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Living on campus is one of the best parts of the residential liberal arts experience at Puget Sound. When you live in one of our residence halls or houses, you’ll be immersed in our community, form new friendships, get involved in events and activities, and build lifelong skills. 

The on-campus residential experience is critical to enhancing student learning and success, which is why we require that all students live on-campus for their first two academic years with at Puget Sound. Even after those first two years, many students choose to remain in campus housing to continue to reap the benefits of the residential experience.

New Students

As a residential, liberal arts college, the University of Puget Sound affirms the educational benefits inherent in this kind of undergraduate experience. Student learning, in and out of the classroom, and student success are enhanced by the on-campus residential experience. Being a part of a community of scholars is also reinforced by living in campus housing. Because of this, Puget Sound requires all students to live on-campus for their first two academic years with the university and significant numbers of students choose to continue living on campus through graduation to fully reap the benefits of a residential liberal arts experience. All housing agreements are binding upon signature for the full academic year.

In order to register for on-campus housing, incoming students must submit the $500 advanced tuition deposit to the university, complete the acknowledgement of meningitis risk on their myPugetSound to do list, and complete the online housing application.  Your housing application will be available by May 1 through your myPugetSound account, once the university has received their advanced tuition deposit.  Read more about filling out your housing application. 

Admitted students are encouraged to register for housing as early as possible to secure their space on campus.  Per the two year residential requirement, all new freshmen and transfer students that are admitted to the university for the fall semester and submit the advanced tuition deposit by May 1 are guaranteed housing. 

During the month of July, students who are enrolled for the fall semester, have submitted the advanced tuition deposit, and have completed the online housing preference form, will receive confirmation of their on-campus room assignment and the contact information for their roommate(s) in myPugetSound. Students will also receive important details about moving into campus housing in August mailed to their home address.

More About Housing Assignments

Please contact Residence Life with any questions about the housing application process or residential living policies: 253.879.3317 or reslife@pugetsound.edu.

Transfer Housing

Are you a transfer student to Puget Sound interested in learning more about your housing options? Then you have found the right place for all the information you need to know to transition successfully to on-campus living at Puget Sound.

All incoming students, including transfer students, are required to live on campus for two years. This results from research that indicates living on-campus supports student retention and persistence - successfully reaching graduation. Living on campus provides proximity to campus resources like professors' office hours or the Center for Writing and Learning; access to academically enriching activities like lectures and musical performances; and peer-to-peer support from Residence Life student leaders.

Puget Sound has a variety of housing options, many of which are open to transfer students. Once your $500 tuition deposit has been processed, you will be able to view your Housing Application through your myPugetSound portal. Your Housing Application allows you to indicate certain lifestyle characteristics you may want Residence Life to consider when making your housing placement. Housing placements are made based on a variety of factors, including your indicated preferences. To make the best possible match for you based on your preferences, please fill out your Housing Application by June 1.

Where you are assigned to live as a transfer student depends on a variety of factors. Transfer students enter Puget Sound with varying degrees of experience in a higher education setting. Students transferring in with more sophomore standing or above may be assigned to Harrington Hall, Trimble Hall, the campus houses, Smith Hall, or Oppenheimer Hall. Students who have junior standing or above may be assigned to live in one of these communities or Commencement Hall. All other students will be assigned to space in our traditional halls is available. When filling out your Housing Application, please note that Residence Life reviews all transfer student housing applications individually to find the best fit for you based on your indicated preferences and available housing.

Housing assignments will be based on your responses, available space, and your best match for roommates. Special considerations are made for medical or health-related needs, placement in academic, residential programs, placement in various themed housing programs, lifestyle preferences, roommate requests, and availability. All information provided in the Housing Application are preferences, and specific housing arrangements cannot be guaranteed.

Questions?

Feel free to contact us or call us at 253.879.3317.

What to Bring

Some items that you may want to consider bringing with you are:

  • Bed linens (extra-long twin-size for residence halls, standard twin-size for houses)
  • Blankets
  • A pillow
  • A desk lamp (halogen lamps not permitted)
  • Towels and Toiletries
  • A shower caddy for your bathroom supplies and shower shoes
  • An umbrella or waterproof jacket
  • Warm clothes
  • Power strip extension with 6-foot cord
  • Small throw rugs or an area rug (residence hall rooms are not carpeted)
  • Command Strips or other non-damaging wall hanging supplies
  • A few microwaveable dishes, coffee mugs, and glasses
  • Hangers
  • Extra storage such as stackable crates, bins, or under-bed storage
  • Small Fan
  • Laundry Basket and Detergent (pods only recommended if used inside the drum/not dispenser). Otherwise, High Efficiency (HE) liquid detergent is recommended.
  • Protective Mattress Cover
  • You might consider bringing an Ethernet cable – all rooms are wired for Ethernet, and you’ll have much faster, more reliable internet service.

Please note: Although students are allowed to have small appliances in their rooms (e.g., refrigerators, air popcorn poppers, and microwaves), the appliances must be of low wattage, have no open heating coils (toasters are not allowed), and be in good repair.

At this time we are not offering micro/fridge and refrigerator rentals. 

Resident Student Association (RSA)

The Residence Student Association is a group devoted to enhancing the residential experience for all on campus students at Puget Sound. They support students on campus by providing programs that make living on campus more fun, focus on their holistic well-being and even more convenient. By providing programs such as linen sales, taking students out to soccer games, and holding dances on campus, RSA is here for you!