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First-Year Students

Starting Fall 2025, all first-year students who graduate from a high school outside of Humboldt’s local admission area (Humboldt and Del Norte counties) will be required to live on campus for two years, and will be required to have a meal plan. 

For first-year students, providing sufficient campus housing reduces the anxiety associated with finding housing when moving to a rural, small-town area, while providing an on-ramp to student success that helps  students to remain engaged with their campus community.

First- and second-year student residents are proven to academically outperform their peers who live off campus. Research shows that the average GPA is 11% higher for residential students and 13% higher for students living in learning communities. 

Cal Poly Humboldt’s Place Based Learning Communities are already a model for new student engagement, and this new housing guarantee will ensure the housing space necessary to support expanding the communities.

Some first-year, first-time students will be automatically exempt from this requirement or may need to submit an exemption. Please see Housing Exemptions for more Information.

When to Apply

Housing is first come first serve. After you have confirmed your enrollment to Cal Poly Humboldt, First-Year students will be able to start the application process starting on February 4, 2025 at 11am where you can complete almost all of the application except the final agreement page. The Housing Application will open to complete your submission for First-Year students on February 18, 2025 at 3pm.  Housing is first come, first served, determined by the date and time the application is submitted.

1 REVIEW DEADLINES

Make sure you:

  • Have confirmed your enrollment to Cal Poly Humboldt so you can access the Housing Application.
  • Know important dates for New Students.
  • Select your housing options.
  • Pay the $100 Housing Application Fee.
  • Formally submit your application.

2 DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Think about details—will help you make big decisions.

Research housing options: Take an online tour of the residence halls, including photos of each room type in each area; consider community type, bathroom privacy, and meal plan requirements. The application will ask you to rank your first four preferences for room types and areas.

Review meal plans: Meal plans are required in all living areas. 

Compare housing and meal plan costs.

Review the Housing & Residence Life and Dining License Agreement and Terms

  • 2025 - 2026 Housing & Residence Life Housing and Dining Agreement

Understand cancellation and vacate policies.

If you need accommodation in Housing or for your meal plan, based on a disability, please contact the Campus Disability Resource Center as soon as possible through email cdrc@humboldt.edu, phone 707-826-4678, or fax 707-826-5397. Also see the CDRC web site https://disability.humboldt.edu for more information. Please follow Housing application guidelines and deadlines.

3 CHOOSE YOUR OPTIONS

Fill out the application in your myhousing.humboldt.edu.

  • Select a meal plan
  • Rank your housing preferences
  • Select optional living-learning community housing areas
  • Fill out your roommate profile
  • Need rental insurance? Although you can get any insurance coverage if you choose to, you can sign up in the Housing Application with GradGuard.
  • Review all documents in the Required Reading Section.

4 PAY $100 HOUSING APPLICATION FEE

  • Pay the $100 nonrefundable Housing Application Fee. The $100 will be applied to the Housing charges that post to accounts in July.

5 SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

  • Read and sign the license agreement
  • Formally submit your online application

6 CHECK YOUR EMAIL OFTEN

Confirmation of your room assignment or your wait list notification will be heading you way!

If you have any questions please contact the Housing Office at 707.826.3451 or housing@humboldt.edu.

Make sure to carefully read all the information and answer all of the questions in your Application. You will be entering into a legally binding agreement and therefore it's crucial for you to understand every aspect of the agreement.

FAQs

What are the live-on requirements?

First and second-year students are required to live on-campus AND have a meal plan.

Why is there a requirement that students live on campus for the 1st and 2nd year? 

  • Help students make the transition from high school to college.
  • Supports student's success. Research has shown that compared to first and second year students who do not live on campus, those who live on campus are more likely to graduate in four years, have higher average GPAs and are more likely to continue as sophomores.

What are the benefits of living on-campus?

  • Easy: No credit checks, security deposits or cosigner required, all utilities, garbage, high speed wi-fi, and an in-room streaming movie service are included.
  • Convenient: Easy access to professors, dining, student activities and events, plus cultural, academic, and health/wellbeing resources.
  • Community: Make friends and meet students of diverse backgrounds/experiences/perspectives, feel you’re part of something bigger.
  • Support system: Resident Advisors (RAs), Professional staff (RLCs) and other first-year students who are going through the same process/transition and help each other navigate college
  • Fun!: As a residential campus, we offer the quintessential “college experience.” 

What if a first-year student starts attending in the Spring semester, will that count as their first-year living on-campus?

Yes. Students that start attending Cal Poly Humboldt in the Spring, will count that spring semester as their first year living on-campus, even if it's just for the spring semester.

Are local students held to the housing requirement? 

No. Students that graduate high school from Humboldt and Del Norte counties are not required to live in on-campus housing, but they are welcome to do so. 

Is there an exemption process? 

Yes! Some students will be automatically exempt from the housing requirement due to their circumstances. Other students will need to submit an exemption request based on their circumstances.

What types of exemptions would students be approved for if they also have supporting documentation?

  • Students that have medical or disability circumstances that prevents them from living on-campus 
  • Students that have extenuating financial circumstances that prevents them from living on-campus
  • Students who are taking all online classes 
  • Students who are studying abroad or have an internship
  • Student who live at a permanent address in proximity to the campus with a relative or guardian 

Which first-year, first-time students do not need to submit an exemption because they are automatically exempt?

  • Local students that graduated high school from Humboldt or Del Norte county
  • Students that are 21 or older by August 1st of their first year attending
  • Currently active or military veterans 
  • Students that are married, have a domestic partner, or have legally dependent children 

How does a student submit an exemption? 

Students can submit an exemption by submitting the Exemption Request Form in their myHousing.humboldt.edu portal under Forms starting in January 2025. Supporting documentation for the exemption is required.

Is there a deadline to submit an exemption? 

The exemption request deadline is July 1st for the Academic Year, and December 1st for new Spring students.

Do students have to submit an exemption each year?

No. Once a student submits an exemption for their first year, if it’s approved, it will carry over to the 2nd year.