Housing Frequently Asked Questions

In traditional years, approximately 2,800 residents will live on campus with University Housing Services. There are approximately 980 residents in the Residential Halls, 800 in the Traditional Halls, and 1,000 in the Residential Suites.

UHS is currently providing tours of our Traditional and Residential Halls. Tours are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm by walk in or appointment. Click here to request a housing tour.

University Housing Services is located in Building 74, Secoya, on Kellogg Drive, south of the Student Services Building.

Resident safety is a top priority for University Housing Services (UHS). While UHS and University Police work closely to help keep our communities safe, we all play a part in creating a secure living environment. Take a few minutes to check out tips and resources on our Resident Safety and Security page to learn how you can stay safe on and around campus.

There is no curfew for on-campus residents. Students are free to come and go as needed to accommodate their schedules and commitments. However, quiet hours are in effect from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. to help maintain a calm environment for studying and rest.

The Residential Halls are conveniently located on Kellogg Drive in the center of campus.

All four Traditional Halls are conveniently located on University Drive on the northern end of campus.

The Residential Suites are located on the southern end of campus on Kellogg Drive, off South Campus Drive.

No. CPP students are not required to live on campus, and on-campus housing is not guaranteed. Please note that the first-year student residential requirement is paused for the 2026–2027 academic year. For additional details and future updates, visit the First-Year Student Residential Requirement page 

Yes! If you’ve been admitted to CPP, you’re eligible to apply for on-campus housing through your Housing Portal. Because housing is in very high demand, we strongly recommend that you submit your application and initial payment as soon as possible, even if you’re still deciding whether to attend CPP.

Room preferences and assignments are not guaranteed, and priority is given to students who apply early. If you later decide not to attend CPP and cancel your housing application at least 45 days before the start of the semester, you’ll receive a full refund of your housing fees.

If your admission is rescinded or you choose not to attend Cal Poly Pomona, you must cancel your housing application or assignment through University Housing Services. Submit a Housing Cancellation Request in your Housing Portal at least 45 days before your move-in date (usually the start of the semester).

Housing application will be available to ALL admitted students in February.

• Pre-application is generally available mid-February. Students can review and begin answering application questions before the full application opens in late February.

Returning students are notified through their Cal Poly Pomona email address and through the University Housing Services Weekly Newsletter. Contact University Housing Services at housing@cpp.edu for current information.

Room assignments are based entirely on availability at the time. While we do our best to take your preferences in to account, some communities have specially high demand and have limited availability, you may received a different assignment.

We do not offer a waitlist for specific buildings or room types.

Incoming Freshmen & Transfer Students:

University Housing Services will begin the assignment process and notifying incoming Freshmen and Transfers of their assignment or waitlist details at the beginning of May and June.

The assignment process is ongoing and continues throughout summer and into the academic year as spaces become available.

Fall Assignments Timeline:

• Mid-June – Transfer Room Assignments
• Mid-June – Freshmen Room Assignments

Spring Assignments Timeline:

• November – Spring room assignments are processed based on room space availability

Continuing Students:

Continuing students typically begin the application and room selection process during the middle of the Spring term. Students that do not apply early enough to participate in room selection will be placed on a waitlist, and University Housing Services will contact students on the waitlist as spaces become available throughout summer and into the academic year as spaces become available.

Specific dates and application details for the upcoming year will be communicated to students through email, the University Housing Services website, and the Housing Portal.

UHS accepts applications year-round. However, due to high demand, we strongly encourage students to submit their applications as soon as they are available or once they are admitted to CPP. Housing is not guaranteed; assignments are based on application submission date, space availability, and student eligibility. 

The initial payment is $450, due within 10 days of completing your housing application. It serves as a pre-payment toward your first semester’s rent and will appear as a credit in BroncoDirect until housing charges are posted. The payment is refundable if you cancel within the policy’s stated deadlines.

A deferment allows you to delay the $450 initial payment until your first semester’s rent is due. It does not change your total housing costs or affect your housing assignment. Students approved for a deferment must still follow all license agreement terms, including the cancellation policy.

Please note: students who do not meet the 45-day cancellation deadline will be charged a $450 penalty.

