Returning Residents
Unfortunately, we have reached our capacity for returner contracts for the 2026-27 academic year. If you have not already secured other housing for next year, you will need to pursue off-campus options, since our returning resident process has ended. There are resources available to help students find off-campus housing, including Off-Campus Housing Services.
Each year, many students choose to #LiveWithBucky and return to live on campus for their second year of college and beyond so they have more time for the things that matter to them, like studying, friends, and fun. As you research your living options for next year, consider all the ways living on-campus sets you up for success.
Note: on-campus housing is not guaranteed for non-first-year students, depending on demand and available space in our residence halls. If you do not indicate “yes” on your Notice of Intent before October 27, you may not have another opportunity to participate in the returning resident room selection process. If you miss the October 27 deadline, you can add yourself to a waiting list by logging in to My UW Housing. Wait list status is not a guarantee of future on-campus housing.
Why Live On Campus?
When you #LiveWithBucky, you’ll get another year of an environment built for and invested in your success, unlike an off-campus apartment.
Choose Your Space
Returning residents get to select their own space before new students. If available at your room selection time, you can choose to live in the same room, a newer hall, a single, double, or triple, or in one of our popular learning or theme communities.
Academic Resources
Statistics prove students who live on-campus earn better grades and graduate sooner than those who live off-campus. It’s easy to see why: we offer academic resources like advising, tutoring, classes, and quiet study spaces in residence halls.
Maintenance & Cleaning
Our Facilities staff handle maintenance and repair requests quickly and efficiently. Plus, we diligently clean all common spaces including bathrooms, hallways, lounges, and more.
Dining Options
Skip the hassles of cooking and grocery shopping, and enjoy convenient dining in any of our locations.
Live with Friends
Create your own fun and familiar Wisconsin Experience with a roommate group and live with up to two friends in a room.
Location & Events
Live near classes, work, and dining with quick and easy access to workout facilities, health services, libraries, and more. Plus, every year our staff plan events for students to relax, unwind, and meet new friends at.
Services & Amenities
Laundry, 24/7 staff support, media centers, Internet, furnishings, water, heat, and electricity are all included and available close to where you live.
Flexibility
Friends change, especially during your first year, and your choice of roommate or room might change, too. Unlike an off-campus lease, we can help you switch if needed. Considering studying abroad? No need to find a subletter or try to get out of a lease. Students studying abroad can cancel the spring semester part of their contract so departure is simpler.
Leadership & Job Opportunities
Make a lasting impact on campus and jumpstart your future by taking advantage of leadership and job opportunities. Be a House Fellow, Badger Buddy, student supervisor, intern, or peer mentor and live where you work while improving your skills.
“I liked the resources that Housing provides, such as dining, facilities, and tutoring help. I think there’s an advantage to another year in Housing because having a sense of security and most things figured out for you is beneficial.”
What’ll It Cost?
Our room and dining plan rates are some of the lowest in the Big Ten. We take pride in minimizing our costs while providing an exceptional experience for all residents. The projected rates listed below are per resident, per academic year and include utilities (heating/cooling, electricity, and water), furnishings, Internet, digital or cable TV, maintenance/repairs, cleaning of bathrooms and common spaces, and 24/7 full-time staff support.
- Residence Hall Room: $7,300 – $11,000 (rates vary)
- Dining Plan: $4,200 – $6,000 (required for all residents)
- Students select from one of three dining plan options based on their eating habits and how much they plan to dine on campus. Meals and Dining Dollars are loaded onto their Wiscard for food purchases.
- All Housing dining markets offer all-you-care-to-eat service.
Note: total costs of room and board can be calculated by:
- [Room Rate] + [Dining Plan Rate] = Total Room & Board Costs
What’s New Next Year?
- Kronshage Residence Hall renovations will begin in fall 2026, starting with Showerman and Conover Houses which will be offline for 2026-27.
- Humphrey and Jorns Residence Halls will be added as two additional houses/buildings within Kronshage Residence Hall.
- Lowell Market will be closed for the 2026-27 academic year and will not function as a dining market in the future.
- The BioHouse Learning Community will move from Cole to Leopold for the 2026-27 academic year.
- Double room options will be limited in Dejope, Leopold, Ogg, and Smith Residence Halls. If you are currently in a double room, it may not be a double room next year. Other building and room type options could also be limited due to changes to capacity, programs, or staff.
- UW-Madison students currently living off-campus are not eligible to live in University Housing in 2026-27.
- Roommate requests for returning residents to live with an incoming first-year student will not be available.
- After students have selected a room and signed a contract, room change requests will not be available until the returning resident room selection process ends.
Still Deciding?
If you have questions, fill out our contact us form and we’ll get back to you with an answer as soon as we can. While the residence halls are a great option, many students choose to live in off-campus housing after their first year at UW-Madison. If you have questions about moving off-campus, contact Housing’s Off-Campus Housing Services at off-campus@housing.wisc.edu. The Off-Campus Housing Marketplace is also a good resource to search for available off-campus housing options in the Madison community and find potential roommates.