Housing
Guides, Forms, and Contracts
A one-stop shop for all the information you need for your on-campus residential experience.
Residence Halls
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Application Guide
2026-2027 Application Guide
The Housing Application Guide is our annual on-campus housing publication that gives an overview of all of our residence halls and apartments. The Guide also lists Living Learning Communities for the upcoming academic year, offers a map of all of our housing locations, and gives a comparison grid to look at similarities and differences between our residence halls.
If you are single, a first-year student enrolled in seven or more college credits, and under the age of 20, you must live in a CWU residence hall for one academic year regardless of the number of college credits you have earned. This is a mandated WAC Housing Requirement.
Reference the 2026-2027 Application Guide to answer any questions you may have about the application process and life on campus.
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Room and Board Rates
Room and board rates depend on a number of factors, including whether you select a private bedroom or a shared space and which meal plan you select. Rates for on-campus residence halls and apartments are approved in the spring of each year for the coming academic year by the Board of Trustees for the University.
More information on the room rates for the current academic year is posted on our Housing Rates page.
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Room and Board Contract
2026-2027 Academic Year Residence Hall Contract (pdf)
You may view the current academic year's contract online by downloading the 2025-2026 Residence Hall Contract (pdf).
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Reference Guide
You can access the Residence Hall Reference Guide online. This guide informs residents of Housing and Residence Life policies and procedures and provides detailed information on day-to-day living in the halls. As a new resident, utilize this guide as a handbook to maximize your residence life experience.
Apartments
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Apartment Rates
Apartment rates are reviewed annually by the CWU Board of Trustees and approved early each year. The 2026-2027 housing rates are now posted on our Housing Rates page.
2026-2027 apartment rates are effective as of July 1, 2026. The apartment deposit is $200 per contract holder and is due at the time of application. Pets are not allowed in CWU apartments.
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Apartment Contracts
Contracts for the 2026-2027 Academic Year:
- 9 Month (academic year) contracts for new residents and academic-year-only complexes
- Yearlong contracts for renewing residents and year-round complexes
Contracts for the 2025-2026 Academic Year:
- 9 Month (academic year) contracts for new residents and academic-year-only complexes
- Yearlong contracts for renewing residents and year-round complexes
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Apartments Reference Guide
You can access the Apartments Reference Guide online. This guide informs residents of Housing and Residence Life policies and procedures and provides detailed information on day-to-day living in the apartments. As a new resident, utilize this guide as a handbook to maximize your apartment living experience.
First-Year Housing Exemption Request
If you are an incoming student and would like to request an exemption (pdf) to the on-campus residency requirement, please fill out the form below and return it to Housing. Exemptions are generally granted for students who live within a 40-minute radius of campus or who are living in Ellensburg with family.
Central Washington University follows the guidance of the Washington Administrative Code. The WAC policy requires that all students under the age of 20, living outside of a commutable distance with a direct relative, having completed less than three quarters or two semesters of college credits post high school (Running Start credits do not count), or that are unmarried, must live in the residence halls. See the complete policy to know if you are required to live on campus or not.
Housing Application Cancellation Request
Do you need to cancel your housing application? If you have NOT moved into your assigned residence, please email Housing Services at housing@cwu.edu from your CWU email address to request that your housing application be canceled.
Room and Board Contract Cancellation Request
Do you need to cancel your housing and dining contract? If you have already checked in to your living space and accepted your keys, you will need to fill out a contract cancellation request form.
The Contract Cancellation request can be accessed through your MyHousing portal.
- Login to the portal
- Go to "Applications" and select "Contract Cancellation Request."
- Fill out the form and upload the needed documents.
- Housing Services will contact you via email with a decision on your request.
If your reason for canceling is one of the items below, you will not be penalized in the form of liquidated damages:
- Official CWU withdrawal
- Marriage
- Not registered for classes
- Graduating
- Non-local CWU programs (ie. student teaching)
- Moving to an on-campus apartment
As University Housing and Dining Operations are self-supported operations paid entirely out of approved housing/dining student fees, appeals requesting the waiver of the fees noted below will only be considered for reasons of catastrophic student emergencies that impact the student’s ability to meet contractual agreements that occur after submittal of the signed agreement.
CWU News
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