Housing Requirement Policy Update
Beginning in Fall 2026, NMU’s Housing Requirement Policy will update to require all single undergraduate students to live in University residence halls while enrolled for classes at Northern Michigan University
One important change affecting only incoming Fall 2026 students is that junior standing based on 56 earned credits is no longer an exemption from the live-on requirement. This helps create a consistent, easy-to-understand policy for all students. If you are a current NMU student, you are exempt from this change under the pre-existing policy.
This requirement does not apply to those undergraduates who:
- Have resided for four or more semesters in residence halls, or
- Are 21 years of age or older on or before the last official day of registration for
the fall semester, or - Are residing at home with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s)*, or
- Are veterans who qualify for veterans’ benefits by virtue of active service in the armed forces, or
- Are taking 8 or fewer credits during the semester in question.
- *With a typical class schedule of nine (9) credits or more, it is expected that the commuting distance from home will be no greater than 60 miles.
The Housing Requirement is a Condition of Enrollment (NMU Student Handbook – Student Code) and must be met throughout the academic year, including spring and summer sessions.
Apartment Housing Eligibility (Beginning Fall 2026)
To rent a University apartment, you must be an enrolled student and meet at least one of the following requirements:
1) be 21 years of age or older; or
2) have lived in a college or university residence hall for at least four semesters; or
3) be a graduate student ; or
4) be a veteran with one year of active duty military service.
Undergraduate or graduate students must be enrolled in and complete at least four credit hours during both fall and winter semesters and must either be enrolled in one or more classes during the summer session(s) or be pre-registered for fall classes.
This change will affect new students beginning their NMU career in Fall 2026. Current students living in the halls during Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 will be exempt from this change under the previous policy, meaning junior credit status will still qualify them for apartments.
How Apartment Assignments Work
Assignments are made as apartments open up. Priority is based on:
Move-in date requested on the application
Application submission date (first-come, first-served)
Because assignments happen continuously, your position on the list may change as other students are added or removed.
Why NMU Has a Housing Requirement
Living on campus is central to the NMU experience. The requirement is designed to give students:
A supportive environment for personal development
More opportunities for social connections
Stronger involvement in community activities
Better access to campus resources and events
Research consistently shows that students who live on campus are more engaged and more successful academically—especially in their first years.
Hear from NMU Students
Petra Frazier
'28
"Living in the NMU residence halls has helped me build a community and have a place that is the perfect home away from home. This living experience has supported me by allowing me to make new friends easily and have a connection to a place on campus that gives me pride. Being from Marquette, living in the residence halls helped me be able to get used to living with other people and be comfortable sharing a space and being more independent."
Leia Economopoulos
'28
"This is my second year in the residence halls. Living in the dorms has helped me build connections by giving me constant opportunities to meet new people through hall events and everyday interactions. Being surrounded by other students made it easy to form friendships, get involved, and feel supported. Comparing the start of my freshman year to my sophomore year, I can see how much I’ve grown. I’ve built connections not only with other residents but also with all the RAs in Maple Hall. This sense of community made the campus feel welcoming and helped me realize that NMU was the right fit for me. Living on campus has also supported my academic success by giving me easy access to resources like study rooms, campus events, and professors’ office hours being available to me. Being surrounded by other residents with similar goals helped me build consistent routines, stay motivated, and manage my time more effectively outside of classes."
