Housing Options For American University Law Students

does american university have housing for law students

American University in Washington, D.C., offers on-campus housing for students, with a two-year residency requirement for undergraduates starting from Fall 2025. First-year students can expect to reside in traditional residence halls, with most rooms being double rooms, and some triple and suite-style rooms available. Housing is also available for students attending summer courses, which are held at the American University Washington College of Law campus, with accommodation provided on the main campus.

Characteristics Values
Housing for Law Students Available on the main campus
Housing Application Opening Date April 2, 2025, 12:00 PM
Priority Application Deadline May 7, 2025, 11:59 PM
Roommate Matching Start Date May 12, 2025, 12:00 PM
Room Selection Timeslot June 2-June 9, 2025
Housing Requirements First-year and second-year students are required to live on campus
Housing Options Traditional residence halls, suite-style halls, double-as-single buyouts
Amenities Linens, blanket, pillow, pillowcase, small towel
Guest Policy Guests allowed with registration at the community front desk

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Housing application process

The housing application process for American University in Washington, D.C., is outlined below. The university offers on-campus housing for law students, with a two-year residency requirement for incoming students starting in Fall 2025.

Deposits and Applications:

Students must submit their enrollment and housing deposits to the Office of Admissions as early as possible to secure their preferred accommodation. The housing application process begins with submitting a housing deposit, after which students can access the AU Housing Portal to complete their application. The housing application for the 2025-2026 academic year opened on April 2, 2025, at noon, with a priority deadline of May 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Students who apply after this deadline will receive a selection timeslot at the end of the process.

Roommate Matching:

Roommate matching is an important part of the housing process. Students can match with 1-3 roommates through the AU Housing Portal. Most first-year rooms are traditional double rooms, while traditional triples and Centennial Suites are limited. Students can choose to match with someone they know or use roommate profile questions to find potential roommates. Special Housing Communities and All-Gender Housing options are also available, with matching restricted to students with the same status.

Room Selection:

Students will select their rooms in early June 2025. Timeslots for room selection will be assigned between June 2 and June 9, 2025, with the earliest timeslots given to Early Decision students. During room selection, students can use the AU Housing Portal to view floor and room availability, including "Double as Single" options.

Before and After Move-In:

It is important to note that due to high occupancy, there may not be vacancies to accommodate changes after the initial room assignments. Residence Life and Housing staff are available to assist students in building connections with their roommates before move-in, typically in late August. After move-in, a room change freeze is in place for the first three weeks of the semester, after which an open room change process will be implemented, allowing students to request changes within their assigned living community.

Off-Campus Housing:

While on-campus housing is mandatory for the first two years, upperclass students can choose to live off-campus. The university provides an off-campus housing page to support students in finding alternative accommodations. Additionally, for summer courses, housing is available on the main campus, and there are nearby hotel options with university rates for shorter stays.

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Roommate matching

American University in Washington, D.C., offers housing for first-year students. The majority of available first-year rooms are traditional double rooms, with some triple and suite-style rooms available.

The university offers a roommate-matching service through the AU Housing Portal. Students can complete their Roommate Matching Questions as part of the housing application process, which opens in April for the upcoming academic year.

Students are encouraged to interact with their roommates over the phone, video call, or in person to get to know each other and find common interests. Resident Assistants (RAs) can also help in this process and support students in navigating building connections with their assigned roommates.

It is important to note that due to high occupancy on campus, there may not be vacancies to change rooms or roommates after the initial assignment. A room change freeze is active for the first three weeks of the semester, and while an open room change process is available after this period, room changes may not always be possible due to high occupancy.

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Housing options

On-Campus Housing

American University has a two-year residency requirement for students starting with the incoming fall 2025 class. First-year students can expect to reside in a traditional residence hall, with most rooms being traditional double rooms. There are also a limited number of traditional triple rooms (3 students) and Centennial Suites (4 students). Housing & Residence Life (HRL) supports and encourages the development of residential environments that complement the university's goals of promoting civility and responsible student behaviour.

Off-Campus Housing

For students who wish to live off-campus, there are various accommodation options available, including hotels, dormitories, and private rooms. American University offers off-campus housing support through its off-campus housing page.