You can still apply for housing if you have past-due charges, but you won’t receive a room assignment until those charges are paid in full or you have an approved payment extension.

If housing demand exceeds available space, a waitlist may be created. As students cancel their housing, spaces open up for those on the waitlist. University Housing Services will assign students as spaces become available and will stay in contact to provide regular updates on your waitlist status.

After initial housing assignments are made, a waitlist is created for students who did not receive a space. Your waitlist position is based on the date and time you submitted your housing application.

Students remain on the waitlist until they are offered a space or choose to withdraw. As cancellations come in, Housing contacts students on the waitlist in order and offers spaces as they become available.

Your chances depend on your waitlist position, the number of available spaces, and how many cancellations occur that year. Housing makes every effort to place students in their requested semester, but if space doesn’t open up, the waitlist may be used to fill mid-semester openings or carried over to the next semester.

If we are unable to offer you a space or you withdraw your name from the waitlist you will receive a full refund once you request to cancel your Housing application. 

On the Application Summary page, click “Create/Manage Roommate Groups.” From there, you can create a group and add roommates by searching for their Bronco ID number. You can only add students who have submitted their housing application and are not already in another roommate group.

If your desired roommate is already in a group, ask them to add you to their group. Roommate Group changes close once the housing assignment process begins, so check your application confirmation email for the deadline.

Please note that living with your selected roommate group is not guaranteed.

Your housing application includes questions about your personal habits—like sleep schedule, study preferences, and cleanliness. These responses help match you with roommates who have similar lifestyles.

Your room type and building preferences are also considered during the assignment process, but placement depends on space availability when your application is processed.

No. UHS does not currently place a limit on the number of years a student may live on campus. Returning residents must re-apply each academic year (and for summer, if staying). Residents must also continue to meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the Student Housing License Agreement. 

To help you prepare for your move-in, please review the recommended items for your space:

All residents: UHS What to Bring/Not Bring List – All Residents

Residential Suites residents: UHS What to Bring/Not Bring List – Suites

These lists outline what items are allowed and prohibited in your room to ensure a safe and comfortable living environment.

On-campus residence hall rooms are equipped with XL Twin beds. An XL Twin bed measures 39 inches wide by 80 inches long, which is slightly longer than a standard Twin to accommodate taller students. 

All rooms come with a standard furniture arrangement. If the bed or other furniture is moved/adjusted, residents are responsible for returning the room to its original configuration before moving out. Failure to do so will result in an improper move-out fee.

The standard room configuration for each community:

• Residential Halls
• Traditional Halls
• Residential Suites

Each room is furnished with a bed and desk for each resident. Students may not remove the furniture that is provided (State property) and limited space would prohibit bringing in additional furniture.

Room sizes and layouts vary by building and room type. You can view detailed descriptions, floor plans, and dimensions on our Housing Floor Plans page to see what each space looks like. 

Residents in the Residential Halls and Suites may bring a personally owned refrigerator up to 3.7 cubic feet. A waterproof mat must be placed underneath to protect the floor or carpet. If placing a mini fridge under your bed, ensure it does not touch bedding, blankets, or sheets, as this can create a fire hazard.

Traditional Halls: Each room comes equipped with a MicroFridge 3.1 cu. ft. combination unit, featuring:  

• 1st Defense Smoke Sensor – shuts down the microwave if smoke is detected. 

• Safe Plug Technology – protects against circuit overloads and allows energy-efficient plug-in. 

• USB Charging Station – provides two USB ports and one standard outlet. 

Residential Suites: Each suite kitchenette is provided with a full-size refrigerator, so personally owned refrigerators are not required. 

Residential Halls: You may bring a personally owned microwave up to 900 watts. Please consult with your roommate(s) before bringing a microwave due to limited space in the room.

Traditional Halls: Each room is equipped with a MicroFridge 3.1 cu. ft. combination unit, which includes a microwave, so personally owned microwaves are not needed.

Residential Suites: Each suite kitchenette comes with a microwave provided, so personally owned microwaves are not required.

