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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Cooperative Housing

Communities for transfer and upper-level undergraduate students (some houses are also open to graduate & professional students)

For an alternative to the traditional Cornell housing experience, some students choose to live in one of eight university-owned cooperative residences. Co-ops are unique, collaborative communities governed by their student residents, and are among the least expensive housing options on campus.  Members determine house rules and participate in daily operations, including routine cleaning and maintenance. Decisions affecting each house are made democratically at individual house meetings. Houses range in size from as few as 10 to as many as 35 members. Most are coed while others house only women; several have a mixture of both undergraduate and graduate students.

Most of the co-ops offer both single and double rooms. Four co-ops have meal plans; all have shared kitchens.

Applying for Residency Membership is handled independently by each house. Houses start their selection processes in early February, although most communities accept applications on a rolling basis. Please contact the house(s) in which you have interest to learn more about their specific application process. Contact information can be found by visiting the individual co-op pages.

Questions about the co-ops? For general inquiries about Cooperative Housing, contact the Off-Campus, Cooperative and Graduate Living team at co-ops@cornell.edu or 607-254-8383. Or contact a representative of the co-op(s) in which you have interest by visiting the individual co-op pages.

We've been highlighting a few of Cornell's Co-ops! Read about them: