Housing and Dining

Approximately two-thirds of undergraduate students at Northwestern live in University residences, with the remaining third commuting from home or living off-campus. As an incoming freshman, you are guaranteed on-campus housing if you requested it on your admission application.

Our 31 residences house from as few as 27 students to more than 600. Most rooms are double, but some residences also have single, triple, and quadruple rooms and suites. The Undergraduate Housing website describes housing options in further detail.

In addition to learning about your residence options, check out a typical dorm room and meal plan options.

Houses

Smaller living units, called houses, accommodate from 27 to 50 students. Each house is different in style, size, room arrangement, and character. You may select a co-ed house or one where all members are the same gender. Houses do not offer dining facilities; residents use the food service of a nearby, larger hall.

Halls

The residences on campus, called halls, accommodate more students than the houses, as many as 600. These large residences frequently have the resources to provide a wider range of planned activities and allow students to interact with a more diverse group of students. Co-ed housing is available in all halls. The co-ed arrangement varies from hall to hall, but in reach, a reasonable degree of privacy is provided -- men and women live on separate floors or in separate sections.

Residential Colleges

In the early 1970s, the first residential colleges were established at Northwestern. Their purpose was to bring faculty and students together outside the classroom where they could explore common ideas and interests. There are now 11 residential colleges organized around various themes, including business, engineering, community service, and the arts. The undergraduate residents, with the faculty masters and associate masters, plan activities and special programs related to the residence's theme.

Fraternities and Sororities

In addition to being philanthropic and social organizations, most fraternities and sororities offer housing. Rates for room and board are similar to University housing charges. Fraternities and sororities operate small (25-65 person) houses that are managed by students.

Opportunities to join Greek organizations are available all year, but are concentrated in a rush period held in winter quarter. Housing arrangements are made with the organizations, not through the University.