Housing Exemptions
Oberlin College requires all students to reside on campus and participate in a meal plan unless approved for Off-Campus or an Exemption. Students wishing to be exempted from college housing and/or meal plan must meet at least one of the exemption criteria and submit the required documentation for review and approval before the set deadline.
Exemption Application Process
Applicants must complete the Housing Application and the Exemption Section of the application. Applicant must submit all required supporting documentation to the Housing Application by the deadline.
Exemptions status does not carry over from year to year, and students must reapply yearly.
If you qualify for an exemption and subsequently ask for on-campus housing or dining, you forfeit off-campus status for the entire semester or the remaining portion thereof.
Students should only sign a lease or pay a deposit with written notification of release from the Residence Life Office. Any student enrolled in the college but leaves college housing or dining without a release continues to be liable for charges for the entire Academic Year.
Deadline to Apply
Current and Returning Students- March 17, 2025
New and First-Year Students- June 2, 2025
Types of Exemptions
Students who are 23 years or older by January 2 of the academic year in which the exemption applies to them.
Documentation:
Complete the Housing Application and Exemption Sections of the application.
No additional documentation is required for the age exemption.
Students who live with their parents or guardians and commute from their parents or guardians' primary home within a fifty (50) mile radius of Oberlin and have a minimum of six (6) months established residency.
Documentation:
- Complete the Housing Application and Exemption Sections of the application.
- Upload to the Housing Application, a copy of the parent/legal guardian’s driver’s license or state-issued identification, showing a matching address and
- Upload to the Housing Application a copy of utility bills showing the permanent address for six months prior to the date of the request. Legal guardian's name must be on the utility bill.
Students married by legal commitment and who are married to an individual who is a non-Oberlin student.
Documentation:
- Complete the Housing Application and Exemption Sections of the application.
- Upload a copy of the Marriage Certificate by August 15 for upcoming fall semester requests and December 15 for upcoming spring semester request.
Students who are the primary care-giver for an underage, dependent child defined as:
- the student's child or stepchild;
- having the same principal residence as the student;
- under the age of 18 or permanently and totally disabled; and
- unable to provide more than one-half of their own support.
Documentation:
- Complete the Housing Application and Exemption Sections of the application.
- Upload a copy of your most recent year's complete income tax form listing children who were claimed as dependents by the student.
Students enrolled for 5 credit hours or less.
Documentation:
- Complete the Housing Application and Exemption Sections of the application.
- Students must provide a copy of the part-time approval form. Exemption will not be granted until after the add/drop period at which time eligibility will be verified.