Breadcrumb
First-Year Students
Starting in 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.
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.