Off-Campus Housing
As a residential college, Cornell requires students to live in campus housing. Students who intend not to live on campus must either meet one of the exceptions of the residency policy or must go through the off-campus lottery.
Exceptions to the residency policy
The following students may request exception to the residency policy and will need to complete a Request for Exception to the Residency Policy (PDF), but must do so no later than Wednesday, January 25th:
- Students living with parents whose full-time, permanent residence is in or very near Mount Vernon.
- Married students.
- Students with one or more dependent children.
- Students who have completed eight semesters in residence at Cornell College.
- Students who are 24 years of age or older by September 1, 2012.
- Students with special medical or dietary needs, as verified by a doctor's completion of the Documentation of Medical/Psychological Conditions form and recommended by the Director of Student Health Services or the Director of Counseling.
All exceptions to the residency policy must be requested through the Residence Life Office by Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Eligible students who do not submit a request by the deadline will be expected to live on-campus for the entire 2012-13 academic year. Exceptions to the residency requirement are subject to annual renewal.
Off-campus lottery
Each year, the Dean of Students allows a portion of the senior class to live off campus through participation in a lottery. Refer to our information on the off-campus lottery for details.
Financial aid information
Students who choose to live off campus will have their institutional, need based, financial aid adjusted proportionally to their actual college charges. The type of institutional aid that will be affected will be the Cornell grant and any endowed scholarships that are awarded based upon need or replacing a Cornell grant. All academic, fine arts, federal or state grants, scholarships, or loans will not be adjusted.
The following is a chart of off-campus adjustments for 2012-13:
Housing & Meal Plan % of Need Based Institutional Aid Awarded
Off-campus/full meal plan 90%
Off-campus/7-meal plan 84%
Exceptions to the above policy are:
- Students enrolled in two or less blocks.
- Students who have been granted off-campus permission due to medical conditions.
- Students living with parents (a separate budget figure is used to calculate financial aid for students living at home).
- Other exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The staff in the Financial Assistance Office would be happy to do a comparison of financial aid living off campus vs. living on campus to assist with students with their decision. Please contact the Financial Assistance Office at (319) 895-4216 (or x4216 from an on-campus telephone) with any questions or concerns in regard to this policy.
Off-campus housing resources
Students approved to find off-campus housing may refer to our off-campus resources for suggestions on choosing a place to live.