Housing Portal
Fall/Spring 2025-2026 Room Selection Process
Continuing students:
fall/spring 2025-2026 Room Selection timeline
Room Selection for returning residential students will be split up into eligibility categories with each day of the week corresponding to a certain group having the ability to select their space. Below you will find the break down and some general instructions for each day of room selection.
We are currently holding 450 bed spaces for our returning residents, once these spaces fill any other returning residents who did not select a space during room selection will be added to a Housing Waitlist for the 2025-26 term. More information regarding waitlists will be sent to your USF email account. It is important to note that room selection will end on February 28th OR when all 450 bed spaces have been filled.
Fall/Spring 2025-2026 Application Launches
December 10
The Fall/Spring 2025-2026 housing application opens in the Housing Portal on December 10 at 10 a.m.
Roommate Groups Open
Dec. 10 - Feb. 20
Continuing students who apply before room selection are interested in forming a roommate group will have from until February 20th to form roommate groups in the Housing Portal in preparation for the room selection process.
Continuing Student Room Selection Begins
Feb. 24 - Feb. 28
Continuing student room selection will begin on Monday, February 24 in the Osprey Suites Multipurpose room. Students will need to adhere to the following schedule in order to participate in Room Selection.
Same Room Selection (Full Occupancy)
February 24
Eligibility:
- All students in the apartment/suite must want to return to the same exact apartment/suite for the Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 school year.
- Students wishing to retain their same room must ensure all beds in the suite/apartment are filled by returning occupants either via a roommate group or in person with HRE staff.
- Selecting with the same roommates AND same room from the previous term.
Details:
- All group members must have completed their housing applications prior to selection.
- If you are utilizing a roommate group only one member of the roommate group needs to attend the selection process in person to secure the space for the entire group. If you are not using a roommate group one member will need to bring the U#s of each of their roommates OR each roommate needs to be present.
New Roommate Group Selection (Full Occupancy)
February 25
Eligibility:
- Students who wish to form a roommate group with other existing residents and can fill an available suite/apartment.
- Roommate groups must be set up in your housing portal before selection. Only one member of the roommate group needs to attend the selection process in person to secure the space for the entire group.
- The roommate group size must be able to fill a suite/apartment in order to participate.
Details:
- Each group member must accept the roommate request in the portal before selection day.
Open Selection for All Returning Residents
Feb. 26 - Feb. 28
Eligibility:
- Any remaining students, including those selecting spaces individually or in incomplete roommate groups.
Details:
- Students will be able to choose from any remaining available spaces during this period.
Participation Requirements:
- Must complete the 2025-2026 Housing Application and Agreement in the Housing Portal. We recommend you do so by February 20 to allow yourself time to ask application questions prior to your selection.
- Bring your USF Issued ID card.
Please note: On-campus housing is limited. A standby list does not mean USF Housing is out of beds. Students on the standby list may be offered a room as spaces become available.
new students (transfer & ftic) -
fall/spring 2025-2026 Application timeline
Applications to live on campus for the Fall/Spring 2025-2026 semester will open on Tuesday, December 10, and will be available to new USF students in the Housing Portal once they are admitted to the university.
To be eligible to participate in room selection, new students must complete the Steps to Living on Campus, including registering for orientation, which will open on Monday, February 24. You will not be able to participate in room selection until all Steps to Living on Campus are complete.
To ensure new & transfer students have an equal opportunity to secure on-campus housing, USF Housing and Residential Education has implemented a priority application deadline of April 7 for new & transfer students. New students who apply before April 7 may receive a randomized room selection timeslot that is based on the month they applied. To participate in room selection, new students must complete their application and form a roommate group (if applicable) before the April 7 deadline. New students who are interested in forming roommate groups will be able to begin creating roommate groups in the Housing Portal beginning on January 29 in preparation for room selection.
Between April 8 - 11, randomized room selection time slots will be sent out to all new & transfer students who applied before the priority deadline of April 7. Room selection will begin for new & transfer students on April 15.
Fall/Spring 2025-26 Application Launches
December 10
The Fall/Spring 2025-2026 housing application opens on December 10 at 10 a.m. New & transfer students will be able to apply for housing in the Housing Portal once they are admitted to the university.
Roommate Groups Open
December 10
New students who are interested in forming a roommate group will be able to do so beginning on December 10 in the Housing Portal in preparation for the room selection process.