Yes. Residents may host guests of any gender, as long as roommate or suitemate consent is given and all guidelines in the Student Housing License Agreement are followed. The right of a resident to occupy their room without guests always takes priority over hosting privileges. 

Overnight guests must: 

• Be temporary and infrequent 

• Not stay more than 2 consecutive nights and 3 days in any calendar month 

• Not exceed 10 overnight visits per semester 

• Have the consent of all roommates/suitemates 

Hosts must stay with their guests at all times and are responsible for their behavior, safety, and adherence to all UHS and University policies. Guests who violate policies may be asked to leave immediately. 

All residence halls and suites close during Winter Break. Students who need to stay on campus must submit a Winter Break Stay Request during the fall semester. Approved students may be temporarily relocated and will be charged an additional fee.

Residence halls remain open during Thanksgiving and Spring Break, and students may stay in their assigned rooms during those times.

No, you don’t have to move out during breaks. You may leave your belongings in your room, but it’s recommended that you take valuables home and unplug electronics or appliances. Before leaving, be sure to lock your windows and doors for safety.

Residents are able to contact their roommates via the Housing Portal Messages page.

We do our best to match students with the best possible roommate(s) based on the information that is provided in the housing application. If a roommate conflict arises, we encourage residents to try to work out a resolution. If this does not work, the Resident Advisors and Residence Life Area Coordinators are trained and available to assist in resolving issues.

Residents may request a room change during the room change periods. Detailed information including when the Room Change Request period deadline is included in the Weekly Newsletter, which is sent to all residents Cal Poly Pomona email. If the room change request is due to a roommate conflict, please contact your resident advisor. Your resident advisor will assist you in deciding a temporary or permanent solution.

University Housing Services partners with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to provide housing accommodations for students with disabilities or medical needs.

If you require specific arrangements, you must first contact the DRC at drc@cpp.edu or reach out directly to their office.

To cancel your Housing License Agreement, submit the online cancellation form through your Housing Portal at least 45 days before your move-in date (the start of the occupancy period).

If your request is submitted with less than 45 days’ notice or after the occupancy period begins, cancellation fees will apply based on the date your request is received.

If your admission is rescinded, you must cancel your housing application or license agreement directly with University Housing Services; it is not canceled automatically. Since some students may appeal rescission decisions, housing license agreements remain active until your status is confirmed.

To cancel, submit the Housing Cancellation Request Form through your Housing Portal. Be sure to submit your cancellation at least 45 days before the start of the semester to ensure your housing fees are refunded.

Your Student Housing License Agreement period depends on the first semester for which you contract, but always ends the last day of the Spring Semester for that Academic Year. If you wish to be released from your License Agreement before this end date:

• You must contact the Housing Office and request a Petition to Cancel with a housing staff member. We will then send you the Petition to Cancel link to your CPP email.
• You will need to write a personal statement outlining the reason for the cancellation of your contract, along with attaching supporting documents when you submit your request.
• Requests will only be considered once, make sure you have everything you want considered before you submit.
• Approval of your request will be based on your statement of reasons and the appropriateness of the supporting documentation.
• Your request may or may not dictate a meeting with a representative from University Housing Services.
• Approvals are made on a rare case by case basis and most commonly result from (1) end of student status; (2) marriage; (3) extreme hardship

If you have met the cancellation requirement listed on the License Agreement Terms & Conditions and your cancellation request has been approved, you may be eligible to receive a full or prorated refund based on your release date. The procedure is different for those who cancel before moving in and for those who cancel after moving in. Please note that most students will be charged up to 30 days of rent, unless a newly assigned student is placed in the room.

After a resident completes the terms of their license agreement, staff will complete a room inspection and process any applicable damages and/or key charges.  Students typically have their accounts and security deposits processed and reflected on their BroncoDirect account within 6 weeks of move out. Please note, the Cashier’s Office will not release any refunds if a student has any outstanding fees posted onto their account.

If you are held responsible for lock outs, lost keys, and/or damages to your room or common area, UHS will post “Damage” charges to your BroncoDirect account. If you would like to know the specifics of the charges, or security deposit refund, please email us at housing@cpp.edu with your name, Bronco ID number, and any necessary details

No. CPP does not require students to live on campus. Housing is not guaranteed; assignments are based on application submission date, space availability, and student eligibility.

