Frequently Asked Questions

In order to access the MT Housing Portal, you must be accepted to MTSU and have a Pipeline log-in. If you experience issues, please email [email protected] and we will check your access.

To apply or reapply for residence halls and on-campus apartments, complete the Residential Life Application and return it with the required fees. You can apply online or submit a paper application in person to the Keathley University Center (KUC) Room 300. You may also submit your completed application and prepayment by mail to:

MTSU Housing and Residential Life
Middle Tennessee State University
Post Office Box 6
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

A completed application includes:

1. Signed housing license agreement
2. $350 prepayment
3. Signed and Notarized Financial Guarantor Form (applicants under the age of 18)
4. Proof of Meningitis Vaccination on or after the sixteenth birthday and within the last five years (if first time living on campus at MTSU)

Please note: The housing prepayment is only fully refundable if the student is denied admission from MTSU. Please see housing cancellation policy for more information.

To check your housing status, please email us at [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and MTSU ID Number.

Please note: There is a processing time of up to 10 days after items are submitted or mailed. Be sure your items are submitted to allow ample time for processing.

We begin accepting applications for Fall-Spring academic year on September 15^th.  Students seeking to start housing in the upcoming Spring can apply starting on September 15^th as well.

For students interested in living on campus with us again for next Fall and Spring, the application will open on September 15^th.

Applicants who reside on campus during current Fall semester do not need to apply for Spring, as our applications are for the full academic year which includes fall and spring terms.

In short, there is no “deadline.” Our housing process remains open as long as space is available. When we run out of rooms, our regular housing application will close and you will need to complete a Waiting List Application.

For applicants who apply before our waiting list begins, the process is two-fold. If your housing application is complete by the deadline posted on our Dates page, you will be assigned a room lottery time. Current residents pick first, and then New residents. Beginning on your assigned room lottery date, you will then log in to our MT Housing Portal to access the room lottery process to look at available options and choose your room and roommate(s).

Once the room lottery process closes, students who applied after the deadline will be assigned based on their application completion date.

Once we are completely full, we will begin our Waiting List. Our Waiting List process is first-come first served, and we are only able to assign students off of the Waiting List if cancellations occur that permit us to do so. If you complete a Waiting List Application, you must complete all required steps above with the exception of the prepayment. Once we can confirm that we have a space for you, you will be asked to submit your prepayment and then you will be placed in the next available cancellation.

Tours of on-campus housing are included on campus tours. You can schedule a tour at https://www.mtsu.edu/schedule-a-visit/ We do have a 360 Virtual Tour that is available on our website. This includes 360 photos of Housing’s traditional and quad-style residence halls and on-campus apartment locations. We also have photos and tours of our halls on our Facebook Page and on Instagram (@mtsu.hrl)

Currently, MTSU does not require any student to live on campus. However, once the student makes application for housing, they will be bound by the terms of the license agreement, including payment for both the fall and spring semesters.

Because housing is awarded first-come first-served and not based upon classification, yes, first year students are able to live in the apartments. However, we do caution that it can be difficult for new students to find friends of similar age/classification/student status, as apartments tend to fill with returning residents. Along those same lines, it may be difficult to secure an apartment space as a new student because most spaces are usually filled by the time new residents begin the room lottery process.

The prepayment fee denotes the student’s investment in an assignment based on the terms of the license agreement. The prepayment is applied toward housing costs, $175 for the fall term and $175 for the spring term, provided the student meets the terms of the license agreement.

All applications are for the academic year which includes both fall and spring terms, so you do have to pay the $350 prepayment fee. However, as long as you do not enroll in Spring courses and cancel by the specified housing cancellation deadlines (see Dates page) then you may be entitled to a portion of the prepayment returned.

You must cancel your license agreement in writing, by either completing a Housing License Cancellation form or emailing a formal notice of cancellation to [email protected]. Once non-registration has been confirmed (usually after February 1^st) your housing prepayment will be applied as a credit to your student account and may be issued in the form of a refund if you do not owe the university money at that time.

Our prepayment is never fully refundable except in the event a student is denied admission to MTSU. However, you may be entitled to a portion of the prepayment refunded, depending on your date of cancellation. Please see the Housing License Agreement or contact 615-898-2971 for more detailed information on cancellation details and deadlines.

Requests for changes in application information may be submitted in writing to [email protected]. Please include your full name and MTSU ID (M number) on the request.

First year students are required to take on either a 5 Day or 7 Day Unlimited meal plan if they choose to reside in on campus housing. University Housing assigns meal plans for first year students, but any classification on or off campus may purchase a separate meal plan through the Aramark Offices in the Keathley University Center (KUC) Room 304 or by emailing [email protected]. More information on the available plans can also be found on their website at https://mtsu.campusdish.com/MealPlans

Due to response from student surveys, beginning in August 2020, Housing and Residential Life will no longer provide in-room cable service.  Students will need to use a streaming service to access their favorite shows, but the upgraded Wi-Fi costs will be included in the student’s rent charges each semester. Laundry, electric, and water utilities are also included in the rent costs each semester.

