Please read these FAQ’s completely and thoroughly. Reviewing this information will help you be prepared for the Room Selection process.

Who is eligible for the Room Selection process and how does it work?

To get a Room Selection number, a student must have submitted a housing application and have not yet chosen a space through any other room selection process.

You will receive your Room Selection number via your VCU email account on Friday, Feb. 21. Room Selection numbers are generated at random, and are not based on the date you submitted your housing application. If you do not receive a Room Selection number and think you should have, please contact us so we can research your situation.

Your Room Selection number will correspond to a specific date and time, which is noted in the email you received.

On the date and time that corresponds to your Room Selection number, you will log into the Housing Application and follow the prompts in order to search for a room. You can access the Housing Application by visiting housing.vcu.edu and clicking Housing Application in the top navigation bar.

How do I prepare for the Housing Room Selection process?

Before logging onto the housing portal to choose your room, you should review the descriptions, room types, amenities and costs for our upper class residence halls. These halls are Ackell Residence Center, Broad and Belvidere, Grace and Broad 1 & 2, Cary and Belvidere (Rising Sophomores Only) and West Grace North. These descriptions can be found on our website in the Halls section.

The Room Selection sign up process is a timed process. Once you choose the room you desire, you will have 5 minutes to finish the process so you do not need to rush. If you do not complete the process within the 5 minutes allotted, you will lose the room you chose and it will return to the general Room Selection. Keep in mind, many students are searching for a room at the same time you are, so being prepared will benefit you.

My friend(s) and I want to live together next year. How can we do that?

You all must have completed a 2025-26 Housing Application and you all must be a part of the same Roommate Group. You can change your Roommate Group at any time up until you actually choose a space.

Prior to the start of the Room Selection, make sure to discuss with your roommates which residence halls and room styles you prefer. Be sure to consider several options, as not all halls and room styles may be available when it is your turn to choose a space.

Whomever in your Roommate Group has the lowest Room Selection number will be able to choose rooms within one apartment for themself and the rest of the members of the group, assuming spaces are available in the unit. Be sure the person with the lowest number chooses all of the spaces your group needs at once before moving on to the next page. If you do not choose enough spaces, you will not be able to go back and add more.

Once you choose the number of spaces you need, the system will guide you through the actual assignment process.

What if we can’t find an apartment with enough spaces for our whole roommate group?

As the Room Selection progresses and students sign up for rooms, apartments will begin to fill up. Therefore, you and your roommate(s) should discuss how you will “divide up” if you cannot find an apartment which has enough vacancies for everyone. For example, you received the lowest Room Selection number and you have two friends in your Roommate Group. You can only find an apartment which has 2 available spaces. You will be able to sign yourself up for a space and assign one person from your Roommate Group, but the remaining roommate will not get a space. The remaining student will need to search for a space independently based on the date and time slot of their own Room Selection number.

What if I change my mind about the room I pick in the Room Selection? Can I cancel that room and choose another?

No. Once you have selected and confirmed your room(s), you will not be allowed to cancel the spaces and choose again. You and your roommate(s) are urged to review room vacancies carefully before you decide on a final room selection.

What if I miss my scheduled time for the Housing Room Selection? Will I still be able to sign up for a room?

The online system gives you access beginning at a specific date and start time, based on your Housing Room Selection number. However, you can access the system any time after your specific date and start time, up until the Room Selection ends.

I got a high Room Selection number. Does that mean I won’t get a room?

No. Some students who receive a Room Selection number decide not to participate. Some students are “pulled in” to a room on their friend’s number and do not use their own number. No matter how high your Room Selection number, you should still log in to the Housing Application at your scheduled Room Selection time to check available rooms.

What is the Cancellation Policy if I choose a room space during the Room Selection and later decide I want to move off campus?

You should not choose a space on-campus as a backup plan. Once you choose a space you are committed to that room. There is no cancellation period.

Please be sure to carefully review the 2025-26 Housing Contract which you electronically signed when you completed your housing application. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at vcuhousing@vcu.edu or 804.828.7666.

VCU Residential Life and Housing offers traditional, suite and semi-suite options depending upon a student’s status. Please visit the Halls section for more details.

Eligible for on-campus housing

To be eligible to receive a housing assignment, students must complete a Housing Application, pay the $250 non-refundable prepayment and sign-up for summer orientation 

Signing the Housing Contract

When a student completes the Housing Application, they electronically sign the contract at the end of the application process. Instead of signing a specific contract for a specific room, students sign a general contract for the academic year. The Housing Contract is not binding until the student receives their assignment. To view the Housing Contract visit housing.vcu.edu/help/resources.

