Apply for housing

The residence hall housing application is available to first-time freshman who have been admitted to University of Idaho beginning Nov. 18, 2025.

At this stage of the application, you can update personal and emergency contact information, complete your student profile to find a roommate, pay the $100 non-refundable application fee and sign the Residence Hall and Dining Services License Agreement. You will not select a room at this time. This step is simply to reserve your spot in on-campus housing. Room selection will happen later in the process.

To complete your housing application, go to iwanthousing.uidaho.edu.

Specialized communities

If you are interested in living in one of our many specialized communities, you are encouraged to select your desired community through the housing application beginning Nov. 18, 2025.

Approvals will be determined based on your eligibility for the community.

Specialized community room selection timeslots will be emailed starting Feb. 19, 2026.

• If you are not approved because you are not eligible for the specialized community, you will be eligible for general room selection according to your application date.

Finding roommates

Learn more about finding roommates during the application process below.

Complete the housing application by the Feb. 18, 2026, deadline to receive a priority room selection timeslot. If you apply before Feb. 18, you will receive an assigned room selection timeslot based on the month you completed the application. Room selection timeslots will be emailed to your Vandal student email address.

If you opted into and were approved for a Specialized Community, your room selection timeslot will be emailed to your Vandal student email address. You can log back into your housing application starting Feb. 25, 2026, to select your room assignment, select a meal plan, select a check-in timeslot, review housing assignment information, sign your Residence Hall Agreement and finalize your application.

When you complete your housing application by Feb. 18, 2026, you will be emailed your specific room selection timeslot on March 10, to your Vandal student email address.

Priority application room selection timeslots

• Application completed Nov. 18, to Dec. 18, 2025: Room selection begins March 17.
• Application completed Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 18, 2026: Room selection begins March 18.
• Application completed Jan. 19, to Feb. 18, 2026: Room selection begins March 19.

You may log into the application anytime after your assigned timeslot has started. If you log in before your timeslot, you will only see the homepage.

During your assigned timeslot, you can log into your housing application, view available rooms and select the room you would like to live in. You will only be able to select a room after your assigned timeslot has started. You should log out after you select a room and submit your application.

If you did not complete the application before Feb. 18, 2026, and you have not yet selected a room, you will be able to log into the housing portal to select a room and submit your finalized application March 20, 2026.

If an ADA accommodation is needed, you should contact and complete all necessary documentation with the Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) by May 1. Failure to do so may result in a significant delay in housing being able to provide requested accommodation.

On June 1, the option to self-select a specific room on campus will end. If you miss the June 1 room selection deadline, you will have your room assigned by the Housing and Residence Life Office according to room availability.

If you decide to cancel your housing application or housing assignment, you must do so by July 1. If you cancel your housing application or room assignment after July 1, you will receive a $350 cancelation fee. If you cancel your room assignment after picking up your room key, you will be subject to all fees outlined in the Residence Hall and Dining Services License Agreement and Residence Hall Handbook found at iwanthousing.uidaho.edu.

How to cancel

While we would certainly like you to live with us, we understand that this may not be the best option for you. Complete the cancel application form to cancel your application before university move-in dates. If you have any questions, contact us at 208-885-6571 or housing@uidaho.edu.

New student move-in begins at 8 a.m. Pacific time, Wednesday, Aug. 19. You can select a thirty-minute check-in window through the housing portal. Checking into the room includes picking up a room key, getting directions to the room, picking up a VandalCard, getting a parking permit, etc.

Once you are checked in, you may begin moving your belongings into your new room. The move-in process does not need to be completed during the thirty-minute check-in time.

Starting Jan. 20, 2026, the 2026-27 residence hall housing application will open for current residents, transfer students and any student who is not a first-time freshman. You can update personal information, emergency contacts and complete your profile to find a roommate at this time.

Learn more about coordinating roommates during the application process.

When you complete your housing application by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, Friday, Feb. 20, you will have the first opportunity to select your room as part of the general room selection period.

Individually assigned room selection timeslots will be utilized for the 2026-27 Housing Application process. Following the application deadline, you will be notified of your assigned timeslots through your Vandal email.

Beginning at the start of the assigned timeslots, you can use the Housing Portal to choose an available room for the 2026-27 academic year. You will only be able to view available spaces during or after your individually assigned timeslot. If you log into your housing application before your assigned timeslot, you will be redirected to log out of the Housing Portal and to return during your timeslot.

From Tuesday, March 3, to Thursday, March 5, you can participate in the general room selection process if you completed your housing application before the deadline. General room selection timeslots will be assigned randomly, without consideration of the date of completion of the application.

If you didn't complete an application before the application deadline, you won't be able to select a room until after the general selection period.

The following communities will not be available for selection:

• All first year housing communities
• All spaces designed for ADA accommodations

Starting March 6, if you are a current or transfer student and have completed a 2026-27 Residence Hall Housing Application, you may select your room from any remaining available spaces.

Room self-selection will close June 1, or sooner if all available spaces are filled.

When all available spaces are filled, Housing and Residence Life will open a waitlist and applicants on the waitlist will be assigned a room by Housing and Residence Life if a space becomes available. Housing and Residence Life will accommodate student preference, if possible, but it is not guaranteed.

