Baylor University: A Home Away From Home?

can students live on baylor university

At Baylor University, first-year students are required to live on campus for their first two semesters unless they meet exemption requirements. Students have the option to select their roommate groups and rooms, with roommate matching available for those who don't have a preferred roommate. On-campus housing options include traditional residence halls, living-learning centres, residential colleges, and apartment-style upper-division communities. Students who are unable to secure on-campus housing or prefer off-campus living can explore rental properties with the assistance of Baylor's off-campus housing resources.

Characteristics Values
First-year students requirement to live on campus Yes, unless they meet exemption requirements
Exemption requirements Graduated from a McLennan County high school and choose to reside with a parent/legal guardian in McLennan County; 21 years old before the first day of class; married; or have dependents
Roommate Matching Available to help students find compatible roommates
Choose Your Own Room Available for students to select a specific room within a residence hall
Housing options Traditional residence halls, living-learning centers, residential colleges, apartment-style upper-division communities
Tours of residence halls Available Monday-Friday at 10:30 and 3:30
Housing application deadline for roommate matching May 1
Re-application process for the following year Opens on November 6
On-campus housing for graduate students Limited availability
Off-campus housing Requires a guarantor for most rentals; affordable options close to campus fill up quickly

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First-year students are required to live on campus

At Baylor University, first-year students are required to live on campus for their first two semesters. There are three community options available to first-year students: First-Year Communities, Living-Learning Centres, and Residential Colleges.

First-Year Communities offer a traditional residence hall experience. Students can select a Double Room/Suite with a Shared Bath or an Apartment Double Gold, where multiple students can be suitemates.

Living-Learning Centres are residence halls organized around an academic program or department. Students in these centres are gathered with others who share similar passions, interests, or majors, including service, education, business, fine arts, and more.

Residential Colleges are faculty-led and sponsored learning communities with a unique community and events, focused on academic development and growth. A two-year commitment is required for this option.

Students who wish to live on campus must complete their Housing Application by May 1 to access Roommate Matching and select their preferred roommates. Baylor CLL offers a Roommate Matching program to help students find compatible roommates. Students can also choose their own rooms within a residence hall.

For those who no longer plan to attend Baylor, it is important to cancel the admission and housing application through goBAYLOR.

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Roommate matching and choosing rooms

At Baylor University, students can use the Roommate Matching system to find compatible roommates. This system is available to students who complete their Housing Application before May 1. Students can search for potential roommates based on preferences such as lifestyle and living habits. Additionally, students can participate in social media groups or attend events organised by the University to meet potential roommates.

For those who do not wish to use the Roommate Matching system, they can select any available room or bed space in their chosen community. They can learn about other students who choose a particular room by clicking on their profile. It is important to note that roommate matching and room selection processes are separate. Once a roommate is confirmed, the student with the earliest timeslot should choose the room for the group.

Baylor University offers a range of living options, including traditional residence halls, living-learning centres, residential colleges, and apartment-style upper-division communities. Students can select roommate groups and specific rooms within these residence halls during the reapplication and assignment process, which typically begins in November.

To aid in the decision-making process, Baylor offers daily tours of its residence halls, where two halls are toured, including a double room in North Russell and an apartment in Heritage House. These tours provide an opportunity to visualise the different living options and make an informed choice during the re-application process.

It is recommended that students who wish to live together select the same preferences to increase their chances of finding a community with available spaces. Additionally, students should be aware of the Community Waitlist process, which allows for community changes due to roommate requests if needed.

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On-campus housing options

At Baylor University, all first-year students are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the exemption requirements. These exemptions include: graduating from a McLennan County high school and choosing to live with a parent/legal guardian in McLennan County, being 21 years old before the first day of class, being married, or having dependents.

The university offers a wide array of on-campus living options, including traditional residence halls, living-learning centers, residential colleges, and apartment-style upper-division communities.

First-year students can expect traditional residence hall experiences, while Living-Learning Centers offer residence halls organized around an academic program or department. Students in these centers are gathered with others who share similar passions, interests, or majors, including service, education, business, fine arts, and more. Residential colleges are faculty-led and sponsored learning communities with a unique focus on academic development and growth, requiring a two-year commitment.

Students can apply for housing through the MyHousing Portal, which is their hub for managing on-campus housing. The Roommate Matching program helps students find compatible roommates, and the Choose Your Own Room process allows students to select a specific room within a residence hall. Students who wish to live together must complete their Housing Application before May 1 to access Roommate Matching and select each other as roommates.

Tours of residence halls are available Monday through Friday at 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM, with no RSVP required. Students can also schedule a housing tour through Campus Visits during the academic year, which includes a look at two residence halls and a model room in many residence halls during Orientation.

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Off-campus housing options

At Baylor University, all first-year students are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the exemption requirements. To qualify for a residency exemption, the student must:

  • Have graduated from a McLennan County high school and choose to reside with a parent/legal guardian whose primary residence is in McLennan County
  • Be 21 years of age before the first day of class
  • Be married
  • Have dependents

All other students have options for both on and off-campus living depending on availability and academic level. Due to the high volume of students at Baylor and the tight housing market, finding affordable housing close to campus can be challenging. It is recommended that students start looking for off-campus housing as early as possible. Most affordable housing close to campus is filled several months before the beginning of the term.

Baylor University provides a website to assist students with this process, but the university is not responsible for any issues or problems that arise at these locations. Students may also visit Off-Campus Life via the web or in person and view potential options for their personal consideration. Additionally, Rent College Pads helps college students at Baylor find off-campus housing. There are over 90 apartments and houses available to rent near the university in Waco. Students can also seek rental property assistance from Rachel Jenkins at Brother's Management, who has offered to assist international students needing off-campus housing.

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Exemptions to the requirement to live on campus

At Baylor University, all first-year students are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the exemption requirements. To qualify for a residency exemption, the student must meet one of the following criteria:

  • The student graduated from a McLennan County high school and chooses to reside with a parent or legal guardian whose primary residence is in McLennan County.
  • The student is 21 years of age or older before the first day of class.
  • The student is married.
  • The student has dependents.

To be exempted from the on-campus housing requirement, students must submit the Application for Residency Exemption to the Campus Living & Learning office. This form should be submitted before July 12th to be approved for the upcoming academic year. Students can find directions on how to apply for housing at Baylor within the Housing Application on the goBAYLOR website or by using the My Housing tab in the main menu. To log in to the housing application, students must have already paid their Enrollment Deposit to Baylor.

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