On-campus housing for the 2026–2027 academic year will be limited and in high demand as we prepare to welcome another first-year class on Rocky Top. Housing for students in their second year and beyond is not guaranteed. Room selection eligibility for students who want to live on campus next year will be determined through an application and randomized selection process.
This process is open only to students residing in on-campus residence halls or the off-campus master lease for 2025-2026. Participation in the process is optional. Students who do not participate will not be considered for on-campus housing for 2026-2027.
Room Selection Timeline
Friday, September 5, 2025: You will receive an assigned application start time in your email
University Housing will send an email to your UT email explaining the application process. This email will also include your assigned application start time. Please do not attempt to apply until your start time.
Monday, September 8, and Tuesday, September 9, 2025: Apply for housing when your start time begins
You may log in to the University Housing Portal and begin your application. Once your application time has started, you can apply at any time before September 16 at 9 a.m.. Application start times are to improve system performance only and do not affect your chances of eligibility for a room. The initial application process will take less than five minutes. The date you complete your application does not impacted your status. All completed applications will be randomized to determine eligibility or waitlist status.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Applications for Returning Student Room Selection close.
Friday, September 19, 2025
You will be notified by email if you will be eligible to select a room on campus or if you have been placed on a waitlist. Eligible students will select a room in October and are guaranteed a housing assignment but must select a room during the designated time.
Typically, due to high demand, more students are waitlisted than offered a chance to participate in the initial room selection round.
Friday, September 19, 2025 from Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Students are encouraged to attend the Fall Off-Campus Housing Expo on Friday, September 19 from Noon. to 4:00 p.m. along Pedestrian Walkway and the HSS Lawn and visit offcampushousing.utk.edu to view off-campus living options.
Monday, October 13 through Thursday, October 16 at 5:00 p.m.
Eligible students may complete the housing agreement, search for eligible roommates, and select a room on campus. Students will be assigned a start time to access the University Housing Portal. After room selection closes at 5:00 p.m., eligible students who did not select a room will no longer be eligible and should pursue off-campus options.
October through July 31, 2026
Waitlist students are periodically made eligible to select as space opens or receive an updated waitlist number. Waitlist students are prompted to renew their interest to remain on the waitlist in the University Housing Portal once per month.
Students Eligible for Room Selection
If you have been notified of eligibility for room selection, the dates of your eligibility can be found in your notification email. Eligible students may participate in room selection for fall 2026–spring 2027 during specified dates.
Lakemoor Station*, Laurel Hall, and Volunteer Hall are the designated housing options for returning students during room selection. Available halls are subject to change.
*Lakemoor Station is an off-campus master lease. However, since it is offered by University Housing it is considered an on-campus option through our process.
If you do not select a room during your specified eligibility dates, your eligibility for room selection will expire and you will not receive another opportunity to select.
Roommate Search/Match
Once initial eligibility is determined, you can search and match with a roommate who is also eligible for on-campus room selection in the University Housing portal. Roommate pairs can only be created between two eligible students. An eligible student cannot pull-in a waitlist student during their selection window.
Students Waitlisted for Room Selection
Students on the waiting list will be notified on September 19 with details on their waiting list status for the fall 2026-spring 2027 academic year.
Wait-listed students will become eligible in groups as we have enough capacity to allow for additional room selection processes. When made eligible, students will be notified of dates that they can select a room. We will update students via email who remain on the waiting list of their new position and status.
Waitlist updates will continue to be sent through July 31, 2026 or until no spaces remain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once the waiting list is set, we will let you know your initial position. Because the waitlist will move frequently and relative to gender, this number will change often. We will keep you updated via email throughout the process.
Once the waiting list is set, we will let you know your initial position. Because the waitlist will move frequently and relative to gender, this number will change often. We will keep you updated via email throughout the process.
You may cancel a selected room at any time without any financial penalty. Cancellation will remove eligibility for future room selection.
Lakemoor Station, Laurel Hall, and Volunteer Hall are the designated housing options for returning students during Room Selection. For planning purposes, we encourage you to review the 2025-2026 Fall and Spring Semester Rates. Information on the proposed 2026-2027 Fall and Spring Semester Rates is typically available in April.
To cancel your application, visit the University Housing Portal at any time. There is no fee to cancel your 2026-2027 Returning Student Application.
Once initial eligibility is determined, you can search and match with a roommate who is also eligible for on-campus room selection in the University Housing Portal.
If you plan to live off-campus, or want to explore options, you can visit offcampushousing.utk.edu, sign up to create a profile, and search for off-campus roommates.
Looking for a place to live off-campus?
The Off-Campus Housing Expo brings representatives from off-campus properties to campus to answer your questions and help you explore off-campus housing options in the Knoxville community. Attend the Fall Off-Campus Housing Expo on Friday, September 19 from Noon to 4:00 p.m. along Pedestrian Walkway and the HSS Lawn. This event is held each fall and spring semester. Find more information about Knoxville properties and check out the roommate matching tool on offcampushousing.utk.edu to find other UT students who want to live off campus too!
