Housing & Dining Information
As a residential college, Oberlin College believes that having students living and dining together fosters community, discourse, and debate.
All students are required to live in College housing and participate in one of the dining programs through graduation. All students will participate in an OSCA meal plan or the GoYeo plan for their first and second academic years.
Applying for Housing
The New Student Housing Application will be available in April.
The application can be found on our Student Housing Portal, which is our hub for housing applications and for self-selection housing processes throughout a student's time here at Oberlin.
Housing Options
First-year students live in almost every hall on campus. From the First Year Residential Experience Halls to Identity-Based and Language Halls, Theme/Living Learning Communities and Traditional Halls, our first-year students are welcomed by all and thrive in a wide variety of communities. Our Resident Assistants (RAs) are intentionally selected and trained to ensure that all our first year students receive the support that they need in their first year at Oberlin, no matter where they live.
Our First Year Residential Experience Halls accounts for a large concentration of new students, with over 500 living in the four halls across campus. Students are supported by a dedicated group of RAs who help support students in navigating life at Oberlin, providing exposure to a variety of resources and skill-building opportunities.
Identity-Based Communities, Language Houses, Themed Communities, and Living Learning Communities provide first year students with opportunities to immerse themselves in experiences related to their salient identities or interests. Having a cohort of peers across all classes is an unparalled opportunity to learn about college life while having an opportunity to focus on the Theme, Identity, or Langauge of the community.
Students in our Traditional Halls have the opportunity to shape their own path through their first year. While students have access to educational opportunities in the First Year Residential Experience Halls, many will form close communities with other first year students in their halls and learn helpful information from their returning student neighbors.
Roommates
All first-year students with roommates will be asked to complete a Roommate Agreement. The purpose of this agreement is to provide a strong foundation for roommates to foster positive communication as they share a living space.
Complete the Roommate Living Agreement
Exemptions
Exemptions from the housing and dining requirement can be requested. To qualify for an exemption, appropriate and thorough documentation must be submitted by July 1, to the Office of Residence Life. More information can be found on the Housing and Dining Exemptions page.
Please Note: Students classified by the Academic Advising Resource Center, as graduate or special students will be completely exempt from participating in a meal plan or living on campus.
Additional Information
The Office of Residence Life understands that some students may have medical conditions that require special housing and or dining accommodations. Students requesting housing and or dining accommodations must contact the Office for Disability and Access and complete the disability self-disclosure form.
Forms must be received by June 1.
We will do our best to assign you to one of your preferences, but all assignments are based on availability.
Students who complete and submit their registration forms after the deadline, will be considered late applications and have a greater likelihood of being assigned into our transitional housing, which may result in the need to be relocated to a permanent assignment during the year.
Additional information about check in will be available soon.
The Campus Dining Service (CDS) program at Oberlin College offers a wide range of food options with an emphasis on healthy cooking from scratch, local foods, creative vegan/vegetarian offerings, and sustainable practices. All first-year students will participate in an OSCA meal plan or the GoYeo plan, which offers the following opportunities.
- GoYeo enhanced plan provides unlimited access to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and healthy breaks between meals in Stevenson Dining Commons. It also includes access to regular meals at Lord Saunders, break meals in Wilder, and $200 flex dollars per semester.
- CDS offers the flexibility of six locations located throughout campus reflecting our commitment to quality service and a variety of option
- Carry-out sick trays are also provided for students participating in a CDS meal plan who wish a hot meal while they are recovering
- The dining halls at Oberlin College do more than feed students and staff. CDS has environmentally conscious initiatives that help prevent waste and preserve our natural resources.
You may use your meal plan at any of our dining locations .