Orientation Registration Begins
February 24
Registration for USF First Year & Transfer Orientation will open on February 24. New & transfer students must register for orientation in order to be eligible to participate in room selection.
Priority Deadline to Apply
April 7
In order to participate in room selection, new & transfer students must complete a housing application and register for orientation by Monday, April 7 at 11:59 p.m. If applicable, roommate groups must also be formed by April 7 in order to participate in room selection together.
While the priority deadline of April 7 is not a guarantee of housing or a room selection timeslot, new & transfer students who apply after April 7 will not be eligible to participate in the first round of room selection and likely will be redirected to join the standby list.
Room Selection Time Slots Emailed Out
April 8 -11
Randomized room selection times will be emailed to students by 3 p.m. on Friday, April 11. New Student Room Selection Timeslots will be scheduled between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. during room selection to allow first-year students the opportunity to select a bed after their school day wraps up. Selection times will be assigned randomly in clusters based upon the month in which the student submitted their application.
New Student Room Selection Begins
April 15
Randomized room selection times will be emailed to students by 3 p.m. on Friday, April 11. New Student Room Selection Timeslots will be scheduled between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. during room selection to allow first-year students the opportunity to select a bed after their school day wraps up. Selection times will be assigned randomly in clusters based upon the month in which the student submitted their application.
April 15-18 - New Student Room Selection
Students can log into the Housing Portal during their selection time to choose a room. All students who receive a room selection timeslot will go through room selection either as an individual or as a roommate group if a roommate group was formed before the April 7 deadline. First-year students will be able to choose from both suite-style and traditional-style options. Apartments are not available to first-year students and it is likely singles will be full.
Given the high demand and limited inventory, we anticipate there will be new students who applied before April 7 who may not be able to select a room during the initial round of room selection. Students who did not receive a room selection timeslot will be placed on the Standby List before students who applied after April 7or those who were eligible and did not select a room. Students on the Standby List will be eligible to select a space as beds become available during the Spring and Summer.
e.Standby List Launches
April 29
Students who did not select a room during their timeslot, did not receive a room selection timeslot, or applied after the April 7 priority deadline will be added to the standby list. More information about the standby list process will be shared at the conclusion of the room selection process. In short, as rooms become available over the course of the spring and summer, students will be contacted in groups matching the available number of beds to select rooms from the newly available inventory. This process will repeat on a weekly basis.
New Student Room Selection Q&A
How long do I have to select a space?
Students will be able to login to the Housing Portal and select a room at the start of their room selection timeslot until room selection closes on Friday, April 18, at noon or spaces are no longer available to select.
Can I pull in my roommate group during Room Selection?
Yes, if you have formed a roommate group prior to the April 7 priority deadline, you will be able to select a room for both you and your roommate(s) during your Room Selection timeslot.
What room types will be available to me?
First-year students will be able to choose from both suite-style and traditional-style options. Apartments are not available to first-year students. We encourage you to explore our hall options before your room selection timeslot, and have a list of multiple options of where you would like to live in case your first option is not available.
What happens if I don’t pick a bed during my Room Selection timeslot?
Due to the high demand to live on campus, we anticipate that all available beds for new students will be selected by the conclusion of our room selection process. If living on campus is a priority for you, we encourage you to select a bed during your room selection timeslot. Please be aware that you will be held to your housing Agreement and cancellation fees will apply beginning 48 hours after you select your space.
Our standby list will launch on April 29 or after room selection concludes. Please note that joining the standby list will not put you on a waiting list for a specific room type, but will put you in line to select from beds that become available during the spring and summer.
What happens if I pick a bed but have since changed my mind or secured off-campus housing?
If you decide you no longer want to live on campus, you will need to fill out a cancellation request in our Housing Portal. Please note that if the cancellation is approved, cancellation fees will apply after 48 hours of selecting a bed during room selection or being assigned a bed off of our standby list. Approved cancellations must meet certain criteria and securing an off-campus lease is not an approved reason for cancellation.
How does the standby list work?
The standby list will launch for new students on April 29 or when all available beds have been selected. More information about the standby list process will be shared at the conclusion of the room selection process. However, initiating a standby list does not mean USF Housing is out of beds. Housing & Residential Education will reach out to students on the standby list and offer the opportunity to select space on campus as they become available. It is common for spaces to gradually become available as cancellations are processed.