On-Campus Housing & Dining

On-campus housing is much more than just a place to live. The Housing and Residential Life office provides a premier community that is an inclusive residential experience with safe, well-maintained environments that support academic achievement, foster personal development and promote college success. Cornell Dining, takes pride in providing students with a rich dining experience, and not just a meal.

Cornell has a 2-year residential requirement for our first-year and second-year students, including a required meal plan. New transfer students are required to live on campus one academic year.

Living On Campus

Undergraduate students are required to live on campus their first two years. On-campus housing is defined as housing that is owned by the University. Cornell's first-year residence halls are friendly and supportive communities where residents live, learn, socialize, and study together, while Program Houses are themed communities based on shared identities and interests or cultural backgrounds. After a student’s first year, Program Houses, West Campus House Systems, and Cooperative Houses are all options for on-campus living. On-campus housing options offer live-in staff support, opportunities for faculty interaction, cultural and educational programming, and social activities.

Housing and Residence Life has information for students and their families about residence hall life, including information about what to bring to campus and how to get involved in residence hall activities.

For students with specific interests, Program Houses  – or themed residence halls – offer the chance to develop and immerse themselves in interests within an engaging community of residents and out-of-house members. These close-knit communities have a high level of involvement, with regular events, programming, and outreach opportunities, often in collaboration with related academic departments.

Each floor in a residence hall has a Resident Advisor (RA). This is an upperclass student who is trained with information and resources to assist residents.

Important Dates for On-Campus Residents

• The first six weeks of school are crucial for students to become connected with the Cornell community. As a parent or family member, you can help by encouraging your student to get involved on campus.
• Most traditional residence halls close for school breaks, including spring break, and winter break with no re-entry during both these times (no exceptions).
• Rising Juniors and Seniors may apply to participate in the Housing Selection Process and Rising Sophomores participate in the Spring Housing Selection process for rising sophomores. More information, dates and deadlines can be found on the Upper-level Undergraduate On-Campus Housing page.

Meal Plans & Eating On Campus

All first-year undergraduates are required to have the Unlimited meal plan, which includes unlimited dining room access, $400 Big Red Bucks per semester, and 8 guest meals. After first year, students living on campus can choose different meal plan options, but all students living on campus in residence halls are required to enroll in a university meal plan.

Cornell Dining operates ten residential dining rooms across campus, offering diverse menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students can also use their Big Red Bucks (BRBs) at any Cornell Dining location or campus vending machines.

For detailed information about meal plan options, pricing, and to make changes to a student’s meal plan, visit the Cornell Dining website.

Want to know what's being served right now? Check Cornell Dining Now for current hours and menus.