Office of Residence Life

Housing Placement - Transfer Students

As a four-year residential college, Oberlin College requires all enrolled students to live on campus unless they receive approval for Study Away, OSCA Housing, or an Exemption status. To comply with this policy, all students — regardless of their housing status — must complete the annual college housing registration

Transfer Student - Housing Information

Transfer students are eligible to live in traditional housing, LLCs, and Woodland Hall, as well as Village housing (if deemed to meet Village qualifications).

Incoming transfer students must complete their housing registration in order to receive housing, and then should expect to receive a housing assignment over the month of June. Housing assignments will be made in line with housing preferences given in the housing registration, as well as class level and availability of housing.

If a transfer student wants to live with a current Oberlin student for the next academic year, both the transfer and returning student should email reslife@oberlin.edu with their request.

We are committed to ensuring that your living experience at Oberlin is enriching and fulfilling. Should you have any questions or require assistance at any stage of the housing registration process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to support you every step of the way.

We look forward to welcoming you to your new home at Oberlin.

 

Disability Accommodation Requests
Eligibility

Students with disabilities may apply for housing and dining accommodations to request reasonable modifications. The College requires supporting documentation from an appropriately licensed professional that identifies the student's disability-related barriers to access and how the requested accommodation will mitigate or remove those barriers.  Complete Details Available Here 

Application Process
  • Complete the ODA Documentation
  • Schedule a meeting with ODA- Meet with the Office for Disability and Access staff
  • Complete the Housing Registration
  • If you have questions about your accommodation status, please contact the Office for Disability and Access.

Students applying for a disability accommodation must still complete the Housing Registration. If granted an accommodation, you will receive notice from the Office of Disability and Access. Students with accommodations will be assigned housing based on their accommodations and preferences provided in the Housing Registration.

Accommodation housing assignments will be sent via email in June. 

Commuter and Other Exemptions Requests
Eligibility

Commuter and other exemption statuses do not carry over from year to year, and students must reapply yearly. For complete details and requirements, visit Housing Exemptions.

  • Age Exemption- Students who are 23 years or older by January 1 of the academic year in which the exemption applies to them.
  • Commuter Exemption- Students who live with their parents or guardians and commute from their parents or guardians' primary home within a 50 mile radius of Oberlin and have a minimum of six (6) months established residency
    • Required Documentation-Copy of the parent/legal guardian’s driver’s license or state-issued identification, showing a matching address and a Utility bill with the guardian's name and address that is six months prior to the date of the request. 
  • Marriage Exemption- Students married by legal commitment and married to an individual who is a non-Oberlin student.
    • Required Documentation- Copy of Marriage Certificate by August 15 for upcoming fall semester requests and December 15 for upcoming spring semester requests.
  • Dependent Exemption- Students who are the primary caregiver for an underage dependent.
    • Required Documentation- Most recent year's complete income tax form listing children who were claimed as dependents by the student.
  • Part-Time Student Status-Students enrolled for five credit hours or less. The exemption will not be granted until after the add/drop period at which time eligibility will be verified.
    • Required Documentation-Copy of the Part-Time Approval Form. 
Application

Complete the Housing Registration and the Exemption section of the registration.  

Upload all required supporting documentation

Transfer students interested in Living Learning Communities should complete the applications for their interested communities within the housing registration and send a notification email to the ResLife account so the LLC team is notified of your interest

Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA)

Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) has four housing & dining co-ops and one dining-only co-op, which includes one dining safe space and one program hall. As a member of OSCA, you may choose from both room & board and board-only options

To apply, visit the OSCA Website. 

If you have any questions about co-op membership, contact the OSCA office (in the Tank apartment) 440-775-8108 or, email them at office@osca.coop.

Oberlin Student Cooperative Association is an independent student-run housing option that is not part of Oberlin College Housing.