
Students at Columbia University have a variety of housing options, including on-campus and off-campus residences. The university's main campus is in Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, and Manhattanville, and there is also housing available in Riverdale, the Bronx, a 20-minute shuttle ride from campus. On-campus housing is managed by Columbia Residential, which offers a range of accommodations, including dormitory suite-style housing, shared apartments, and a limited number of studio and one-bedroom units. Students seeking off-campus housing can utilize resources provided by the university, such as the Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office, which maintains an online database of available apartments and rooms for rent in the New York metropolitan area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Housing options | On-campus housing, off-campus housing |
| On-campus housing options | Dormitory suite-style housing, shared apartments, studio units, one-bedroom units, apartment shares |
| On-campus housing locations | Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Riverdale (The Arbor), Columbia, Missouri |
| Off-campus housing support | Columbia's Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office maintains an online database of available apartments and rooms for rent in the greater New York metropolitan area |
| On-campus housing eligibility | Full-time students at the main campus are exempt from the housing requirement if they are married and/or living with a legal dependent, or if they live within 25 miles of the main campus |
| On-campus housing application process | Students can submit a housing application through the Housing Portal and will be notified if they have been approved or placed on the waitlist |
| On-campus housing deposit | A $750 reservation deposit is required within 24 hours of accepting a housing offer |
| On-campus housing policies | Spouses, partners, family members, and friends are prohibited from sharing accommodations with student residents. Pets are also prohibited. |
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Columbia Residential manages 150 apartment buildings
Columbia University students have a variety of housing options, both on and off campus. Columbia Residential manages 150 apartment buildings, with most units located in the neighbourhoods of Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley and Manhattanville, between 103rd Street and 125th Street. Students can choose between dormitory suite-style housing, shared apartments, and a limited number of studio and one-bedroom units, which are prioritised for couples and families. There are also a very limited number of larger units available for students with children.
Students seeking university housing can visit the Columbia Residential website, which offers 24/7 support through a Hospitality Desk, by phone, or email. The Facilities and Operations team assists with maintenance issues in rooms, suites, and residence hall shared spaces. Students can also open a Service Request to report issues with washing machines or dryers.
SPS students can apply for housing through Columbia Residential, which consists of apartment shares, and a smaller number of efficiency units. These are located in the Manhattan Valley neighbourhood and are leased to the university by a third-party landlord. Private dorm rooms are also available at various locations, including Fairholm, New Residence Hall, and Hastings Hall at Union Theological Seminary.
Students in the School of General Studies can also find dormitory rooms and studio apartments at Union Theological Seminary, as well as apartments in three buildings in Manhattan Valley. Lenfest Hall, a luxury high-rise building on West 121st Street, offers furnished studio and one-bedroom units with amenities like 24-hour security, public study rooms, and a bamboo garden.
Columbia University also provides off-campus housing assistance through its OCHA office, which maintains an online database of available apartments and rooms for rent in the greater New York metropolitan area. Students can access this database with their University Network ID (UNI). The university has special rate arrangements with preferred hotels, which can be accessed by specifying that the reservation is for Columbia University.
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On-campus housing requirements
On-campus housing at Columbia University is managed by Columbia Residential, which oversees 150 apartment buildings, most of which are located in the neighbourhoods of Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, and Manhattanville. Students have the option of dormitory suite-style housing, shared apartments, and a limited number of studio and one-bedroom units, which are prioritised for couples and families.
SPS students seeking on-campus housing must complete a housing application and will be notified if they have been approved or placed on a waitlist. If approved, students will go through self-selection rounds to choose their accommodation. A $750 reservation deposit is required to accept a housing offer.
Students in the School of General Studies can also apply for furnished apartment shares and a smaller number of efficiency units, located in the Manhattan Valley neighbourhood. Private dorm rooms are available at various locations, including Fairholm, New Residence Hall, and Hastings Hall at Union Theological Seminary.
Non-traditional, part-time, and graduate students are not required to live on campus but may submit a request to do so, depending on availability. Full-time students at the main campus are exempt from the housing requirement if they are married or living with legal dependents, or if they reside within 25 miles of the main campus in Columbia, Missouri, with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
Students seeking an exception to the on-campus housing requirement must submit an off-campus appeal online or a formal letter to the Director of Residential Life. However, only a few exceptions are made, as on-campus living is considered crucial to students' academic and personal success.
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Off-campus housing
Columbia University students seeking off-campus housing have a variety of options to explore. The university's Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office maintains an online database of available apartments and rooms for rent in the greater New York metropolitan area. To access this database, students need a University Network ID (UNI), which can be activated on the university's website. For those who do not have a UNI, such as newly admitted students, a guest account can be created.
