If you’re not planning to stay on campus during winter break, please plan to leave your residence hall by 8 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025.
The residence halls will reopen for the spring semester on Saturday, January 10, 2026, and service centers will return to full operations on Sunday, January 11.
You don’t need to fully move out, your belongings can stay in your room over break. Just be sure to take anything you’ll need while you're away, like medications, chargers, important documents, etc.!
Winter Break Late Stay & Early Arrival Requests
Some students may not want to live on campus for the entire winter break but may need to stay a day or two late or arrive a day or two early. If this describes your situation, log into your My Housing account and select a late stay or early arrival. Costs are as follows:
- Staying until Saturday, December 13 – No additional fee
- Staying until Sunday, December 14 – A one-night charge will be applied to your student account.
- Arriving Friday, January 9 – There will be a one-night charge to your student account
Winter Break Housing and Dining
Winter Break housing will be available from Saturday, December 13, 2025, through Friday, January 9, 2026. Whether you're staying the whole time or just part of the break, the cost is a flat rate of $400, which includes both housing and dining.
Your dining plan includes up to 41 meal accesses at a variety of dining locations across campus, such as Brody Square, 1855 Starbucks, Sparty’s Market at 1855 Place, and Sparty’s in Owen Hall. Updated dining hours will be posted at eatatstate.com as break approaches.
To Apply for Winter Break Housing: log in to your My Housing account and select Winter Break Housing.
FALL 2025 VACATE REQUEST
If you will be graduating in fall 2025 participating in a study abroad program, have an internship, are transferring to another university, or are not returning to MSU for the spring semester, please notify the Housing Assignments Office. To do so, log in to your My Housing account and click “Apply for a Fall Move-Out” under My Links
You will be asked to provide supporting documentation for an internship or study abroad program. You will also need to dis-enroll from all spring classes. As a reminder, students are required to live in the residence hall for both fall and spring semesters, per the housing contract, unless your request to vacate is approved.
Students with an approved vacate request for the spring semester must check out of the residence halls by 8 p.m. on Friday, December 12, at their Service Center.
If you are planning to depart from MSU temporarily, you are planning to transfer to a new institution, or you do not plan to return to MSU, please complete the university’s departure survey: https://undergrad.msu.edu/strategy-retention/departure-survey.
Preparing Your Space for Winter Break
If you are leaving campus for winter break, we ask prior to vacating your living space for winter break, please:
- Take out all garbage and recycling to appropriate containers; discard of or take perishable foods with you.
- Don’t forget your IDs, medications and other everyday necessities.
- Lower blinds, and close and lock windows. First-floor residents, please put bar in window.
- Unplug nonessential electronics (do not unplug your fridge unless you clean it out).
- Clean your room/bathroom/living space.
- Pick up any packages from the Service Center or package locker.
- Leave your heat on — do not turn it off.
- Lock your door.
Pack Up. Pitch In.
Clothing/shoes, books, household goods, electronics, furniture and non-perishable food items are accepted. Donation bins are located in residence hall lobbies. Collections support the MSU Student Food Bank and MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center, which provides a closed-loop system to best support MSU students and community members.
