Department of Housing Operations

Returner Student Application

Available starting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at 8:30 am

Returning Student Housing Application Deadlines

Housing Allocations Map

When the returning student housing application launches, applicants must meet the above eligibility requirements to access the application. Students will receive an access date that will allow them to start step one of the application. During this step, students will be able to pay the nonrefundable, nontransferable $250 application fee or the $200 prepayment, update their basic bio information, select their opportunity (express renew, honors priority, standard selection) and create or join a roommate group.

During step two, students will select their housing and meal plan and sign and submit their applications. Housing selection timeslots for step two will be assigned to students in order of most completed credits to the least for those that complete step one by the priority deadline.

Learn About Express Renewal (Optional)

Available through: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

If a resident’s current bed is eligible for express renewal, they will be notified of their opportunity to re-select that bed for the next academic year. Students who participate in express renewal will complete their entire housing application and therefore will not be eligible for roommate groups. If the student changes their mind about renewing their current bed for next year, they will need to utilize the room switch option, available starting during step two through July 1.

Summer Express Selection (Optional)

Students who plan to live on campus for the next academic year will have the opportunity to express select their future bed for summer in the summer housing application.

This opportunity is only offered to returning students who hold an academic year bed that is also available for summer. These beds will be identified within the returner housing application. Students who participate in this opportunity will not be required to move out at the end of summer and can continue residing in their room.

Learn About Honors Priority Selection (Optional)

Opt-in available through: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

Students enrolled and accepted in the Honors College before the start of step one, Feb. 3, 2025, will have the option to participate in honors priority housing selection. This means that students who complete step one by Feb. 28, 2025, and opt in will receive a step two housing selection timeslot of March 18, 2025, a day before everyone else. Timeslots for honors priority will be ordered from most to least completed credits within the group.

Participants will be able to create a roommate group or pair with other students who also opted into honors priority selection and will have the option to select from any available bed on campus (there is no specific honors residence hall or apartment). If an honors priority selection student would like to live with someone who is not also in honors priority selection, the other person can select the same room as the honors student during their housing selection timeslot if the room is available; or, the honors priority student can opt out of honors priority to create or join a roommate group with non-honors students.

Learn About Roommate Groups (Optional)

Starting: Monday, Feb. 3, 2025

Available through: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

Returners can create roommate groups of two or four during step one of the returner housing application. To qualify to participate in roommate groups, students must complete step one by the priority deadline of Feb. 28, 2025. Students will also only be able to create roommate groups with those who have selected the same opportunity during step one. For example, a student who has selected the honors priority selection can only form a roommate group with others who also opted into honors priority selection.

Housing selection timeslots will be sent out to students before the start of step two. This will help students determine who should be the group leader. Because the group leader is the person who assigns beds for the entire group, it is common that the student with the earliest housing selection timeslot be assigned the role.

Learn About Returner with New Student Pairing Process (Optional)

Available starting: Monday, Feb. 3, 2025

Returner students have the opportunity to live with one new GCU student by creating a returner with new student pair in their application. Both students will opt into this process and the returning student will place both themselves and the new student in beds in new student housing.

Learn About Room Switch (Optional)

Available through: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Room switch is a tool built into the returner housing application that allows students to switch into a different, available bed on campus. Students are able to room switch as many times as they would like until the deadline. Students will only see the room switch option after they have completed their housing application and have reached the application status page.

Learn About Room Trade (Optional)

Available through: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Room trade is the option to trade rooms with another student. Both students must opt into room trade and both students must confirm their room trade for it to go through. Students can room trade as many times as they would like until the deadline. Students will only see the room trade option after they have completed their housing application.

Move-In Appointment Selection

Move-in appointment access dates begin Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 8:30 am for returning students

A move-in appointment is required for students to move in during Welcome Week. Students will be able to select a move-in appointment in the housing portal starting on their assigned access date. Access dates will be assigned based on application complete date and emailed to student's GCU email account at the end of April.

Students do NOT have to select their move-in appointment at the exact time of their access date. Instead, this indicates the earliest a student will be able to see move-in appointments in the housing portal.

Returner Housing Application Important Dates

New Student Application

Available Starting: Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 at 8:30 am

New Student Housing Guide

New Student Housing Application Deadlines

When the new student application launches, applicants must meet the above eligibility requirements to access the application (approved immunizations need to be complete to select a move-in appointment). Once eligible, students will be able to pay the $250 nonrefundable, nontransferable application fee, update their basic bio information, select a bed on campus, select a meal plan, review renter’s insurance information, sign the contract and submit the application.

Students will also see various options within the new student housing application including roommate matching, Living Learning Communities (LLCs) and Room Switch. 

Move-In Appointment Selection

Assigned access dates begin: Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 8:30 am 

A move-in appointment is required for students to move in during Welcome Week. Students will be able to select a move-in appointment in the housing portal starting on their assigned access date. Access dates are assigned weekly, based on application complete date, and emailed to student's GCU email account.

Students do NOT have to make their move-in appointment at the exact time of their access date. Instead, this indicates the earliest a student will be able to see move-in appointments in the housing portal.