If you decide to cancel your housing application or housing assignment, you must do so by July 1. If you cancel your housing application or room assignment after July 1, you will receive a $350 cancelation fee. If you cancel your room assignment after picking up your room key will be subject to all fees outlined in the Residence Hall and Dining Services License Agreement and Residence Hall Handbook found at iwanthousing.uidaho.edu.

How to cancel

While we would certainly like you to live with us, we understand that this may not be the best option for you. Complete the cancel application form to cancel your application before move in. If you have any questions, contact us at 208-885-6571 or housing@uidaho.edu.

Transfer student move-in begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 19, and returning student move-in begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 20. You can select a thirty-minute check-in window through the housing portal. Checking into the room includes picking up a room key, getting directions to your room, picking up a VandalCard, getting a parking permit, etc. Once you are checked in, you may begin moving your belongings into your new room. The move-in process does not need to be completed during the thirty-minute check-in time.

During Fall break, all residence halls will remain open for students who wish to remain on campus.

All dining facilities will be closed during the break.

The Residence Halls (with the exception of LLCs and Stevenson) will close during winter break. The cost is $500 to stay on campus during winter break and you will be reassigned to a different room during this time if you choose to stay on campus. All dining facilities will be closed during the break.

If you are living in any of the Living Learning Communities (LLCs) or in Stevenson Wing and are in need of winter housing, fill out a Winter Break Housing Application.

If you plan to return to the residence halls for spring semester, you may leave your belongings in your rooms during winter break. You should plan to take any important items with you (ex: medications, passports, computers, schoolwork, etc.) as you will not be allowed back into the buildings during winter break.

If you are not planning to return to the university or residence halls for the spring semester, you will need to complete the “Request to Break License Agreement” form in the Housing Portal. Cancelling your Licenses Agreement after Dec. 1 will result in a $350 late cancellation fee.

Note: During winter break, Housing and Residence Life staff will conduct Health and Safety checks in student rooms. These inspections help ensure a safe environment by confirming that safety equipment is functioning properly and smoke detectors are not obstructed.

All residence halls remain open during spring break for all who wish to remain on campus.

All dining facilities will be closed during this week.

To apply for summer housing, please use the Summer Housing Form.

Any questions regarding summer student housing, please email conferences@uidaho.edu.

If you are not planning to live in your apartment after the end of your current agreement, please complete and return an Intent to Vacate form. As a reminder, an Intent to Vacate form must be submitted 60 days prior to your check out date to avoid a $100 fee.

If you are continuing as a registered full-time student/employee, you may request to renew your agreement to continue living in the on-campus apartments during this timeframe.

The apartment application will be available to admitted students and full-time U of I employees. The opening of the application will be dependent upon apartment availability.

Interested applicants should follow the steps outlined in the housing application during this time, which allows you to choose your preference for apartment type(s) and size.

When you receive an apartment assignment, you will receive a letter sent to your Vandal email address. You will be required to sign the apartment agreement and submit a deposit of $500 to reserve the apartment.

The apartment term will begin Aug. 1, for new residents. Residents can begin moving into their new apartment based on their scheduled check-in date.

A Roommate Group lets you team up with friends before selecting a room. Creating your group early helps ensure you’re placed together during room selection.

Eligibility by Classification:

• First-year students can only live with other first-years in designated communities.
• Returning/non-first year students can only live with other non-first-years.

Housing Community Preferences:

• You can only group with others who also opted into the same community.
  • Example: If you opted into living in the Pre-Health Professions Community, then you can only form a roommate group with other students who also opted into living in the Pre-Health Professions Community.

Group Rules:

• You can only be in one group.
• Multi-gender roommate groups are not allowed unless all group members have opted into Gender Inclusive Housing and signed the GIH Agreement.
• Max group size: five people (room/suite size may limit this).
• Groups of one will be deleted after 24 hours unless pending requests exist.
• Only the Group Leader can add/confirm members.

Living Learning Communities (LLC)

• Max group size: Two to five people
• Notes: Depends on suite size and layout

McConnell

• Max group size: Not eligible
• Notes: Roommate groups not allowed

North Campus Communities (NCC)

• Max group size: Two people
• Notes: All rooms are double rooms, two people per room

Theophilus Tower

• Max group size: Two people
• Notes: All rooms are double rooms, two people per room

Wallace Residence Center

• Max group size: Four people
• Notes: All rooms are double rooms, two people per room, four people per suite

Use your friend’s Vandal Number to search and invite them. If you don’t have a roommate, use:

• Suggest Roommates
• Search by Profiles

If someone doesn’t appear in search:

• Double-check their Vandal Number.
• Confirm they’ve started their housing application and completed their profile.
• They may be in a different community, group, or classification.
• They may have canceled their housing application.

• Join a Group: Use Roommate Search. Requests must be approved by the Group Leader within five days.
• Leave a Group: Click "Leave Roommate Group" on the Roommates Page. Group Leaders must re-assign leadership before they can leave a group.
• Delete a Group: Group Leaders can delete the group using the "Delete Group" button. Notify members before doing so.

You'll receive a notification whenever there are changes to your group.

During room selection:

• Anyone in the group can assign beds.
• You can only assign beds in rooms/suites eligible for your group.
• All group members must be assigned to a bed.
• Tech glitches may occur — stay in touch with your group to confirm placements.

Contact Housing at housing@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6571.