Summer Housing

For students needing to stay on campus during the summer, there is a separate application process with specific rates and details. The summer course is held at the American University Washington College of Law, but housing is available on the university's main campus, which is located less than a mile away from the Tenleytown-AU metro stop. Housekeeping is not available during the summer, and only linens, a blanket, pillow, pillowcase, and a small towel are provided. The nightly rate, including taxes, is $103/night, with a $50 USD administrative fee added to all reservations.

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Costs and amenities

American University in Washington, D.C., offers on-campus housing to students, including law students, with a two-year residency requirement for undergraduates. The university provides various housing options, such as traditional residence halls and suite-style halls.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, American University will implement a two-year residency requirement for first-year students, defined as those directly admitted to an undergraduate degree program without prior postsecondary experience. The university offers traditional double rooms, traditional triples, and Centennial Suites for four students. The majority of first-year rooms are traditional double rooms, while triples and suites are limited.

The nightly rate for on-campus housing, including taxes, is $103 per night, with a $50 administrative fee for all reservations. Additionally, there is a priority application deadline fee of $119.99. The university provides linens, a blanket, a pillow, a pillowcase, and a small towel. Students who prefer larger towels are advised to bring their own. The temperature set point is 76 degrees, but the room temperature may not necessarily be cooled to this level.

Off-campus housing options are also available, with rates varying depending on the choice of accommodation. Basic accommodations typically start at $1,763 per month and are often dormitory-style with multiple beds in a shared space. These options are usually located further from campus, requiring additional transportation expenses and time considerations. However, some off-campus accommodations may offer common spaces, kitchens, meals, and internet access, providing a more inclusive experience.

For those seeking a more luxurious experience, hotels in the area offer special university rates, with prices ranging from $139 per night at the American Inn of Bethesda to $258 per night at the Embassy Suites by Hilton. These luxury accommodations often include amenities such as guestrooms with cable TV, air conditioning, robes, and maid service. They also feature fitness facilities, pools, and on-site dining services, ensuring a comfortable and convenient stay.

The university also offers themed communities, such as the Roper Hall community, which celebrates the diversity of Black and African American students and culture. These communities foster inclusive and supportive environments, promoting social, personal, and academic success among residents.

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Policies and procedures

American University has a strong commitment to student development and promoting civility, with the expectation that students will act responsibly. Housing & Residence Life (HRL) supports and encourages the development of residential environments that complement these goals.

First-Year Students

For the 2025-2026 academic year, first-year students can expect to reside in traditional residence halls, with most rooms being traditional double rooms. There are also limited spaces in traditional triples and Centennial Suites, which house four students. Students can apply for housing through the AU Housing Portal, where they can complete their Roommate Matching Questions and review the Housing License Agreement (HLA). The priority deadline for applications is May 7, 2025, and roommate matching begins on May 12, 2025. Students will select their rooms in early June, with timeslots assigned based on their decision status.

Upperclass Students

Starting with the incoming fall 2025 class, students will be required to live on campus for their first two years. After fulfilling this requirement, upperclass students are not mandated to live on campus but can apply for on-campus housing.

Guest Policy

Residents are permitted to have guests in their assigned residence halls. All guests must be registered at the community front desk of the resident's building.

Meal Plans

All first- and second-year resident students are required to enroll in a meal plan.

Room Changes

Due to high occupancy on campus, there may not be vacancies to accommodate room change requests. An open room change process will be emailed to students, allowing them to request changes within their assigned living community. However, some communities will remain at high occupancy, and room changes may not always be possible.

Summer Housing

Students who need to stay on campus during the summer can refer to the Summer Housing 2025 application process, rates, and other relevant details on the Housing & Residence Life website.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, American University offers housing for law students on its main campus. The university also has a Washington College of Law on a separate campus, located less than a mile away from the main campus.

To secure your preferred housing, submit your enrollment and housing deposits to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible. The housing application will open at noon on April 2, 2025, for students who have already submitted their housing deposit.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, most first-year students will reside in traditional residence halls. The available rooms include traditional double rooms, traditional triples, and Centennial Suites (for four students).

You will be assigned a timeslot to select your room between June 2 and June 9, 2025. The earliest timeslots are given to Early Decision students, followed by regular decision students.

Yes, American University offers themed communities to celebrate the diversity of its students. For example, Roper Hall is a themed community that fosters a warm and vibrant community supporting Black and African American students and culture.

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