The university also has special rate arrangements with preferred hotels, which can be accessed by specifying that the reservation is for Columbia University. Additionally, students can explore options on websites like Student.com, which offers furnished apartments with all bills included, as well as graduate and summer housing options.
For graduate students seeking university housing, the Columbia Residential website provides resources and support. The Hospitality Desk is available 24/7 for walk-in support, by phone, or email for general questions and concerns. Columbia Residential's website also includes information on creating a housing account and submitting a housing application.
Full-time, in-person Master of Science students are eligible to apply for on-campus housing, which is available on a first-come, first-reserved basis. Housing applications are reviewed and approved on a rolling basis, and students are notified of their approval or waitlist status. Once an offer is made, a reservation deposit is typically required within 24 hours to accept the housing offer.
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Housing application process
Students at Columbia University can either live on-campus or off-campus. The on-campus housing application process is as follows:
- Acceptance of Admission Offer: Before applying for housing, students must first accept the school's offer of admission.
- Activation of Columbia UNI: Students need to activate their Columbia University Network ID (UNI), which is a unique identifier assigned to each university community member. New students can activate their UNI account on the University website.
- Login to the Housing Portal: Using their UNI and University ID number, students can log in to the Housing Portal and create an account. The University ID number, starting with a "C" followed by nine digits, can be found in the acceptance materials or by logging into Student Services Online (SSOL).
- Review Accommodations: Students can explore the available housing options on the Accommodations page, although photos of all units may not be available.
- Submit Housing Application: Once logged in, students can submit their housing application via the Housing Portal. The application deadline varies for each school or program.
- Approval and Housing Selection: After submitting the application, students will be notified of their approval status. Approved students may then participate in housing selection, choosing a room or apartment that suits their needs.
- Acceptance and Reservation Fee: Upon receiving a housing offer, students must pay a non-refundable reservation fee of $750 within 24 hours to secure their offer. This fee is credited towards the first month's rent and is payable by credit or debit card.
- Roommate Requests: Students can request a specific roommate by having them accept a roommate request through the Roommate Request section. If no specific roommate is chosen, roommate matching tools are available to identify potential matches based on personal preference questions.
- Occupancy Agreement: After receiving a room assignment, students will need to log in and sign the Occupancy Agreement to complete the application process. Students under 18 years old by a specified date must have a parent or guardian sign the agreement as well.
It is important to note that Columbia University reserves the right to change student housing assignments prior to the execution of the rental agreement. Additionally, SPS students seeking housing should be prepared for the possibility of being placed on a waitlist.
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Housing facilities and amenities
Columbia Residential manages 150 apartment buildings, with most units located in the Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, and Manhattanville neighbourhoods, between 103rd Street and 125th Street. Student housing consists of dormitory suite-style housing and shared apartments, as well as a limited number of studio and one-bedroom units, which are prioritized for couples and families. A very limited number of larger units are available for students with children.
Students who live in units billed by term, like the International House, will not receive a refund of their pre-payment deposit, as this was applied to their Student Financial Services account shortly after the contract was signed. Columbia's Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office maintains an online database of available apartments and rooms for rent in the greater New York metropolitan area. A University Network ID (UNI) is required to sign up for OCHA.
SPS students seeking housing should complete the housing application and will be notified if they have been approved or placed on the waitlist. Students approved for housing will participate in self-selection rounds to choose a room or apartment that best fits their needs. Once an offer is made, a $750 reservation deposit is required within 24 hours to accept a housing offer, payable by credit or debit card only.
Lenfest Hall is located on West 121st Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive. This luxury, high-rise building contains 181 furnished studio/efficiency units and 28 one-bedroom units. Lenfest's amenities include 24-hour security, public study rooms with WiFi, a bamboo garden, and a card-operated laundry room. Utilities are included. All units are furnished with space-saving furniture that can accommodate a variety of arrangements and functions.
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Frequently asked questions
Columbia Residential manages 150 apartment buildings, with most units located in the Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley and Manhattanville neighbourhoods, between 103rd Street and 125th Street. University housing is also located in Riverdale, the Bronx, 20 minutes from campus by shuttle bus.
Student housing consists of dormitory suite-style housing and shared apartments, as well as a limited number of studio and one-bedroom units, which are prioritised for couples and families. A very limited number of larger units are available for students with children.
Students who have been admitted, paid their deposit, have a PID number, and have activated their UNI will be able to log in to the Housing Portal and submit a housing application. Students will be notified if they have been approved or placed on the waitlist.
Students who wish to live off-campus can submit an off-campus appeal online through the Housing Portal Secure link in MyPortal. However, few exceptions are made as evidence suggests that on-campus living is a significant aspect of student academic and personal success.











































