Ohio University defines transfer status as any student that has completed more than 9 semester hours or 12 quarter hours at another regionally accredited institution after graduating from high school. Transfer students must contact the Office of Admissions for consideration to enroll on OHIO’s campus. Once admitted, a transfer student should then complete a ‘Transfer Student Contract’ at Housing Self-Service.
Transfer students under the age of 22 who cannot demonstrate two full years in attendance (fall/spring/fall/spring semesters) at an institution of higher education after high school graduation must reside in Ohio University-owned housing and participate in the associated mandatory meal plan. Two full years in attendance must be demonstrated prior to the semester in which a student enrolls to be eligible to reside off-campus.
Students can also request an exemption to the residency requirement if certain conditions are met, including married, parent with child, veteran with 18 months of active duty, or an approved academic absence (medical withdraw, study abroad, approved internship). Please refer to the housing requirement section of this website for more information about housing requirements and the housing exemption review process. Students must be approved to live off-campus by the exemption committee prior to signing an off-campus lease.
Students demonstrating two full years of attendance or more at an accredited higher education institution after high school graduation can choose to either live in the residence halls or off-campus.
If you have more questions or concerns about housing options, please contact Housing and Residence Life by calling or texting 740.593.4090 or emailing housing@ohio.edu.
Review the information posted here and check your Ohio University email.
The most important thing you can do is to review all the information from Housing and Residence Life. This page contains information designed to outline the process and answer many of the questions you might have. We also recommend that you regularly review the information that is sent to your Ohio University email account. Messages from Housing and Residence Life will come from housing@ohio.edu.
You can also receive updates to keep you on track by following Housing and Residence Life on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Step 1:
To access the online housing and dining contract, click on the Housing Self-Service button located on the housing main page.
Step 2:
Log in using your OHIO email address and password and click on Contracts and Applications from the left column. Select “Transfer Student Contract 2241 (Fall Semester 2023-24)”.
Step 3:
Read and agree to the contract terms and conditions. By accepting the terms and conditions you are agreeing to a contract that is binding for the fall and spring semesters.
Step 4:
Answer the contract questions and select a meal plan.
Step 5:
After accepting the terms and conditions, you will be advised that a $200 housing deposit/prepayment is required and will be given the option to pay through CashNet. If you are not prepared to pay at this time, you can complete the housing contract later and your information will be saved. To pay the deposit later, you must log back into your housing contract and navigate to the last visited screen until you reach the payment page. If you did not pay when completing your contract, finalize your contract by submitting a $200 housing deposit/prepayment. Payments must be received by February 22, 2023 at 4 p.m. to select a room with matched roommates within the Returning Student Room Selection process. To be eligible to select a room with a matched first year roommate, payments must be received by May 1, 2023 by 4 p.m. to select a room within the First Year Room Selection process.
Payments can be made online at the end of the contract completion process. If you are unable to complete your online payment, please contact the Bursar's office at 740.593.4130 or bursar@ohio.edu.
Tips to Prepare to Complete your Housing Contract
Deposit Refund and Contract Cancellation Process
Students who decide not to attend Ohio University may request a refund of their $200 housing deposit up until May 1. All contract cancellations and deposit refunds must be requested in writing, via your OHIO email account to housing@ohio.edu. The request must include your name and PID number and the request must be received by the May 1 deadline.
For those transferring to campus in the spring semester, the deadline to cancel and receive a refund of the deposit is December 1.
As a transfer student, there are a few options available when it comes to housing assignments for the fall semester. Below is information on options you can select from.
OPTION 1: Sign up for the Transfer Residential Learning Community by visiting the First Year and Student Transitions page. Students in this class will be assigned to spaces on the Transfer Residential Learning Community in either Bromley or Adams Halls.
OPTION 2: Transfer students have the option of participating in the Returning Student Room Selection process March 27-31, 2023 if they have completed their contract and submitted the housing deposit by February 22, 2023. In this process transfer students may select as an individual or match with up to three other second year/transfer students as long as all students completed their contract and deposit by the February 22 deadline.
OPTION 3: Transfer students have the option of participating in the First Year Room Selection process on May 22-26, 2023 if they have completed their contract and submitted the housing deposit by May 1, 2023. In this process transfer students may only participate if they are matched with a first-year student and as long as the first-year student the transfer wishes to match with has also completed their contract and deposit by the May 1 deadline. For detailed steps within this process visit the First Year Room Selection page.
OPTION 4: Transfer students who complete their contract/deposit after May 1, or who do not participate in either process, will be placed in available spaces within second year halls. Any roommate requests or assignment requests can be made by sending an email to housing@ohio.edu prior to being assigned. After an assignment is made, all room changes will be made through the Room Change Process (runs until August 1).
Transfer students who will be residing on campus as spring semester transfers will be placed in available spaces within second year halls. Any roommate or assignment requests can be made by sending an email to housing@ohio.edu prior to December 1.
The configuration summary shows quick facts about each hall, including the capacity, any special communities that are housed there, if it has a laundry room, and other interesting facts: Hall Configuration Summary
Transfer students should contact the Ohio University Undergraduate Admissions Office and ask about the transfer process. You can also visit Ohio University transfer website for a checklist and other pertinent information.
Housing and Residence Life offers a variety of room options to select from. Transfer students can request to live with another transfer student, a current Ohio University second year student, or a first-year student if transferring to campus starting in the fall semester.
Transfer students have the option of participating in the Returning Student Room Selection process that takes place March 27-31, 2023 if they have completed their contract and submitted the housing deposit by February 22, 2023. In this process transfer students may match with up to three other second year/transfer students as long as all students completed their contract and deposit by the February 22, 2023 deadline.
