Housing

Apply for Housing

Here you will find Housing Application information for both incoming freshman and transfer students, along with incoming graduate students.

Incoming Freshman & Transfer Students

Living on campus at Western Illinois University is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, designed to help you make friends, achieve academic success, and prepare for life after graduation. As soon as you're admitted to Western, you can apply for housing and be one step closer to moving into your new home at Western Illinois University.

Apply in 3 Steps!

Step 1: Learn more living on campus, and explore your Themed Community. All freshman students live together on First Year Experience (FYE) floors in Lincoln-Washington and Thompson, which provides them with the opportunity to meet, live and transition into college life with other first year students. Transfer students with 30 or more credit hours will be able to prefer upper-division residence halls by first, second, and third choice.

Step 2: Fill out the Housing Application & Preference Form and pay the $50 application fee.

Step 3: Wait for your Residence Hall assignment! View the Housing Application Timeline below.

Housing Application Timeline

  • September 16, 2024
    Housing application opens for Spring 2025
  • Mid-October 2024 - August 2025
    Students can apply for the 2025-2026 academic year. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. We do guarantee housing; however, the earlier you apply the more likely your preferences will be matched.
  • Late December 2024
    Spring 2025 assignments made available on STARS and emailed to students.
  • March 1, 2025
    Housing contract cancellation deadline for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2025 semesters
  • Late July 2025
    All mutual roommate requests, Living Learning Community (LLC), and housing preferences must be final and complete. Need to change any of your preferences after you have already applied for housing? It's simple: Log-on to STARS and select "Lifestyle Preferences Update" from the Housing/Dining Menu. Fall 2025 assignments made available on STARS and emailed to students.
  • August 14, 2025
    The online housing application closes. Housing applications will be available in the UHDS office in Seal Hall.

What You’ll Need to Apply for Housing (Undergraduate):

  1. Your 9-digit WIU number and your WIU email address
  2. Your Community Preference: This is where you will indicate if you are interested in a Themed Community and will preference a residence hall if transferring in with 30 or more credit hours.
  3. Your Roommate Preference: If you know someone you would like to live with, you will need their name and WIU email address. Otherwise, after you apply, you will have the option to go through our Roommate Matching System or be randomly assigned a roommate, based on the lifestyle preference questions answered on your application.
  4. Housing Application Fee: When completing the online housing application, you will need to pay the $50 non-refundable processing fee by major credit card when submitting your housing application. To pay by check, call 309-298-3000 or email us at uhds@wiu.edu to request a housing application packet to be mailed. Cash payment is only accepted in person at Seal Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455.

Are you a non-traditional student (24+ years old)? You may be eligible for Graduate Housing.

Related Links

Incoming Graduate Students

As soon as you're admitted to Western, you can apply for housing and be one step closer to moving into your new home at Western Illinois University. We do guarantee housing; however, the earlier you apply the more likely your preferences will be matched.

What You’ll Need to Apply for Housing (Graduate):

  • Your 9-digit WIU number and your WIU email address
  • Preference in Residence Halls and/or Graduate Housing
  • Housing Application Fee: When completing the online housing application, you will need to pay the $50 non-refundable processing fee by major credit card when submitting your housing application. To pay by check, call 309-298-3000 or email us at uhds@wiu.edu to request a housing application packet to be mailed. Cash payment only accepted in person at Seal Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455.
    If applying to live in the Residence Halls as a Graduate Student:
  • Your Community Preference: This is where you will indicate your residence hall preference by first, second, and third choice
  • Your Roommate Preference: If you know someone you would like to live with, you will need their name and 9-digit WIU ID Number. Otherwise, after you apply, you will be randomly assigned a roommate, based on the lifestyle preference questions answered on your application.
Living Option - Westbrook House
  • Single graduate students
  • Non-Traditional Undergraduate Students (24 years old at the beginning of the semester)

Students will be contacted on an individual appointment basis.

Current Residents

Continue to take advantage of the many benefits that come with living life on campus! Visit the Housing Renewal Page for more information.

Off-Campus Students

Want to live life on? Visit our office in Seal Hall to fill out a new housing application or reinstate your previous housing contract.

Questions?

Give us a call at (309)298-3000 or email us at uhds@wiu.edu