No. University Housing Services is not requiring first-year students to live on campus for the 2026–2027 academic year. Incoming first-year students are welcome to apply for housing if they wish, but submitting an application does not guarantee a housing assignment. We strongly encourage students interested in living on campus to apply as early as possible. 

For more information, please visit the UHS First-Year Student Residential Requirement page. 

Living on campus helps students adjust to college life more easily. Residents often form lifelong friendships, have convenient access to campus resources, and can participate in a wide range of academic, educational, and recreational activities. 

Research shows that on-campus living—especially during the first year—is linked to greater student success, including social development, higher retention rates, increased graduation rates, stronger educational goals, and overall satisfaction with the college experience (Astin, 1991, 1993). 

The cost of on-campus housing includes both your room and meal plan fees and varies depending on the residential community and meal plan you choose. For detailed pricing information, please visit Housing Costs. 

Residents are welcome to bring their bicycles to campus. Bicycles must be stored at the designated racks or in the bicycle storage rooms throughout the communities.

Cal Poly residents will use their Bronco One Card as their meal card. Present your card at Center Pointe Dining Commons when using your meals from your meal plan option. Meal Points are also allocated on your Bronco ID Card and can be used at food establishments located in the Campus Center Marketplace and Bronco Student Center as well as Fit Bites, Vista Market, and the Pony Express in The College of Business Building. The Bronco One Card is managed by the Bronco One Card Office located in the Bookstore 2nd floor.

For more information about residential dining and meal plans please visit Foundation Dining Services

Traditional Halls residents will be issued one hard room key. Residential Suites residents will receive a building/suite key card and room key. These keys must not be duplicated. For security reasons any lost, stolen, or misplaced key(s) must be reported to the Housing Office, located in Building 74 within 24 hours. Lost keys will result in a lockset change and a new key will be issued for all roommates. A charge of $120.00 will be assessed for a lost room key and subsequent lockset change.

Residential Halls residents will use their university issued Bronco ID card to enter into their assigned building and room. The replacement charge for lost Bronco ID’s will be set by the Bronco Card Office.

For security reasons, resident’s keys must not be loaned or transferred to anyone else at any time.

At the end of each week, University Housing Services sends out a UHS Weekly Newsletter message to all residents. These emails are meant to communicate important updates, reminders and deadlines for various events and processes. If you have your e-mail forwarded to another e-mail address, please be sure to add the UHS address (housing@cpp.edu) to your safe list. Please review these messages carefully as they are a primary source of communication between the Housing Office and the resident.

Parents can also stay informed and request to be sent the weekly newsletter.

FERPA is the Family Education Right and Privacy Act.  It is a federal law that protects and affords the student’s right to their education records.  Under FERPA, student’s education records can only be released to individuals outside of the university with the student’s explicit consent.  This includes providing student information to parents.  CPP students may grant their parents and/or other individuals access to their education record by completing the FERPA Authorize to Release via their BroncoDirect Student Center and indicate the type of records may be released to them within the indicated timeframe.  Click here to view the How to Complete a FERPA Authorize to Release for instructions.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs the limited release of these records (known as education records) maintained by an educational institution and access to these records. For more information on FERPA regulations please visit https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa.

Wireless Connection is supported in the Residence Halls. Wireless Internet access is also available at the Bronco Student Center, Campus Market Place, Fit Bites, Residential Suites, the University Library and Academic Buildings.

Streeme+ and HBOMax! is available to our on-campus residents connected to the university network. With Streeme+ and HBOMax!, you can watch and record live TV on your computer or mobile device while connected to the campus network

As part of your housing contract, you paid the annual fee of $45.00 for the Resident Student Association (RSA). Membership provides you access to recreational equipment and discounted entry to programs, events and activities planned by RSA. Visit the RSA Webpage for more information.

Halls and Suites:

• Parking is available for students in several lots across campus, including the parking structure located between Oak and Magnolia Lane, off Cypress Lane. You must have a Cal Poly Pomona parking hang tag to park in student lots. Decals are sold via online, please see Parking and Transportation Services website for cost and purchase instructions.
• Reserved parking for residents is available in Lots F1, P, and part of Lot B.

