How and When to Apply

Housing Application Steps

Housing applications are currently open for the full academic year, Fall 2024-Spring 2025! Read below for instructions, or get started by clicking the link in Step 1.

Before You Apply: Things to Know

• Overview of Our Process
  • Step 1: After you submit your application and your Administrative Fee, our office will process your information to determine that you are enrolled/eligible to enroll, do not owe any previous housing balances, and determine the most applicable bed space per your preferences. We will then send you an offer for the most applicable bed space available in our portfolio.
  • Step 2: You must accept or decline the room offer. If you decline the offer, our staff will reach out to determine if we are able to offer you something you are willing to accept, or if you would like to be waitlisted. 
  • Step 3: You will be able to go into your eRezlife portal, select the current term, and view your roommate/apartment-mate names and emails.
  • Step 4: Your first payment is due by the first installment date for Fall 2024 after you are licensed. Fall installment dates are August 20th, September 11th, October 11th, and November 11th respectively. Keep in mind that if you are moving in mid-semester, your first payment might be large upfront due to how proration of charges and the billing schedule works. Contact our office if you have questions!
• Information Needed

  Before you begin your application, please make sure you have the following information ready:

  • Guarantor information: A guarantor is an adult over the age of 25, based in the United States, who signs your license and agrees to be financially liable in the event that you are unable to fulfill your financial responsibilities. You will need:
  • Your guarantor's cell phone and work phone numbers
  • Your guarantor's date of birth
  • An Emergency Contact and a Missing Person contact (see below for more information on the difference between these two.)
• Financial Review

  Prior to signing a License Agreement, please review our Cost of Attendance. Please note the following:

  • The cost of a meal plan is NOT included in the cost of Housing; these are separate fees.
  • If you are relying on Financial Aid to pay for your housing and meal plan, please ensure that enough aid is available to cover tuition and fees. Tuition and fees are paid first by Financial Aid, followed by your housing and meal plan fees.

  WARNING: Your License Agreement is a legally binding document and has financial penalties associated with terminating/canceling at any point once your License agreement is countersigned. We recommend viewing our Sample License Agreement under Future Residents > Forms & Information for information on cancelling or terminating your License Agreement.

• Floor Plan and Cost Options

  The following are some common questions on our housing options:

  • What is the difference between a Double and Deluxe Double?
    • A Deluxe Double has 1-4 less people in the apartment depending on configuration. Additionally, deluxe doubles may be slightly larger or offer different window features than a standard double. (Note: due to the structure of our buildings and variability of our apartments, we cannot guarantee that all rooms are the same size.)
  • What is an en-suite?
    
    • A limited number of QUAD units have a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. This means that, rather than having a bathroom in the hallway across from your bedroom, it is attached directly to your bedroom and is behind your bedroom door lock (inaccessible to guests in the unit). Bedrooms with this feature carry a $200/semester premium.
  • How do I get a single space?
    
    • We have limited numbers of single bedrooms (in shared apartments). While singles are available to all residents, upperclass residents returning to housing typically have first pick of these bedrooms. Students wanting a single are encouraged to apply as early as possible to stand the best chance of attaining a single unit.

  For more information, please see Housing Options and Cost.

• Emergency and Missing Persons Contact

  What's the difference?

  An Emergency Contact person is someone we will contact in the event that an emergency occurs and the student is unable to contact anyone on their own behalf.

  In the event that a student goes missing, the student may designate a separate contact for us to notify that the student may be missing. 

  The Emergency Contact and Missing Person contact may be the same or may be different; this is up to the student to determine. For more information, please see our Missing Student Policy and Procedures.

• Specialized Communities & Programs

  In order to provide the best experience for all of our students, we offer several Specialized Housing communities. These include:

  Substance Free Housing: Students who select Substance Free Living make a commitment to not use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 

  LGBTQ+: This community creates a safe place for identity exploration and community building for LGBTQ+ identifying individuals and their allies. The community supports growth in understanding issues faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community and developing the necessary skills to act as advocates and/or allies of the community. 

  Gender-Inclusive: This community is inclusive of all genders, gender identities, and gender expressions and is committed to promoting a welcoming, safe, and inclusive living environment. Gender-Inclusive Housing allows students to choose roommates and share bedrooms, suites, or apartments without restrictions based on gender or sex.   

  San Marcos Experience: The San Marcos Experience (SME) Residential Learning Community is designed to help ease the transition into college by placing students into a living and learning cohort that promotes leadership development and civic engagement both inside and outside the classroom. *SME is housed only in North Commons.

   

  C-STEM Community: This Residential Learning Community is tailor-made for students pursuing studies in the sciences, engineering, and math. The community is designed to increase students’ success through living and learning together, meeting key academic requirements and taking linked courses to facilitate a successful transition to CSUSM. *C-STEM is housed only in North Commons.

   

  You will be asked to select your preference on the Housing application. If you are not interested in any of these communities, please indicate that as well.

• Roommate Selection

  Roommate Selection occurs only during the main academic year licensing process (February through July) - more info to come in the Spring semester!

• Payment Process

  When you submit your application, you will be required to also submit a $200 Administrative Fee. This helps us cover the cost of processing applications, move-in, move-out, and other costs associated with the Licensing process. This fee is non-refundable.

  If you do not have a guarantor or do not wish to provide a guarantor, you will be required to pay a Housing Security Deposit amounting to $500. This will be added to your account and will be due prior to the beginning of the license period, or immediately if licensing occurs after the semester has started.

• Move-In Information

  Move-in for Fall 2024 has already occurred. If you are licensing mid-semester, we will follow up individually to provide move-in information. Spring 2025 move-in information will be available in November 2024!

• License Agreement & Resident Handbook
  It is the resident's responsibility to read both the Resident Handbook and the full License Agreement. All residents are expected to know and abide by the policies and procedures outlined in these documents. Failure to read these documents does not exempt the student from this responsibility. Please note that the Resident Handbook may be updated each semester and review the Handbook accordingly to make sure you have the most up to date information.
• Meal Plan Information
  • North Commons residents will be reqired to participate in one of the following meal plan options: Tukwut Plan, Cougar Blue Plan, or Paw Plan. 
  • We encourage UVA and The QUAD residents to participate in our Voluntary Meal Plans available through CSUSM Dining Services.
• Immunizations

  All first-time CSUSM residential students (living in university or affiliated housing), who are 21 years or younger will be required to have the following immunization administered within the last four years:

  Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY). 

  Records of up-to-date immunization must be submitted prior to move in.  

Final Note

We're so excited that you have chosen to live on-campus with us! Please note that proceeding to the Housing Application indicates that you have read and understand all of the above information regarding our Licensing process, policies, and procedures.

We look forward to welcoming you to CSUSM!

Follow Us @csusmhousing on Social Media for the latest updates! 

Please check Housing Options and Cost for availability status!

Spring 2025 Application for NEW & TRANSFER students OPEN NOW!

Apply to Housing