Your Housing Prepayment is due at the time application is made. Housing “rent” fees are due and payable during the fee payment period at the beginning of the specific term. Please refer to Terms of Occupancy on the license agreement.

The Deferred Payment Plan is available to all students and applies to all university fees. For more information on this plan, please contact the Bursar’s Office. Please note, the $350 Housing prepayment cannot be included in the Deferred Payment Plan and must be submitted in full along with the housing application.

MTSU Housing uses a system called the room lottery process for 90% of its applicants. If students submit a completed housing application for Fall/Spring Housing before the priority application date listed on our Dates Page, they will receive an email at their MTSU email account with a link for an upcoming room lottery date. A tentative room lottery schedule can be found on the Dates Page of our website.

Current Residents: Room lottery for current residents will begin in November for the upcoming academic year (both Fall and Spring terms). A tentative room lottery schedule for new students can be found on the Dates Page of our website.

New Residents or current residents not participating in priority assignment: New students or current students who do not complete the application process by the priority deadlines will be assigned by the housing staff on a first come – first served basis to any remaining available space. All students, once assigned, can view their assignment by clicking on ‘view housing assignment’ under Recommended Actions in the Portal once they have an active room assignment for that term.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the availability of specific room types or facilities. However, students frequently cancel or change their room assignments during the room lottery period. If you have access to the room lottery process, you can log into the housing portal to view available spaces and make any desired changes. If the semester has already started or if the deadline for the room lottery has passed, you can submit a change request form after the second full week of classes. If space is available, we will do our best to accommodate your request. If your preferred room type is not available at that time, you will be notified, and your transfer request will be kept on file for 30 days.

Summer camps and conferences utilize the Residence Halls during the summer, so it is not possible to see your specific room before move-in. However, you will be able to see show rooms that match almost all room types during the Summer Customs program, or view a similar room type on our 360 Virtual Tour on our website.

To room together, roommates must assign themselves to the same room during the room lottery process. Both students need to complete the application simultaneously and before the room lottery deadline. A complete application includes the housing application, prepayment, proof of Meningitis A vaccination (if under 22), and the Financial Guarantor Addendum (if under 18 at the time of application).

When both students have access to the room lottery process, they should look for a completely empty room to assign themselves. If a completely empty room is not available, they will need to choose an available space together.

It’s important to note that if the application process is not completed before the room lottery deadline, we will not be able to accommodate roommate requests. By the timethe room lottery process closes and Housing staff begins making assignments, only a few scattered spaces will be available, and there typically won’t be any completely empty rooms to fulfill roommate requests.

You can go in and select “View My Assignment” at any time through the MTSU Housing Portal. If a roommate has been assigned, the released information will appear there.

With the majority of our room assignments taking place during the room lottery process, most MTSU students will be responsible for finding their own best roommate match. The room lottery process also makes it easy for students who know one another to end up together—as long as a space exists with two vacancies, students can both “pick” into the same room and end up as roommates. It is also not uncommon that students who do not know anyone prior to enrolling find roommates on social media by joining the “MTSU Class of” Facebook page for their class, by using hashtags like #mtsu25 or by utilizing a paid website such as Roomsurf. These methods allow students to talk and get to know one another prior to deciding to be roommates.

For students who miss the room lottery opportunity, the housing operations staff uses an algorithm combining building preference, room type preference and roommate matching questions to find the most suitable accommodation out of the available remaining options.

License agreements are for the full academic year which include both Fall and Spring terms. Cancellations can only be accepted under very specific exceptions (i.e. Student is graduating, student is studying abroad, etc.). However, we do work to honor room changes for students who complete the Change Request form. To complete a Change Request form, sign into the Housing portal at https://www.mtsu.edu/living-on-campus/.

If one is available- yes! Private/Single rooms are available at an additional cost. You can assign into a single/private room so long as one is available. However, bear in mind that they go quickly, so the earlier you apply the better!

Single rooms are rooms in residence halls that are fit for just one occupant. They are smaller than your typical college double-occupancy room and contain just one set of furniture for one occupant.

Due to the demand of single-person accommodation on campus, MTSU also offers Private (PVT) rooms. Private rooms are typical double-occupancy rooms with two sets of furniture, but only one person is assigned to this space. Due to the changing needs of double occupancy rooms year to year and during the summer, we are unable to remove the extra set of furniture in this accommodation type.

Yes, all housing on campus is substance free. Alcohol and drugs are not permitted on campus. All Housing and Residential Life facilities are smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited in all public areas [lobbies, hallways, community baths, classrooms, etc.] and in all residence hall rooms and on-campus apartments.

MTSU is committed to maintaining a drug free environment in the residence halls and in on-campus apartments. Our zero tolerance policy states that any resident who is found responsible for infractions of any of the prohibitions on illegal drugs will be evicted from the residence hall system and not permitted to reside on campus.

Students wishing to reside in Greek Housing complete the housing application and prepayment as normal, indicating the House/Sorority or Fraternity name on their housing application. However, students living in Greek Housing do not participate in the room lottery process. Instead, house managers will send a roster of student placements within their building. After submitting your housing application and prepayment, be sure to contact the House Manager of your sorority/fraternity to ensure that your name is included on this roster.