Parking Services has no grace period to obtain the University hangtag. Vehicles without a hangtag will receive a citation (ticket).

Safety Tip: If you park your automobile or motorcycle for long periods of time, be sure to check on it periodically, keep your vehicle looking clean and maintained, and move it from time to time.

Postal mail and any packages from USPS, FedEX, UPS, etc. are delivered to the UHS Package Room. Residents will be notified to pick up their mail or packages. For more information, please visit our Mail and Package Information page.

Your mail should be addressed as follows: 

The campus and University Housing Services is committed to adopting sustainable practices. As a member of the campus and local community, we ask that you partner with us in reducing waste and conserving energy and water.

Please help us reduce the amount of trash that is taken to landfills. Every room has a blue recycle bin to collect paper, glass, plastic, cartons and other recyclable materials, even used pizza boxes! Recyclables may be deposited in the white metal recycling bins outside the building. After moving in, don’t forget to recycle those cardboard boxes! Help us make a difference!

Help us conserve energy - Turn off computers, unplug unused electrical devices and turn off the lights when not in use or when you leave your room or are out for the day.

Help us conserve water - Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and take shorter showers. This helps to save gallons of water per day per resident!

All buildings are locked 24 hours per day. Visiting guests should be met by residents to be given access to the buildings. Residents are responsible for escorting their guests. Please refer to the Guest Policy in the Student Housing License Agreement. The safety of the community depends on each resident’s cooperation in restricting access to the buildings.

All California State University campuses are 100% Smoke Free and Tobacco Free. Smoking, the use or sale of tobacco products, and the use of designated smoking areas are prohibited on all California State University properties. Members of the CSU community are expected to fully comply with the policy, EO 1108 Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy.   

Payments are delinquent if not paid by the due date as shown in the cost tables posted on the Housing website. A $50.00 late charge will be assessed if paid after the due date. It is the student’s responsibility to assure that payments are made on time. Any resident who fails to make payment on time will have their meal plan suspended without compensation for missed meals and risks jeopardizing their housing contract. In addition, unpaid balances also result in hold being placed on student accounts which will affect class registration. Students may check the status of their account by looking at their Account Summary on Bronco Direct. Please make all housing and meal plan payments using your BroncoDirect account.

Students should contact  Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and Student Accounting & Cashiering Services for procedures and/or questions regarding payments deferred to Financial Aid Awards. Payment schedules and due dates for those receiving awards may vary.

The student is responsible for tracking their disbursements each semester to assure that Housing charges have been paid. For many students, Financial Aid awards may not cover their full tuition and housing fees and the student is responsible for paying the balance of fees.

Disbursements of funds may occur before your housing and meal plan fees are posted. It is recommended that financial aid recipients verify that their housing fees have been posted and paid in full before cashing any financial checks.

There will be a Resident Advisor and an Area Coordinator on Duty every evening and all day during the weekends and the breaks. The duty roster and the contact information for staff on duty will be posted at the front desk.

In case of an EMERGENCY call University Police (909) 869-3070

Each bedroom includes a wastebasket and a recyclable bin in the kitchen. Both trash and recyclables should be removed and emptied properly into the designated trash room or trash bins for your assigned community. Throwing your personal trash in any other location (lobby, restroom, and staircase) will result in a penalty charge and possible disciplinary action.

Foundation Dining Services manages the meal plan program on campus. They offer a choice of five different meal plans offering a wide range of choices to suit every need. Please review the Meal Plan Options page for more details.

Requests to change meal plans must use the Meal Plan Request form available on the Housing Portal. 

There are a few restrictions:

1. You may make changes to your meal plan prior to moving in. Once you have moved in, you are locked into that plan, UNLESS you need to increase it.
2. To decrease or increase your meal plan for the next semester, complete a Meal Plan Request form using the Housing Portal during the Meal Plan Change time period. Please check the important dates listed in the Housing Weekly Newsletter to know when the change period dates will be open.

