Continuing Student Housing

Updated: August 20, 2019

The Continuing Student Housing application for the 2018-19 academic year is now closed. 

Note! A waitlist opened Wednesday, March 14 to students who did not secure housing during the application window. Since offers of campus housing will be made from the waitlist based on availability, we suggest students on the Interest List begin looking for off-campus housing.

Be sure to check your Cal Poly email for a possible waitlist offer as these are sent to your Cal Poly email address.  When offers are made, they will be sent after 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and require a time-sensitive response.

About 

Perfect for continuing students, campus apartments are safe and convenient with all the amenities you expect: full kitchens, Wi-Fi included, the option of single or double bedrooms and the opportunity to choose your living space. 

Continuing students live in Poly Canyon Village and Cerro Vista Apartments, beautiful communities with breath-taking views, convenient dining, and a nearby market. All of it is just steps away from class. 

Follow us on social: Twitter & Instagram @cp_housing 

What You Can Expect in 2018

• Poly Canyon Village will be reserved exclusively for continuing students. 
• Singles will be the majority of available bedspaces. There will also be standard doubles. 
• Current freshmen have priority to secure housing during a one-week window starting Thursday, March 1. All continuing students have access to secure housing starting Thursday, March 8. 
• Students can secure housing through the University Housing single-click access on the Cal Poly Portal.  (The Housing Tab is no longer active.)
• A $500 non-refundable initial payment, submitted with the online application, secures your space and is applied to your total cost of housing. There is no application fee and no deposit. 
• New housing rates will support necessary facility upgrades across University Housing including maintenance of campus apartments and modernization of older living communities. The rates are in line with other university housing programs.
• A portion of the increase will be set aside for grants to support low-income students who have the greatest financial need. The grant to these students is $1,000 towards the academic year’s housing.
• There will be an option to request up to three mutually confirmed roommates in the housing application. You must list all confirmed roommates you plan to live with. Only students who have secured housing can be added as confirmed roommates.  
• The last day to edit the Housing Application, including adding confirmed roommates, is Wednesday, April 11, 2018.
• You will self-select your apartment/room during spring quarter so that your housing plans are set before you leave for summer.

Steps to Secure Housing

Know your Application Window
Current freshmen apply starting Thursday, March 1. The application opens to all continuing students on Thursday, March 8. 

The application will close when we have reached capacity based on demand.  After the application closes, students can add their names to an interest list. 

Apply/Secure 
Go to University Housing single-click access on the Cal Poly Portal to apply for and secure housing. 

On the housing application you will:

• Complete/verify your profile info.
• If you haven't lived on campus before, complete your Meningococcal response via these two steps: 1) Confirm that you have read the info provided about Meningococcal and 2) let us know if you have received/intend to receive the vaccine or do not intend to receive the vaccine.
• Add accommodation information. (All accommodation requests, including students with Emotional Support Animals and requests for specific room configurations must renew with the DRC annually.)
• Agree to the contract.
• Make your $500 non-refundable initial payment.
• Add up to three roommates. All roommate requests must be mutual to be included in self-selection.
• Select preferred housing options such as Learning Community preference, Gender-Inclusive housing, Grad Guard Renters Insurance, etc.

Cancellations
The $500 initial payment is non-refundable. The last day to cancel campus housing, and avoid further financial penalty, is Friday, Aug. 17. 

Apartment/Room Self-Selection

Continuing students who have secured campus housing are able to self-assign their room in an apartment during spring quarter.

Appointments are determined based on priority window and a lottery. Freshmen who applied during the first priority window (March 1-7) are in the first group of students to self-select. The appointment date and time for students who applied in the same application window and on the same day is based on a lottery.

During self-selection, students can pull in up to three roommates. It is necessary to add roommates if you wish to be part of a confirmed roommate group at self-selection. 

Planning Links

Continuing Student Housing Fees 
Answers to Continuing Student Application & Self-Selection FAQs
Continuing Student Housing Application Steps and Timeline (pdf)
Residence Halls & Apartment Amenities & Floor Plans
Quick Tips for Updating Roommate Groups

Learning Communities

Cal Poly apartments offer more of the independence that comes with apartment living combined with support when you need it. Our continuing student Learning Communities offer balance - social events to help you unwind and academic partnerships to provide the very best learning experience.

CP Scholars 2.0 
Second-year CP Scholars build a community with other CP Scholars in a space geared at providing academic and personal resources. 

Substance Free 2.0
Students are committed to having a great time without drugs or alcohol. The community recognizes that our behaviors have a significant impact on our wellness and adopt healthful habits, while avoiding destructive habits. 

Entrepreneur iCommunity 2.0
Live with entrepreneurs, creators and visionaries across all majors to cultivate an innovative mindset and prepare to become emerging leaders and career-ready entrepreneurs. Get ready to generate innovative solutions to real-world problems, research promising technologies and develop viable business plans.  

Sophomore Success
Boost your academic and career success by taking advantage of valuable campus partner connections and making life-long friendships. 

Mustang Move-in

Continuing student fall move-in is set for Sunday - Wednesday, Sept. 16-19. 

Early Start Programs participants who are part of campus sanctioned programs that support fall opening qualify for early move-in.

Additional information will be posted in September. Please check back. 

Winter and Spring Housing

Need to live on campus starting with the winter or spring quarter? Visit the Winter and Spring Housing webpage.