First-Year Student Housing Application Process
The 2025-26 Housing Application Process marks an important period for our first-time freshman students to apply for housing for the upcoming academic year. The application process ensures that students can explore their options for on-campus living.
2025-26 First-Time Freshman Housing Application Process
- Application: The housing application is available to first-time freshman students who have been admitted to the University of Idaho. Beginning Nov. 19, students can update personal information and emergency contacts, complete the student profile and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee and sign the Residence Hall and Dining Services License Agreement.
- Specialized Communities: Students who are interested in living in one of our many specialized communities are encouraged to apply for their desired community through the housing application beginning Nov. 19. Housing and Residence Life will review applications as they are received. Approvals will be emailed to students on a rolling basis. Approvals will be determined based on the student’s eligibility for the community and availability of beds in the community. Specialized Community room assignments will be emailed to students on Feb. 26.
- If a student is not approved for the Specialized Community because there are no available beds, they can be placed on the waitlist for their desired Specialized Community and will then be eligible for room selection according to their assigned timeslot.
- If a student is not approved because they are not eligible for the Specialized Community, the student will then be eligible for room selection according to their assigned timeslot.
- To apply go to iwanthousing.uidaho.edu
Complete the housing application by the Feb. 19 deadline to receive a priority room selection timeslot. Students who apply before Feb. 19 will receive an assigned room selection timeslot based on the month they completed the application. Room selection timeslots will be emailed to Vandal student email addresses.
Students who applied for and were approved for a Specialized Community will be emailed their specific housing assignment to their Vandal student email address. Students can log back into their housing application starting Feb. 26 to view their room assignment, select a meal plan, select a check-in timeslot, review housing assignment information, sigh their Residence Hall Agreement and finalize their application.
- Students will have five days to decline their Specialized Community room assignment. If a student declines their room assignment, they will be given a timeslot for room selection based on the month they completed the housing application.
- Students do not need to email Housing and Residence Life to accept their room assignment.
Students who completed their housing application by Feb. 19 will be emailed their specific room selection timeslot on March 4 to their Vandal student email address.
Applicants who complete phase one:
- Nov. 19 - Dec 19 will select their room on March 18.
- Dec. 20 - Jan 19 will select their room on March 19.
- Jan. 20 - Feb 19 will select their room on March 20.
Students may log into the application ANYTIME after their assigned timeslot has started. Logging in before their timeslot, will result in the student not seeing anything other than the homepage. During their assigned timeslot, students can log into their housing application, view available rooms and select the room they would like to live in. Students will only be able to select a room after their assigned timeslot has started. Students should log out after selecting a room and submitting their application.
All students who have not completed the application and students who have not selected a room are able to log into the housing portal to select a room and submit their finalized application.
If an ADA Accommodation is needed, students should contact and complete all necessary documentation with the Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) by May 1. Failure to do so may result in a significant delay in housing being able to provide requested accommodation.
On June 1, the option to self-select a specific room on campus will end. Any student who applies for housing but misses the June 1 room selection deadline will have their room assigned by the Housing and Residence Life Office according to room availability.
Students who decide to cancel their housing application or housing assignment must do so by July 1. If a student cancels their housing application or room assignment after July 1, they will receive a $350 cancelation fee. Any student who cancels their room assignment after picking up their room key will be subject to all fees outlined in the Residence Hall and Dining Services License Agreement and Residence Hall Handbook.
How to cancel:
While we would certainly like you to live with us, we but understand that this may not be the best option for you. Complete the cancel application form to cancel your application before move in. If you have any questions, contact us at 208-885-6571 or housing@uidaho.edu.
New student move in begins at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, Wednesday, Aug. 20. You can select a thirty-minute check-in window through the housing portal. Checking into the room includes picking up a room key, getting directions to the room, picking up a VandalCard, getting a parking permit, etc. Once students are checked in, they may begin moving their belongings into their new room. The move-in process does not need to be completed during the thirty-minute check-in time.