You may increase your meal plan at any time by emailing housing@cpp.edu.

Meal points are equivalent to money and depending on your meal plan, an amount is allocated on your Bronco ID Card each semester.  Each meal point is equivalent to a dollar and is used to purchase food in any of the dining establishments or convenience stores on campus and may also be used at the Farm Store. Meal Points may not be used for books or other non-food items.

Unused Meal Points will roll over from fall to spring semester if you continue to reside within University Housing Services. Any unused meal points at the end of the spring semester are forfeited and not reimbursed.

Bronco Bucks are fast, convenient, and cash-less way to do transactions on campus. Any student/staff/faculty can add Bronco Bucks to their Bronco One Card without having a meal plan or in addition to a meal plan. The Bronco Bucks
Account is a declining balance account used like a debit card. You deposit money into your account and these funds may be spent using your Bronco One Card at any food venue, convenience store and bookstore. Please keep in mind, if you have both Meal Points and Bronco Bucks, be sure to let the Cashier know which type of account you would like to use to make your purchase.

CenterPointe Dining Commons offers a wide range of food choices and is intentional in providing healthy options throughout the day. In the case where a student has a dietary concern or allergy they may contact the Foundation Dining Nutritionist at fdnutrition@cpp.edu for a consultation and accommodation.

University Housing Services works closely with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to address any housing accommodation needs for our residents.

Students who need specific housing accommodations MUST contact the Disability Resource Center or drc@cpp.edu as soon as they have submitted their housing application.

Contact the Bronco One Card Office at broncoaccess@cpp.edu or visit the office located in building 97 (Campus Center Market Place) next to the Panda Express dining venue.

Additionally, if you have an outstanding balance (overdue account for housing and meal plan fees) your meal plan may have been suspended. If this is the case, please contact University Housing Services at housing@cpp.edu or (909)869-3307.

The cost to live on-campus varies depending on the room type, meal plan and payment option you contracted. For more information, please visit our Housing Cost Table Page

Yes, students must pay OR defer the $450 initial payment to be considered for a housing assignment.

• To pay the $450 Initial Payment, log in to the CPP Housing Portal and click on the Housing Application tab. On the Application Summary page, click on the Pay/Defer Housing Initial Payment link.

• If you would like to defer the $450 Initial Payment, please complete the DocuSign form on the Housing Application. By approving a resident for a deferment, University Housing Services will postpone the $450 Initial Payment. Instead, it will be included with your first semester rent fees. Please note that the total amount of Housing charges is the same with or without a deferment.

• If you have requested a deferment and now would like to pay the initial payment, please contact our office for assistance.

If you did not pay your Initial Payment at the time of applying, you can return to your application on the Housing Portal to make the payment. Your application will not be considered complete without paying the initial payment or receiving a deferment of the initial payment.  Students requesting a deferment will be given the same opportunity for a space as students that pay the initial payment in full.

The remaining charges for rent, meal plan, and security deposit will be posted according to an annual, posted fee/payment schedule.

If you anticipate receiving or have applied for financial aid, you are still responsible for paying the initial payment. Once your financial aid is disbursed, it will pay your tuition first and the remainder will be used toward housing. If you do not receive enough aid to cover your housing or if your aid is not disbursed, you will be required to pay the balance by the scheduled due date.

The University's Student Accounting and Cashering Services accepts payments for University Housing Services. For details on payment options please visit the Student Accounting website.

The Housing Office does not send out bills prior to posting fees on students’ Bronco Direct account. Details of the annual fee/payment schedule will be posted on the Housing website (view Cost Table here) and residents’ Housing Portal, as well as email reminders communicated via the weekly newsletter and emails.

By default, all residents will have each semester fees separated into three (3) installments. Residents may request to have their annual fees posted in full by emailing (housing@cpp.edu) or by visiting the Housing Office, Building 74, Monday through Friday between 8:00am-5:00pm. Please keep in mind depending on when the request is received, the change may not be effective until the following semester.

RSA stands for Resident Student Association, which is the student government for the residential communities. The cost is $45 per year and it gives you access to the recreational equipment and discounted entry to programs and activities planned by Resident Student Association.