New & Prospective Students

The Housing Experience

At UC Santa Cruz, all students are housed in small-scale residential communities, which provide close-knit living environments within the larger university. Live-in student and professional staff members provide orientation, support services, safety and crisis response, and a variety of social, educational, and cultural programs for residents.

First year students are generally assigned to live in their college’s residence halls. Residence halls have common bathrooms and a combination of shared and private bedrooms. Our college also has apartments that are an option in subsequent years.

Common Housing Questions

When will I receive my housing assignment?

Your housing assignment will be sent to your UCSC e-mail account by mid-August (or mid-December for new winter students). The e-mail will include your hall name, room type, and roommate information. Move-In information will also accompany your housing assignment.

What's included in the room?

Every room comes furnished with an extra-long twin bed (80"x36"), desk, chair, closet/dresser or warbdrobe unit, and a bookcase or bookshelves. For more information on what's included, be sure to check out What to Bring and What Not to Bring to College.

How long is the contract?

The housing contract is valid for the entire academic year. Once your application is confirmed by the University, your application becomes a legally binding contract.

When will I get my bill?

Each student has a University billing account with UC Santa Cruz. Invoices will be posted on your Student Portal each month that there is activity. The first housing bill for fall quarter is generated in late August. For new winter admits the bill is generated in December.

How do I get my mail, and what will my address be?

You will be able to receive mail and packages at your college's mail room. You will receive your mailbox number after you arrive on campus to move into your room. Due to limited space, it is not possible to have mail sent to the University prior to your arrival. Packages and mail sent to the University prior to new student move-in will be returned to sender, so be sure to have it arrive after you do.

Can I make changes to my application after submitting it?

Students wishing to update their housing application/preferences after submitting their application should contact the Housing Coordinator at crownmerrillhousing@ucsc.edu.

For more Frequently Asked Questions related to housing, be sure to check out UCSC's Housing FAQ.

Important Reminders

Items to keep in mind:

• All future emails will be sent to your UCSC email address. If you need help logging into your new email, see How to Access UCSC Google Email.

• For information for students living at Merrill College, please take the time to review the Frequently Asked Questions.

• If you have any disabilities or need for special accommodation, please visit the Disability Resource Center website at drc.ucsc.edu and file a Housing Accommodation Form.

• If you have questions about living on campus that are not on the FAQ, please email the Merrill/Crown Housing Office, or visit housing.ucsc.edu.