Frequently Asked Questions

Freshmen may choose to live on or off campus. We do encourage students to reside on campus whenever possible, since living in a residence hall or apartment is a great way to meet people and make new friends. Being on campus puts you closer to all the action, including events, every day. Students who live on campus are also statistically proved to perform better academically, and are more likely to graduate.

First-year OU residents can benefit from one of Oakland’s special interest floors. The floors help you reach academic success by allowing you to live and learn with students who share your interests. By joining a special interest floor, you will enrich your education, increase advising opportunities, build strong connections with faculty members, and experience a strong sense of partnership. Available special interest floors include Business, Health Sciences and Engineering and Computer Science.

OU’s living learning communities are available to all students, and provide dynamic residential spaces where students with similar interests, passions, or academic pursuits come together to live, learn, and grow. It's more than just a place to stay; it's a community where connections are made, ideas are explored, and friendships are formed. Available living learning communities include the Business Honors Program Living Learning Community, Lavender Village, and Ubuntu Village.

Students are required to live in the residence halls to participate in the special interest floors or living learning communities.

You can indicate your roommate choice during the roommate matching process. You will receive details on how to participate in this process prior to being assigned to a room, if you have met the deadline shared below. Both individuals must choose each other to be considered a fully matched pair. When a pair is matched, we will try to accommodate the request. However, due to space limitations, roommate requests cannot be guaranteed. If you don’t have a roommate in mind, we will pick one for you, based on the answers you provide to personal preference questions on your housing contract.

Incoming freshmen must submit their housing contract prior by June 1 in order to participate in roommate matching.

Transfer students and current students must submit their housing contracts by March 1 in order to participate in roommate matching for non-first-year students.

After submitting a completed housing contract, all official communications from University Housing, including your roommate and room assignment, will be sent to your Oakland.edu email account -- so it will be important to check your inbox regularly.

Yes! Single rooms are available to all students, and are located in Vandenberg Hall. The single room floor plan includes one bedroom, one semi-private bathroom and one closet. Single rooms may also be granted as a special accommodation for students with documented physical, psychological or medical needs.

The Honors College office and classrooms are located in Oak View Hall. The building is dedicated entirely to Honors College participants. However, Honors College participants are not required to live in Oak View Hall, and may request assignment to other buildings, if desired.

A variety of living arrangements are available to meet the needs and interests of each student. Options include double rooms and suites; single rooms; co-educational floors; special interest floors; and living learning communities.

Many services are available to residential students for no additional charge, including:

Computer/Internet service

Students living on campus who have their own computers can access the wired and wireless local area network to connect to the university’s computer system, Internet, email, discussion groups and other computer data resources. A computer lab is located in Hamlin Hall for the exclusive use of residents, and public computers are also available in Oak View and Hillcrest Halls.

Laundry service

Each residential facility has laundry rooms for resident use only. Laundry service is included in the cost of the residence halls and apartments; therefore, the machines may be used free of charge.

Meal plans

Students living in the residence halls must select a meal plan, which is included in the total cost of room and board. Each plan gives students the opportunity to eat at any of the dining locations on campus. Students living in the student apartments are not required to have a meal plan, but may purchase a voluntary plan, if desired.

Applicants must be non-first-year students who have a minimum of 16 earned credit hours at the time they submit their housing contract. Transfer and graduate students are also eligible to live in the student apartments.

Each year, University Housing begins accepting housing contracts for incoming freshmen for the following fall on October 1. Transfer and current students may submit a contract for the following fall starting February 1. Admitted students are encouraged to submit a contract as soon as possible, as space is limited and fills quickly. Transfer and current students may submit contracts for the following fall starting February 1.

As the cost of on-campus housing continues to rise across the state, Oakland University remains committed to making the residential experience affordable for students. Factor in the savings you’ll see in transportation and gas, and free amenities such as laundry, parking and wireless internet, and living on campus may be the smartest financial decision for you.

To live in University Housing, complete the housing contract online at oakland.edu/housing/contract.

If you are 17 years old or younger, your parent or guardian will be required to provide an electronic signature in conjunction with your online contract. When you submit your contract, a verification email will be sent to your parent or guardian, prompting them to provide the signature. Your contract will not be considered complete until this signature is received.

The housing contract is a binding contract; therefore, students are encouraged to review the contract in its entirety for cancellation dates and penalties.