Welcome to MSU! We are excited to be your home for the next two years. MSU has a two-year live-on requirement to support your academic success; studies show students who live on campus for two years are more likely to graduate.
Each neighborhood provides you the opportunity to live, dine, study and find your own Spartan community. So, no matter where you live on campus, you have access to resources to help you find success at MSU!
Incoming students will not select their own space directly. Instead, they’ll share their housing and roommate preferences, and the Housing Assignments Office will use that information to match them with a room that best fits their needs.
Please note: We cannot guarantee all preferences will be honored, including bathroom type. While we will do our best, space is limited. We focus on special community preferences and roommate requests, when possible. Review the hierarchy of housing assignments. Due to space limitations we will not be able to accommodate room changes prior to the start of the year.
Preparing for Housing Selection - Due May 5
- The housing application fee, advance payment and housing contract are now open and due May 5. These payments are separate from the Acceptance Fee collected by the Office of Admissions. Learn more about fees.
- Housing Application Fee - A one-time, non-refundable $50 housing application fee must be paid through your My Housing account, unless you qualify for a fee waiver due to having a Student Aid Index below 0.
- Advance Payment - A $175 advance payment is also required upon signing the contract, unless waived due to having a Student Aid Index below 0. This payment is credited toward your fall semester bill, and it is refundable if the contract is canceled before July 15, 2026.
- After paying the fees outlined above, you can access and sign your housing contract.
- If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must also sign the contract. You will have to provide their email address for them to sign.
- Beginning after May 5, students with signed housing contracts will be able to indicate their housing preferences, which include preferred roommates, bathroom style and dining plan selection. Preferences will be due June 12.
- Students who are part of a living-learning community have specific housing and roommate requirements.
- Students who request gender-inclusive housing, substance-free housing or dietary housing will have these housing option requests honored above all others.
- Depending on the size of the incoming class, MSU may need to utilize transitional housing for new students.
- At this point, you may also complete the housing exception form, if applicable. All first-year students must live on campus for their first four semesters, excluding summer semester, with limited exceptions.
HOUSING PREFERENCES - Due June 12
As part of the housing preference process that opens after May 5, you’ll be asked to share:
- Your preferred bathroom style (suite-style or community-style)
- Interest in Special Community Preferences, including substance-free housing, gender-inclusive housing, dietary housing or housing near Kosher dining
- Your dining plan selection
- If an Honors College student, if you'd like to live in Honors housing
If you’re part of an LLC, it’s important to ensure that your chosen roommate also meets the requirements for that community. If you do not request a specific roommate, one will be assigned based on the information provided in the Housing Preference Form. These responses help identify compatible living styles and preferences to support a successful residential experience
Please note: While we do our best to honor your bathroom style preference, it may be impacted by space availability, roommate choices, or LLC guidelines.
To learn more about housing preferences, visit our How to Complete Preferences webpage and process overview video.
LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Students who are in a Residential College or Living-Learning Community (LLC) will be required to adhere to different roommate rules and housing placements. It is the student's responsibility to ensure their chosen roommate meets the LLC guidelines.
Please visit the LLC Guidelines page for full details and information.
ROOMMATES
At MSU, you have several options for finding a roommate. No matter which one you choose, make sure to complete the roommate matching questions in your My Housing account so you can be matched based on your preferences. Learn more.
- Request a Specific Roommate: Enter the name and email of another first-year student you want to live with.
- Search Based on Specific Questions: Use chosen profile answers to find and message potential roommates.
- View Your Best Matches: See top matches based on your responses, then review profiles and connect.
- Random Assignment: Let the system match you with a roommate based on your responses.