Keep in mind, approved immunization records are required to live on campus and will be required to select a move-in appointment.

Learn About Roommate Matching (Optional)

Available through: Friday, March 15, 2025

Students filling out the new student housing application will have the opportunity to form a linked roommate pair. The roommate search option allows students to search for a roommate by name, roommate matching questions, or suggested matches based on compatibility. Roommate matching is not required and is only available for a limited time. If the roommate matching deadline has passed, students will still be able to see the profiles of potential roommates when selecting their bed.

Learn what roommate matching questions you will be asked.

Learn About Returner with New Student Pairing (Optional)

Opt-in beginning: Wednesday, Nov. 6

New students may have the opportunity to live with one returner student in limited designated suites allocated in new student buildings. The new student should opt into the returner with new student pairing within their housing application. By opting into this opportunity, the new student agrees to wait on housing selection in order to be placed into a bed by the returner student during the returner housing application beginning Feb. 3, 2025.

The returner student is responsible for creating a roommate pair with the new student in the returner housing application and selecting beds for both students. Once placed, the new student will be prompted to complete their housing application.

Bed availability is limited.

Learn About Living Learning Communities (Optional for those who qualify)

Opt-in available through: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, pending bed availability

LLC waitlists available through: Friday, March 14, 2025

Living Learning Communities (LLCs) provide an opportunity for new students ages 17-19 in select programs to live in close, tight-knit communities where they can build new friendships and networks with others in their program. Students who qualify and opt in to living in an LLC during the housing selection process can look forward to exclusive events and opportunities. LLCs currently exist for new students ages 17-19 in:

• Colangelo College of Business (CCOB)
• College of Arts and Media (CAM)
• College of Nursing and Health Care Professions (CONHCP)
• College of Theology (COT)
• Honors
• Psychology
• College of Engineering and Technology (CET)
• College of Natural Sciences (CNS)
• College of Education (COE)

All LLCs are housed in Juniper Hall, located in the Grove, and offer double and/or triple occupancy options. LLC housing is limited and fills up fast! If the beds are filled, students interested in the Living Learning Communities will have access to LLC waitlists. Placement is not guaranteed.

Learn About Room Switch (Optional)

Available through: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Room switch is a tool built into the new student housing application that allows students to switch into a different, available bed on campus. Students are able to room switch as many times as they would like until the deadline, even if they have already signed and submitted their housing contract.

Learn About Room Trade (Optional)

Available beginning: Friday, March 14 through Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Room trade is a tool available in the housing portal that allows students to trade beds. Both students must opt into room trade and both must confirm their room trade. Students can room trade as many times as they would like until the deadline. Students will only see the room trade option after they have completed their housing application.

Students are unable to utilize room trade and room switch at the same time.

New Student Application Important Dates

Spring Only Housing Selection

Review the upcoming dates and deadlines for Spring Only Housing selection.

Summer Housing Application

Available starting Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at 10 am

Summer Housing Overview

To be eligible to live on campus for the summer semester, applicants must:

View Summer Frequently Asked Questions

View Contingency Housing Frequently Asked Questions

Learn About Self-Selection for Summer

Starts: Wednesday, April 9 based on timeslots

• Students will be able to select their own bed for Summer 2025 during step two of the summer housing application. Express selection may be available for some students to select the same booking as their fall housing for summer. This will allow students to not have to move in and out between terms.
• Selection timeslots will be assigned in order of most completed credits to least.
• Though it will be avoided whenever possible, after a student selects a bed for summer they may have to be moved by the university. Please see the Summer FAQs or Contingency Housing FAQs for more information.

Summer Express Renewal (Optional)

Starting: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025

Summer Express Renewal Deadline: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

Spring 2025 residents have the opportunity to express renew their spring bed for Summer 2025. This opportunity is only offered to students with an eligible bed and who complete step one by the express renewal deadline.

Students who participate in this opportunity will continue to reside in their current room and will not be required to move out at the end of spring.

Learn About Summer Express Selection (Optional)

Starting: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Available through: Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Summer express selection allows students applying to live on campus for the summer to express select their summer bed to match their academic year bed. In order to opt into this process, students must meet the summer application step one priority deadline, March 7, 2025.

Pre-Summer Bookings

Spring 2025 residents who are not eligible and/or do not participate in the summer express renewal process will be assigned a pre-summer booking.

Students who complete step one by the priority deadline will have their pre-summer booking located in their current spring room. Students who do not complete step one by the priority deadline will be assigned contingency housing as their pre-summer booking.

Learn About Contingency Housing

• Contingency housing is designed as a temporary place for students whose Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 housing is not yet available and for students who do not complete step one by the priority deadline. Late applicants for Summer 2025 will have their pre-summer booking located in contingency housing until the summer move-over weekend.
• It is advised that if you are a summer resident or approved for early move-in to not select Gila Apartments for your Fall 2024 housing.

Please see the Summer FAQs or Contingency Housing FAQs for more information.

Summer Important Dates