Launch of On-campus Living Requirement for First- and Second-Year Students
With the Cal Poly Humboldt polytechnic transformation and the addition of our new student housing complex opening in Fall 2025, the University is expanding opportunities for our current students to continue living on campus and enhancing the student experience for all.
Starting in Fall 2025, all first-year students who graduate from a high school outside of Humboldt’s local admission area (Humboldt and Del Norte counties) will be required to live on campus for two years. Housing will also be available for transfer and continuing students. Current, continuing students will not be required to live on campus. Also, all students, including current students, who live in campus housing will be required to have a meal plan. Exemptions will apply for current residents who want to live in College Creek or Campus Apartments.
For first-year students, providing sufficient campus housing reduces the anxiety associated with finding housing when moving to a rural, small-town area, while providing an on-ramp to student success that helps students to remain engaged with their campus community.
First- and second-year student residents are proven to academically outperform their peers who live off campus. Research shows that the average GPA is 11% higher for residential students and 13% higher for students living in learning communities.
Cal Poly Humboldt’s Place Based Learning Communities are already a model for new student engagement, and this new housing guarantee will ensure the housing space necessary to support expanding the communities.
Housing will have an exemption process for students based on criteria such as:
Age 21 or older by a date prior to the academic year
Currently active or military veterans
Married, domestic partner, or have legally dependent children
Independent student status for at least a number of years prior to the academic year as defined by FAFSA
Medical or disability circumstances that cannot be accommodated
Student who lives at a permanent address in proximity to the campus with a relative or guardian
Students who are studying abroad
Cal Poly Humboldt joins several other CSUs with established live-on requirements for student success:
We know from a survey by the National Survey of Student Engagement that:
92% of first-year students who live on campus return as sophomores as opposed to 90% of students who live off campus.
2.2% more sophomores who live on campus return for their third year than those who live independently of their families off campus.
2.2% more students who reside in living-learning communities return than other on-campus students. The difference is 4.7 percentage points for male students.
Recently, ACUHO-I shared this video about the benefits of living on campus at this year’s Housing conference. Highlights include:
48% of surveyed students say living on campus improved their academic performance.
44% say living on campus helped them access resources to support their academic success.
First- and second-year students who live on campus are more likely to return for the following year.
Campus living forges connections.
Almost half of students living on campus say it increases their sense of belonging.
58% of students say they feel accepted by their hall neighbors.
57% say it helps them live cooperatively.
Living on campus broadens student’s perspectives.
80% of first-year students living on campus felt free of harassment and discrimination where they live.
55% say campus living helps them meet people.
More than 52% say they benefit from interactions with residents who are different from them.
And 47% believe it enhanced their ability to resolve conflicts.
The Admissions team will be sharing the benefits of living on campus with prospective students and how Cal Poly Humboldt is helping to support them
As always we’re looking forward to welcoming new students to campus, helping them make the transition to living and succeeding here, and making Humboldt their home.