Your Guide to UC Davis Housing

It’s already time to start thinking about next year’s housing. Now that we’re in the new year, it’s time to plan. From on-campus housing to off-campus options, we’ve got all the information you need to make an informed decision. Let’s dive into it. 

On-Campus Housing 101

Whether you’re a freshman or a first-year transfer student, you have some options for living on campus for your second year. First-year transfer students are guaranteed housing for their first two years with us, and freshmen have a one-year housing guarantee with an opportunity to commit to a second year. If you don’t have a guarantee with us, we’ll evaluate your current housing location and place you in a lottery system with a select group of students who submit their housing commitment by January 19, 2026, for guaranteed housing. 

Students not selected for a housing guarantee will be put on a priority waitlist ahead of new applicants and students who did not submit their housing commitment. 

What are your options for housing? Returning housing will be available in both the residence halls and apartments.

Freshman 

If you’re a freshman, simply indicate that you are interested in living in the residence halls again for your sophomore year, select a preference for one of our apartment communities or choose no preference. 

Transfer Students 

If you’re a first-year transfer student living in one of our apartments, you have a two-year housing guarantee. You’ll indicate if you want to stay in your current room or request to be transferred to a new space. For The Green, transferring to a new room may result in a $250 transfer fee. 

On-Campus Housing Timeline

Let’s talk about what to expect over the next few months. First, all students eligible for a returning housing commitment have been emailed. The returning housing commitment process began on December 4, so we are well underway. The deadline ends on January 19, 2026, so before then, you’ll want to log in to your myHousing portal to fill out the commitment. There is no application or reservation fee. 

When filling out your housing preferences, please make sure to communicate with your future roommates. Their preferences need to match yours in order for us to connect you as roommates during the roommate search in March. 

In early February, you’ll officially sign your contract. Please read before signing! Then, in March, the roommate search will begin. 

On-Campus Housing Tips

Now, we’ll cover some tips to help you navigate the process. 

• Talk to your roommates - Make sure you’re communicating about your housing preferences when filling out your commitment.
• Residence Halls - You will be required to hold a meal plan when living with us. Rent rates will be similar to this year and are paid quarterly. Plus, financial aid can be used to cover rent. If you choose residence halls as your preference, you will have a higher chance of staying together with your current resident hall roommates.  
• The Green and Orchard Park - You are not required to hold a meal plan with us. Financial aid can be used to help cover rent. You will pay rent quarterly, and rates include water, trash, WIFI and electricity. 

If you have further questions about on-campus housing, we encourage you to sign up for our second-year housing webinar to learn more. Register here. 

Off-Campus Housing Tips

If you choose not to live on-campus for your second year, we have some tips for you when navigating the world of apartment hunting. 

First, let’s talk about the difference between a bed lease and a unit lease. 

• Bed Lease - A bed lease is a contract between the landlord and the tenant for just the amount of rent for the room. If your roommate leaves for any reason, you will not be responsible for their portion of the rent. 
• Unit Lease - A unit lease is a contract between the tenant and the entire unit, meaning you will be responsible for the rent of the entire apartment. If your roommate leaves the lease, you will still be financially responsible for the entire amount of the unit. 

First, you’ll want to consider your budget. You can check what you’re paying now here. Some important things to remember: 

• You’re currently paying quarterly instead of monthly.
• Make sure to include the cost of your meal plan.
• When living off campus, you’ll be billed separately for water, trash, WIFI and electricity. 
• Figure out what documents you need to rent off campus, such as rental history, a credit check and whether or not you need a co-signer. 

Once you have everything ready, begin your search to find the perfect place. Because of application fees, we suggest narrowing it down to 2-3 apartments to apply to.

Happy apartment hunting!