Room Selection Process

Once a new student is accepted to SUNY Cortland, they receive a bill for their tuition deposit ($50) and housing deposit ($150). After paying the housing deposit, students will receive a housing information mailing from the Residential Services Office. For the fall semester, this mailing is sent beginning the previous May. For the spring semester, this mailing is sent beginning the previous December.

The housing mailing includes instructions on how to use Banner Web to fill out a Housing Preference Web Form. Students who do not complete this online form will not get housed.

The Housing Preference Form asks general questions regarding living habits such as cleanliness, noise level, guests and music preferences in order to attempt to match students on these characteristics. In addition, students can let us know if there are any special-interest housing options they are interested in, such as 24-hour quiet floors, transfer floors, wellness floors and Over 21 floors. Students are also asked if they are willing to pay the extra charge to live in a designed single room.

All new students are assigned to housing based on an automated computerized system that takes their preferences into account as it matches students. Housing assignments are based upon a combination of the date that the housing deposit is paid, student housing preferences and housing availability.

Visit the Housing Options link to see the various types of housing available to new students.