All halls have a Residence Hall Programming Counsel, which allows for students to get involved in the activities of their facilities and residents. Living Learning Communities also offer opportunities for involvement and leadership within the housing community. For more information, visit the Living Learning Communities page of our website.

Please refer to the following link for a list of recommendations: Things to bring with you

For information on what to bring and not to bring when moving into campus housing visit https://mtsu.edu/living-on-campus. There New Students have access to information needed for successful campus living.

All classifications are permitted to have their car on campus, and the cost of your permit is included in your fees. However, you must register your vehicle and receive the appropriate parking decal. For more information, visit the Parking Services website.

Items like posters and photos can be hung with Command ™ hooks and strips, or by using blue painters’ tape. Please note that scotch tape, double sided tape and duct tape can remove paint and drywall, and may result in damage charges being assessed at check-out.

All buildings and complexes have centrally located laundry facilities including both washers and dryers. All machines can be operated without the use of coins, and the cost is included in your university fees.

You will receive specific check-in instructions in your pre-check in form. This will be sent to your MTSU email account.

Specific check-in information is available in the “View My Assignment” portal, as well as on the Dates portion of the website. Checking in during the posted check-in dates/times will ensure adequate staffing and service for you during check in! Please do not arrive outside of these designated time-frames, as it is likely we will not have the resources available to assist you.

Students can request early arrival for university sanctioned events and involvements at the rate of $35 per day. Please forward proof of your need for early check-in along with your full name, M Number and date you are requesting to move in to [email protected]. A representative from housing will be in contact if any further information is needed and to confirm the cost for your early arrival.

Report your problem to the Housing Facilities office. You can phone in your problem to 615-898-4116. Or for non-emergency problems, you can complete the online maintenance request form to have your problem addressed by the Housing Facilities staff.

If you get locked out or lose your key, desk assistant staff can assist you in providing a temporary key, or getting in contact with an on-call staff member to provide access to your assigned space. If your area’s desk is closed, call your building’s front desk phone number, which will be forwarded to and picked up by desk assistant staff in another area to provide further directions and assistance.

Quiet hours take place every day from 9pm to 9am. During finals week, the university enforces 24-hour quiet hours for all halls and apartments.

Visitation Hours take place Sunday to Thursday from noon until midnight, and on Friday and Saturday nights from noon until 2am in all residence halls and apartments.

Health and Safety Inspections are on site walk-throughs that hall staff conduct on a monthly basis to ensure that on campus residential buildings remain safe and free of potential danger. 

All facilities close for summer, with the majority of our residents assigned to Deere and Nicks Halls for Summer term. Scarlett Commons Spring residents who have also secured a space in Scarlett Commons for Fall/Spring of the following year are permitted to stay in Scarlett Commons Apartments for the summer term, so long as they are enrolled in at least one three-hour class. Non-Scarlett residents may reside in Deere and Nicks Halls for the Summer term, and must enroll in at least one three-hour Summer class.

No. MTSU assumes no responsibility for the theft, destruction or loss of money, valuables or other personal property belonging to or in the custody of the student. Each student is strongly encouraged to carry personal property insurance. Many dependent students may find that they are covered under their parents’ homeowners’ policies; please confirm your coverage with your personal agent.  As another option, MTSU Housing has partnered with GradGuard to offer low cost rental insurance on campus.

All housing assignments are made for the academic year, both fall and spring terms. Students are held to the housing agreement so long as they are enrolled in courses for the term. Students who are graduating in December, studying abroad or who will not be enrolled at MTSU for the spring term, can submit a cancellation request for refunding of a portion of the housing prepayment, based on the dates outlined in the Student Housing License Agreement, as well as a reversal of Spring housing charges. Cancellation requests may be submitted by signing into the Housing portal, clicking on the icon under “Forms/Agreements” and then on the icon under “Cancellation Form”. Any student can cancel, but reversal of charges is not guaranteed and will depend upon the date of cancellation and whether the student is enrolled in Spring courses at MTSU.

All students have the ability to submit a License Cancellation Appeal to a committee of officers. Deadlines for submission of these items can be found on the Dates portion of this website. Additional documentation supporting your appeal must be supplied along with your License Cancellation form.   The License Cancellation form and supporting documentation should be submitted through the Housing portal at the Housing section of the MTSU website.  Click on the icon under “Forms/Agreements” and then on the icon under “Cancellation Form”.

Visitors are allowed during visitation hours. All guests must be accompanied by their resident host during the entirety of the time they are present in the building. And, all guests must be signed in by their resident hosts at the front desk of the area. Overnight guests are permitted, but must be approved by the Area Coordinator of the area. The form needed for approval is located on the Housing portal. All visitation and guest policies apply and can be found in the Housing and Residential Life policies.

Pets are not permitted except for fish in aquariums of ten gallons or less.  This does not exclude accommodations for animals required pursuant to federal and/or state law.  Such animals may be present on any floor in any residential facility, and students with severe animal allergies should consider this information before applying to live on campus.