Transfer students have the option of participating in the First Year Room Selection process that takes place May 22-26, 2023 if they have completed their contract and submitted the housing deposit by May 1, 2023 and are matched with another first-year student in the process. In this process transfer students may match with up to three other first year/transfer student if all the students have completed their contract and deposit by the May 1 deadline.
Transfer students who do not participate in either process will be placed in second year or upperclass halls. Any roommate requests or assignment requests can be made by sending an email to housing@ohio.edu prior to being assigned. After an assignment is made, all room changes will be made through the Room Change Process.
Students within a matched roommate group will each have a designated date and time to select a room. The student with the earliest date/time should complete the selection. Once this student selects a room, all other matched roommates will be pulled into the room with the student.
Students will only be able to view those rooms available on campus that can accommodate their entire roommate group and rooms corresponding to their genders indicated on their admission application. Additional options can be viewed by sub-grouping during the room selection process or breaking up your matched group.
The Room Change Process enables students to look at other available spaces without having to change their current assignment until they can pick a new room assignment they desire. Once a student selects a new space, their old assignment is then available for any other student looking for new spaces in the Room Change Process . Once a student selects a new room, there is no guarantee that their old room will be available for them to return. Students can change rooms as many times as desired throughout the Room Change Process until August 1.
Immediately after selecting a room, your Fall 2023-24 room selection will be listed on your Housing Self-Service overview and will be sent to your OHIO email account.
Students who inadvertently selected the wrong room can contact Housing and Residence Life to request their selection be canceled (along with any roommates that were pulled in). Students will be entered back into the selection process and must repeat the process of adding/confirming roommates prior to selecting another room. Requesting to be removed and added back into the selection process can take up to 48 business hours and availability of rooms will change once added back in.
Students applying to become a staff member (RA) should complete a housing application, pay the deposit, and select a room. For those students who are selected to become an RA, you will be reassigned into your staff room once you have officially been extended a position.Students applying to become a staff member (RA) should complete a housing contract, pay the deposit, and select a room. For those students who are selected to become an RA, you will be reassigned into your staff room once you have officially been offered and accepted a position.
Students wishing to reside in a recognized fraternity or sorority facility will need to complete a Sorority and Fraternity Life Exemption Request beginning December 1, 2022 to determine eligibility. Students must meet the following requirements to be considered for approval:
The form can be found on your Housing Self-Service after you complete the Second Year Housing Contract. All students who complete this application are removed from future room selection experiences. Once Housing and Residence Life receives notice from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life that you have met all criteria, you will be released from housing and dining charges. Students are usually reviewed and receive approval or denial between May 1 and August 1. Students seeking an exemption to reside in their Greek affiliated facility should not sign a lease until they receive approval of their request via email.
Students who submit a housing contract, pay a deposit, and then decide to reside in recognized Greek housing will receive a refund of the deposit if the request for exemption is made by May 1 and the student did not select (or get pulled into) a room during Room Selection. Exemption requests received after May 1 will not be eligible for a deposit refund.
Students interested in expanded gender inclusive housing options should visit their Housing Self-Service page and update their "My Personal Information" section. This section allows for students to designate interest in gender inclusive housing options. Students with desired roommates should also ensure that their roommates have updated their "My Personal Information". All students who indicate interest in gender inclusive housing will be added to a separate room selection process.
Students interested in the LGBT Experiential Living Opportunity must successfully apply. Applications will open February 1 and can be found at www.ohio.edu/housing/housing/living-opportunities. Applications for consideration are due prior to selection if you are interested in this community. After the initial deadline we recommend you select a room elsewhere during room selection while your application is reviewed. If you do not participate in a room selection and are manually assigned, you will be able to remain in that space until your application is processed. If you are selected for the LGBT Experiential Living Opportunity, Housing and Residence Life will complete a room change for you into a LGBT room at that time.
If you are wanting another student as your roommate, please be sure to indicate this on your LGBT application. Housing and Residence Life will attempt to pair you with your desired roommate if possible. Roommates must complete an application as well.
More information on Gender Inclusive Housing and the supplemental application can be found here.
All resident hall rooms have air conditioning.
Four person rooms (Adams, Bromley, Carr, Luchs, Sowle, and Tanaka) typically will not remain available for selection past the first two days of the selection process.
Mod style facilities consisting of adjacent singles and doubles will be available to accommodate roommate groups with four people.
Students residing in Adams, Bromley, Carr, Luchs, Sowle, and Tanaka are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms. Additionally, privacy locks are located on the inner side of the bathroom doors, but not located on the exterior side of the bathroom door, which allows access from one room to another through the connecting bathroom.
Yes, students can select into any room on campus without being matched with another student as long as there is at least one available space in that room. However, we do recommend that if you are selecting randomly into a double or suite style space, that you look for rooms that already have a student that has selected into the space. Housing and Residence Life will be actively consolidating students into same room type spaces to allow any matched roommate groups to remain together while selecting.
Unfortunately, spaces cannot be held for students who have not yet been admitted to Ohio University.
Please contact Housing at housing@ohio.edu if you have a friend that is transferring in that you would like to room with.
There are many services and programs available on campus to help transfer students make their transition to the Athens campus. Residential students should direct questions or concerns to the Resident Advisor (RA) within their residence hall. RAs can assist with connecting students with campus resources and with other students.
Additionally, Housing and Residence Life has in-hall professional staff members (Resident Directors, Assistant Resident Directors, and Graduate Resident Directors) who work with all residents to establish a positive living environment and develop a strong community.