully navigate dining by working with our registered dietitian.
“98% of students feel safe living on campus” – University Residences Quality of Life Survey Report
“I really loved living with people in a community, it made the college transition so much easier. ”
“Living on campus is a once in a lifetime experience all freshmen should have! ”
“Living on campus your first year is so helpful for connecting to campus and for making friends!”
University Residences
Phone: (360) 650-6565
Email: housing@wwu.edu
Website: housing.wwu.edu
Socials: wwuhousing