Rooms are assigned in batches beginning in July and continue throughout the summer. All assignment information and other housing communications are sent to the student’s VCU email address. While efforts are made to place students in their top choice, that is not always possible. Assignment priority is based on when an application is completed, and the $250 nonrefundable prepayment is received.

Changing Room Assignments 

During summer months, room changes are not processed. However students have the option to do a room swap. A room swap is where students from different rooms choose to trade places. Information on how to do a room swap will be posted once the first housing assignments are sent to VCU students' email addresses. 

The cost of on-campus housing is equal to or less than most surrounding off-campus locations. To view proposed rates visit housing.vcu.edu/help/resources. All rates become final after approval by the Board of Visitors. 

Meal Plans

Students living in Brandt, Gladding Residence Center, Honors, and Rhoads are required to have a dining plan. Students will need to choose one of the “Required Plans” listed on vcu.campusdish.com.

Renters Insurance

While renters insurance is not required it is highly recommended. Some homeowners insurance will cover residence halls. Check with insurance providers for details. Students that are not covered under a homeowners policy can find renters insurance information and options in the Housing Application.

Parking

First-year students living on campus are not permitted to have a car on-campus. For more information on this policy visit the Freshmen Parking page.

Roommates are a huge part of the first-year experience. Many incoming first-years are nervous about sharing a room; this is completely understandable. To help ease this process, it is important to begin the year with open and clear communication with your new roommate. When you receive your assignment, you will be given your roommate’s contact information. Take advantage of this opportunity to reach out and introduce yourself! Talk about your plans and expectations for the upcoming year and find out what you each like to do and identify common interests, and coordinate who is bringing what for your room. When you arrive, your Resident Assistant will talk with you about steps you can take to make your relationship with your roommate fun and productive.

Find A Roommate(s)

My College Roomie offers students an easy way to find roommates. Students create a My College Roomie account and search for roommate matches based on lifestyle preferences such as study habits, interests, major, etc. To use My College Roomie, click the link on the roommate page in the Housing Application. 

Requesting a roommate

First-year students have the option to request roommates when submitting their application. Roommate requests must be mutual – both students must request and accept one another in order to be assigned. For suite and semi-suite units, students can only request roommates, students who live within the same room. It is not possible to request suite mates, students who reside in other rooms in the unit. Roommate requests are not guaranteed but are honored when possible. Instructions on how to request a roommate can be found in the Housing Application.

Gender Inclusive Housing

First-year students have the opportunity to live in Gender Inclusive Housing, a housing option where students can live together regardless of gender. To participate, all students who wish to live together must be 18 by the first-year move, fill out the Gender Inclusive Housing Application located in the Housing Application, complete a Housing Application, pay their $250 prepayment and register for summer orientation. Gender Inclusive Housing requests are not guaranteed but are honored when possible. For more information visit the Gender Inclusive Housing page.

First-year students have the opportunity to participate in a Living-Learning Community. These programs are designed to enhance on-campus living with a focus on shared interests, or academic goals. There are two types of first-year Living-Learning Communities.

Theme Communities

Theme Communities are residential experiences that offer students who have special interests the opportunity to live and study together. Theme Communities provide participating students with co-curricular activities that may be initiated and led by either students or by university faculty/staff. There is no class requirement for these communities. For information on specific Living-Learning Communities visit our Living-Learning Community page. 

Programs-in-Residence

Programs-in-Residence are residential experiences that offer students interested in a shared topic the opportunity to live together in a dedicated residential area. Programs-in-Residence support high levels of student interaction, increased interaction with faculty outside of the classroom and collaboration through the use of strategies such as a required class on the given topic, study groups and programming. All Programs-in-Residence communities listed have a required class. For information on specific Living-Learning Communities visit our  page. 

How To Apply

Living-Learning Communities Application is part of the Housing Application. To apply, visit Housing Application before June 1. Students will be asked to write a short essay and rank their top three preferences. Please review all options before making selections. While efforts are made to place students in their first choice, that is not always possible. 

Requesting A Roommate For A Living-Learning Community

Requests can be made through the Housing Application. However, to be eligible to be roommates, both students must select and be accepted into the same Living-Learning Community and choose each other as roommates. If one student is accepted into the Living-Learning Community and the roommate is not, the student will be placed in the Living-Learning Community over the roommate choice.

Learn how residents can connect with fellow rams, the campus and academics visit our Student Connection page.