Freshman Admission

Housing

We know a big consideration for students is where you will live. At Wisconsin, you'll have lots of options and the choice is yours.

Freshmen are not required to live in our residence halls, but we definitely encourage you to do so. The overwhelming majority of our first-year students live in residence halls, while most sophomores, juniors, and seniors live in the privately owned houses and apartments that surround campus.

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University Residence Halls

Photo of a student making a salad at the salad bar at Elizabeth Waters' Cafeteria.

Elizabeth Waters Dining Room

Our University Residence Halls are home to nearly 6,900 students and offer an ever-increasing variety of programs and services. The halls are clustered into two neighborhoods. One neighborhood sits along the beautiful shore of Lake Mendota. The other is in the heart of the southeast-area academic buildings and recreational facilities, and very near downtown.

But no matter where you live on campus, you'll quickly discover that our residence hall communities give you the resources, support, services, technology, and cultural and social opportunities you need to learn, make friends, and feel right at home.

In particular, University Residence Halls feature:

  • Academic programs that enhance the student residential experience. Within the halls, you'll find academic advising, tutoring services, study rooms, classrooms, and wireless access points.
  • Learning communities that give you the chance to live and learn with other students who share your interests. Choose from a wide variety of residential communities, including Women in Science and Engineering, the Multicultural Learning Community, Chadbourne Residential College, the Bradley Learning Community, the International Learning Community, and more than 25 First-Year Interest Groups.
  • Residence hall rooms that include the basics (beds, desks, chairs), as well as telephone and free cable TV, high-speed Internet, and refrigerators.
  • Food service that is popular and convenient. Students can choose from a variety of dining rooms, carryout stores, delis, coffee houses, and even delivery services. And we're constantly increasing our selections of organic, vegetarian, vegan, and kosher foods. Residents pay only for the food they select (a meal plan is not required) using their Housing Food debit account, which is part of the student ID card (Wiscard).
Photo of the Lakeshore Residence Halls.

Lakeshore Residence Halls

Freshmen admitted for the fall term will automatically receive a University Housing contract, as long as space remains available. The contract will be generated at the time of admission and mailed within two to three weeks. Students admitted for the spring semester should contact University Housing to request an application.

For complete details on University Housing, including the residence hall neighborhoods, learning communities, the application process, rates, contracts, and room assignments, visit the University Housing Web site.

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Campus-Area Housing

In addition to the University Residence Halls, UW-Madison students can choose from a variety of other housing options. They include privately owned residence halls, houses, apartments, efficiencies, condos, rooms, and co-ops. Visitor & Information Programs provides a centralized listing of available campus-area housing. Visit the Campus-Area Housing Listing Service to learn more.

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