Housing License Cancellation Policy
Our Housing License Cancellation Policy is changing for all housing licenses beginning August 2026 and thereafter, including licenses for the 2026-2027 academic year that will be signed in Fall 2025.
Housing Cancellation Policy through 2025-2026
(effective through the 2025-2026 academic year)
The Housing License is binding for the entire Academic Year and cannot be cancelled for any reason other than those listed below.
If you meet the criteria below for cancellation, please submit your request via the housing portal and be prepared to provide supporting documentation if requested. The deadline to submit your request is June 15 for the fall semester and for December 1 for the spring semester. Submission requests received after the deadline could result in an $800 cancellation fee.
- If you defer admission, withdraw, or graduate
- If you take a medical, voluntary or required leave of absence
- If you study away from Ithaca (e.g. a Global Cornell program, Cornell in Washington/Rome, ILR in NYC, Engineering Co-op, academic internship)
Cancellation requests for any other reason, including to live off campus, will not be considered.
If you believe that your extenuating circumstance qualifies you for a cancellation, you may submit a cancellation request via the housing portal. Appeals are rarely granted. If approved, an $800 cancellation fee will apply.
Housing Cancellation Policy for 2026 and beyond
(effective with all undergraduate housing licenses beginning August 2026)
New students (first-year and newly enrolled transfer) and second-year students, including transfer students admitted as second-year students, are required to live in on-campus housing and cannot cancel a housing assignment unless the student:
- is no longer attending the University
- has applied and been approved for an exemption
- (second-year students only) have been accepted to live in an approved Greek house, affiliated house, or University Co-op prior to the rising sophomore selection deadline
Returning juniors and seniors who have already fulfilled the residential requirement are eligible to cancel their housing license and may cancel prior to checking in or occupying a residence. All cancellation requests must be submitted through the Housing & Dining Portal. For these undergraduate students, the cancellation schedule and fees are as follows:
- Through January 31: $50
- February 1 to March 31: $500
- April 1 to June 30: $1,000
- July 1 to August 15: $2,000
- After August 15: 50% of fall semester room rate
- Students who fail to check in and occupy their room by the first day of classes or fail to make arrangements for late arrival will have their assignment cancelled and will be bursar billed 50% of the fall semester room rate.
Students cancelling to participate in a study away from Ithaca (e.g. Cornell in Washington/Rome, Cornell global program, Engineering Co-op, academic internship, ILR in NYC); taking a medical, voluntary, or required leave of absence; deferring admission, withdrawing, or graduating may cancel without penalty by the following deadlines:
- Fall Semester: June 15, 2026
- Spring Semester: December 1, 2026
- Submission requests received after these deadlines will result in a $500 cancellation fee.
The Housing License is binding for the entire Term. If you have already assumed occupancy, the University may permit you to cancel your Housing License under the following circumstances:
- If you withdraw or take a voluntary leave of absence from the University during the Term;
- If you are granted a medical withdrawal or leave, or an academic internship, graduation, or study in absentia during the Term;
- If the University determines that there are adequate other grounds for cancellation.
You may request a cancellation in the Housing & Dining Portal. The University retains sole and absolute discretion over all cancellation determinations. If cancellation is allowed, you will be charged a per diem rate for each day you occupied your assigned housing. You will be required to vacate your assigned housing and turn in your keys within 24 hours of the effective date of cancellation.
Contract releases for any other reason than those listed above may be granted, but only under exceptional circumstances. Contract releases due to exceptional circumstances will be determined by, and are at the sole discretion of, the Office of Housing & Residential Life. You will receive a prorated refund of any prepaid housing fees, less any applicable fees or charges.
Room Consolidation:
Cornell University Housing uses room consolidation to help meet the requests of residents who want to room together or when the room dynamics (i.e., gender, classification) must change to accommodate space needs.
Room consolidation prior to Fall move-in:
- There may be situations when assigned spaces need to be consolidated before the license start date to free up whole rooms for assignment needs.
- Consolidation will be limited, when possible, to the building in which the students plan to reside.
- Students will be notified via Housing Portal of room assignment changes due to consolidation.
Room consolidation after move-in:
- There may be situations when assigned spaces need to be consolidated by Cornell Housing to free up whole rooms for assignment needs.
- Reassignment for consolidation purposes limited to same floor as much as possible, but to another floor within the same building may occur.
- Students who are assigned to a room that is under-occupied will be notified by the Housing Office for voluntary consolidation, where they can seek a preferred roommate on their floor or another floor, if interested.
- After voluntary consolidation, the Housing Office may administratively consolidate by notifying residents that they may either:
- Obtain a roommate by a prescribed date.
- Accept consolidation with another resident, which may require relocating to the other resident’s room.