Continuing Student Housing

Updated: Feb. 13, 2019

Continuing Student Housing

Second-year students and beyond can choose from three different Cal Poly apartment communities.

On campus, students can live in the Cerro Vista or Poly Canyon Village apartments. These furnished apartments are safe and convenient with all the amenities: full kitchens, Wi-Fi, private or shared bedrooms, regular cleaning service and a network of support to help you succeed. Plus, there’s the 360-degree views, the amazing hikes, and nearby shops — right in your backyard.  

Students can also live in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo at Cal Poly Lofts, a smaller community designed for student entrepreneurs and innovators. The Lofts are beautifully renovated studio, one and two-bedroom, fully-furnished apartments, steps away from business networks, the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and nearby shops, eateries and entertainment.

Learn more about Cal Poly Lofts and how to apply here. (The first step of the Cal Poly Lofts application closes Feb. 8.) 

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @cp_housing for all the latest updates.  

How to apply for Campus Apartments

The 2019-20 campus housing application is now open to all students! 
Sign up early! The application remains open until spaces are filled. 

Apply now! >>

See 2019-20 housing fees info. >> 

How it works

• Current apartment residents apply Feb. 1 
• First-year and all other students apply Feb. 5

Feb. 14 - March 1: Return to the application and decide on your preferred living options! 

• Roommates
• Renter’s Insurance (Optional)
• Learning Community
• Accommodations

In the application, students can choose a same-gender, mixed-gender, or gender-inclusive apartment. Here's what that means:

• Same-gender: Students share an apartment with other students of the same sex or gender.
• Mixed-gender: Students share an apartment with other students of any sex or gender.
• Gender-inclusive: We recognize that many students would be more comfortable living with other members of the LGBTQ+ community and/or in housing options inclusive of all genders, gender identities, and expressions (not gendered into male and female spaces). Gender-inclusive apartments are designed to meet this need. They are available in both the PRIDE Community and in clusters throughout all other residential learning communities.

Apartment configurations

Know your options — so you can select an apartment that best fits you and your roommate group (if you have one). Most of our apartments are 4-person, 4-room apartments. There are also a limited number of 5-person and 6-person apartments available in Poly Canyon Village.

Here's a breakdown:

See floorplans and amenities in campus apartments:

 Cerro Vista Apartments

The apartment community closest to the core of campus, Cerro Vista houses nearly 800 residents in six connecting buildings.

Poly Canyon Village

Nestled in the foothills of Poly Canyon, PCV houses over 2,500 residents in nine buildings and includes a central plaza with a market, café and post office.
 

Choosing your roommates

• Being a part of a roommate group is optional. You can apply for housing as an individual.
• Designate a group leader to request and add all the roommates to the group. 
• Make sure your Residential Learning Communities, Gender Inclusive Housing and other preferences match your roommates. 
• We have a limited number of 5- and 6-person apartments. They fill quickly, so keep that in mind as you form your group. 
• Communicate. Make sure the group member who is selecting your apartment knows what the group wants.

Room selection

Starting in mid-April, you and your group will select rooms in an available apartment. Your group’s room selection appointment is determined by a lottery based on two factors: the size of your roommate group and the earliest date a member of your group secured housing. You will be notified of your room selection appointment in April. 

Room selection lottery appointments will take place in the following order: 

Any 6- or 5-person groups that exceed the number of 5- and 6-person apartments will be notified and can divide up for the 4-person apartment lottery and/or the 3-2-1 lottery. 

Isn’t that different from last year? 

Yup! Last year, the lottery was based only on the date students applied. All applicants — regardless of group size — could pick any available bedroom. Many individuals assigned themselves a room in empty apartments, which meant lots of four-person groups had to split up unexpectedly.  

Based on student feedback, this year room selection lotteries will be based on group size and the date you secured housing. Larger groups will go first and fill entire apartments. Then smaller groups of 3, 2, and 1 will fill the remaining apartments. This way, fewer students should have to break up their groups. 

Room selection tips:

• Watch your email! That’s how we let you know your room selection appointment and keep you informed of any updates or changes. 
• Be flexible. Some buildings and communities fill quickly. Have a couple of options in both Poly Canyon Village and Cerro Vista ready to go, so you can adjust quickly.
• Groups of six, five, and four that miss their room selection appointment can divide up for the 3-2-1 group lottery.
• Roommate groups of six and five may be contacted to divide up if there are not enough six- and five-person apartments to meet the number of requests. 
• Students that miss all room selection appointments will be assigned a space by University Housing and will not participate in room selection.

Cancellations

To cancel your housing before you move in, fill out the cancellation form. Go to University Housing in your Cal Poly Portal, then click on Forms. The $500 initial payment is non-refundable. The last day to cancel campus housing, and avoid a further financial penalty, is Aug. 17, 2019. 

More info

Answers to Continuing Student Application & Room Selection FAQs 

Winter and Spring housing

Need to live on campus starting with the winter or spring quarter? Visit the Winter and Spring Housing webpage. If you are studying abroad or doing an internship for fall 2019, you do not need to apply for fall housing. Instead, apply for the quarter you require housing.