Winter Housing

Winter Break Period (December 21, 2025  to January 1, 2026)

Housing:

• Housing Costs: $42 per night

Campus Dining:

• Dining Costs: $30 per day (optional)

OSCA Dining will be closed during Winter Break, and Campus Dining will be limited to brunch and dinner at Stevenson Hall. Hours will be adjusted for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Stevenson Dining Hall Hours (12/20 - 12/23 & 12/26 - 1/3):

• Brunch: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Dinner: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Stevenson Dining Hall Christmas Eve Hours (12/24):

• Brunch: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Dinner: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Stevenson Dining Hall Christmas Day Hours (12/25):

• Brunch: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

While the Office of Residence Life adjusts to Winter Term housing on January 2, 2026 to allow students flexibility with their travel plans, meal plans for the Winter Term session do not begin until January 4. Students who are approved to arrive to campus before Sunday, January 4 and need access to on-campus dining will have the option to purchase a Winter Break meal plan at the price listed above.

For Students Not Currently in Fall 2025 Housing: 

Due to room turnover and preparation at the end of the fall semester, students who were not in campus housing during the fall may only return to campus beginning January 2, 2026. Students must complete the Spring 2026 Housing Registration and submit any desired roommate requests by December 15, 2025 in order for their placement to be made ahead of their arrival. Please see the Spring Move-In page for more information about Spring 2026 housing. 

Winter Term Period: (January 2, 2026 to February 1, 2026)

Housing:

• Housing Costs: $42 per night (see exemptions below)

The Office of Residence life is allowing students to return to campus for Winter Term beginning January 2, 2026 to allow for additional flexibility with travel plans following the holidays. While Winter Term housing begins January 2, Winter Term meal plans do not go into effect until Sunday, January 4. 

Campus Dining:

• Dining Costs: $42 per day (optional and exemptions listed below)

Campus Dining in Stevenson Hall will be open during the Winter Term. The optional college meal plan is available for $42 per day and is waived for students with approved Winter Housing Exemptions.

Stevenson Dining Hall Hours:

• Breakfast: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
• Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Dinner: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Winter Term dining begins January 4, 2026 at breakfast. Students returning to campus before January 4 who need to purchase meals may opt into a Winter Break meal plan. 

OSCA Dining:

OSCA members must register for an OSCA dining plan via the OSCA Winter Term Dining Application. 

Housing & Dining Fee Exemptions:

Winter Term: Housing and dining fees will be waived from January 2 to February 2, 2026, for students registered for a Winter Term Project. Verification will be provided by the Winter Term Office. Students returning after the end of the Winter Term session on the academic calendar, January 28, are not eligible for this exemption. 

Conservatory Intensive Practice: Conservatory students approved for intensive practice during Winter Term will have both housing and dining fees waived. Verification will be provided by the Conservatory.

In-Season Student Athletes:  Oberlin Athletics may request winter housing for in-season student-athletes who need to remain on campus for practice. These student-athletes will not be charged for housing or dining during this period.

Department Sponsorship: Oberlin departments can request Winter Housing for student workers who need to stay on campus for work or practice. While housing fees are waived, dining is not included. Sponsoring departments are encouraged to provide meals or arrange dining options for requested students. Additionally, a dining plan is available for purchase.

Department Sponsored Requests

Winter Housing:

Winter Housing covers both Winter Break (December 21, 2025, to January 1, 2026) and Winter Term (January 2, 2026, to February 1, 2026).  

Oberlin departments can request Winter Housing for student workers who need to stay on campus for work. While housing fees are waived, dining is not included. Sponsoring departments are encouraged to provide meals or arrange dining options for requested students. Additionally, a dining plan is available for purchase.

Student-athletes required to remain on campus for practice will not incur charges for housing and dining. Coaching staff must submit the names of these students using the Winter Housing Application form. 

All students whose housing costs are covered by a department-sponsored request must also individually complete the Winter Housing Application. This provides the Office of Residence Life, Campus Safety, and AVI with necessary information that departments are not able to submit on students' behalf. 

The link will be provided here, sent directly to students via email, and shared in the Campus Digest when the application opens on December 1, 2025.

Departments should submit their requests within the Winter Housing Application utilizing the downloadable Department-Sponsored Break Template. 

Deadline to Apply: December 12, 2025

Winter Dining:

Dining is optional during Winter Housing. If a department requires a student to stay on campus to work or practice, the department is encouraged to provide food for requested students. 

Additional information regarding Winter Break and Winter Term dining options and costs will be shared soon. 

Spring 2026 Early Arrivals:

Should a student only need an early return to campus for the Spring semester, there is no need to register for Winter Housing. Rather, the department should complete the Spring Early Arrival Registration. 

The registration link will be shared here when the form opens the week of December 15, 2025.

Deadline to Apply: January 22, 2026

Winter Housing Eligibility:

Winter Housing is available only to students who have a campus housing assignment for either Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. Students not residing in campus housing during the regular academic year are not eligible for Winter Housing. 

Students Not Currently in Fall 2025 Housing:

Due to room turnover and preparation at the end of the fall semester, students who were not in campus housing during the fall may only return to campus beginning January 2, 2026. Due to the holiday shutdown, students planning to return for Winter Term who did not have Fall 2025 housing should submit the Spring 2026 Housing Registration and any roommate requests by December 15. 

Temporary placements may be necessary. Confirmation of any temporary placements will be shared in advance via email ahead of any impacted students' arrivals. 

Please see the Spring Move-In page for more information about Spring 2026 housing. 

Application Late Fee:

A $50 late fee will be applied if the application is received after the deadlines listed below. Students who remain on campus or return to campus without prior authorization will be charged $250/per night.

Winter Break Housing: December 12, 2025

Winter Term Housing: December 19, 2025

Students eligible for a housing and dining fee exemption are not exempt from any applicable late fees for applications submitted past the deadline. 

Spring Early Arrival Requests:

Should a student only need an early return to campus for the Spring semester, there is no need to register for Winter Housing. Rather, the department should complete the Spring Early Arrival Registration.

The registration link will be shared here when the form opens the week of December 15, 2025.

Deadline to Apply: January 22, 2026