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. UW-Madison students not currently living in the University Residence Halls will have the option to go on a waiting list later this fall.
Complete Your Notice of Intent
We need to know what your housing plans are for next year. It’s easy and only takes a moment! Starting October 18, log in to My UW Housing to complete your 2024-25 Notice of Intent by October 25 at 11:55 p.m. and indicate:
- Yes — I’m planning on returning to Housing next year, so keep me informed about the returning resident process/deadlines and assign me a random number to determine if and when I’ll have access to select a room.
- No — I’m not returning to University Housing next year, so don’t send me communications about returning. I am not interested in being assigned a random number to determine if and when I’ll have access to select a room.
If you change your mind later, you can update your choice.
Note: if you do not complete your Notice of Intent before October 25 at 11:55 p.m., you may not have another opportunity to participate in the returning resident room selection process. If you indicate “yes” on your Notice of Intent after October 25, it is possible you will be placed on a waiting list and another opportunity to select a space to live on-campus for the 2024-25 Academic Year is not guaranteed. Wait list status is not a guarantee of future on-campus housing. Completing the Notice of Intent does not oblige you to live in the University Residence Halls in 2024-25.
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 affinity communities.
Dining Options
Skip the hassles of cooking and grocery shopping, and enjoy convenient dining in any of our locations.
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.
Better Grades & Faster Graduation
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.
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, cable/streaming TV, Internet, furnishings, water, heat, and electricity are all included and available close to where you live.
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.
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.
Build Your Résumé
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."
Abby Z. • Dejope resident (second year) • Cole/BioHouse resident (first year)
Steps & Dates
Step 1: Notice of Intent & Roommate Selection
Open October 18 – 25, 2023
Starting October 18, all residents are required to log in to My UW Housing and complete their Notice of Intent to let us know their housing plans for next fall. Students who indicate “yes” on their Notice of Intent by October 25 will be assigned a random number to determine if and when they will have access to select a room.
During this time, students can also apply to learning/affinity and language communities, connect with other current housing residents to create roommate groups (1–3 roommates), or they can go it alone! Residents can then look for available spaces in My UW Housing that might be of interest to them.
Step 2: Email Confirmation
By October 30, 2023
Residents who indicate “yes” on their Notice of Intent by October 25 will receive an email to their @wisc.edu email address which will either have a date and time when they’ll be able to select a room in My UW Housing, or a notification that based on their randomly assigned number, we were not able to reach them and they’ll be placed on a waiting list.
Step 3: Room Selection
November 1 — 9, 2023
Starting November 1, students will be allowed to select rooms starting at the time of their room selection time slot. If in a roommate group, a group leader must select and confirm a space that is the appropriate room type for all members of their roommate group.
Step 4: Contract & Advance Payment
Once a resident has selected a room, they must sign their contract and pay an advance payment within 72 hours to secure their space. If in a roommate group, all members of the group must sign a contract and pay their advance payments within 72 hours of the group leader confirming the space. Other members of the group cannot confirm their space until the group leader does.
This step makes the contract a legally binding agreement where residents are responsible for all housing charges for Academic Year 2024-25. University Housing does not allow students to cancel to live off campus.
Note: If a resident does not sign a contract and pay their advance payment within 72 hours of selecting a space, they may not have another opportunity to select a room. Not completing these steps within 72 hours will result in a resident being placed on the waiting list and another opportunity to select a space is not guaranteed. Wait list status is not a guarantee of future on-campus housing.
Have Your Own Bathroom a Block from State Street in Lowell
Lowell Center is a fantastic option for returning residents and current UW students. Close to Memorial Union, Memorial Library, and State Street with beautiful views of Lake Mendota, Lowell offers on-site dining in Lowell Market and a mix of singles, doubles, and triples, each with a private bathroom.
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: $6,800 – $9,700 (rates vary)
- Dining Plan: $4,000 – $5,600 (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?
- UW-Madison students currently living off-campus are not eligible to live in University Housing in 2023-24.
- Roommate requests for returning residents to live with an incoming first-year student will not be available.
- Double room options will be limited in Dejope, Leopold, Ogg, and Smith Residence Halls, and other building and room type options could also be limited due to changes to capacity, programs, or staff.
- 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, check our returning resident frequently asked questions (FAQs) or 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. The Campus Area Housing Office is a good resource to search for available off-campus housing options in the Madison community and find potential roommates.