Returning Student Housing Selection

Overview

Each spring semester, the Residential Center conducts a housing selection process for returning students to select their room assignment for the upcoming academic year. This is a multi-step process that begins in February and concludes with the actual selection in late March. Students are given agency throughout the process to create their own roommate groups and then to select their housing assignment from a list of available options, all of which is done via the online Housing Portal.

Main Process Steps

1. Students review and sign the 2026-2027 Housing License Agreement and Meal Plan Contract. This is the official, legal agreement between the student and the University regarding occupying a space on campus. Students will also be required in the same application to update their emergency contact information.
2. After completing the contract, students will immediately be able to start registering roommates. To do so, the student requests their desired roommate(s) via a module in the Housing Portal. Each roommate must then log in to confirm the request, and all students within a group must have requested and confirmed each other. Students may form groups of 2, 4, or 5, or they are welcome to proceed without any roommates (individual). Groups of 3 are not permitted, and rising sophomores cannot form groups of 5.
3. Once roommate registration is complete, each group (or individual) will receive their official housing selection date and time, which is when they are able to log into the Housing Portal to choose their actual housing assignment. At their assigned selection time, each group will have three minutes before the next group’s time activates. This does not mean that they only have three minutes to select their assignment, but rather that during those three minutes, they have priority ahead of any other groups that fall later in the process. Students are encouraged to begin considering their options in advance of their selection time.

Timeline

• February 2 – 20:  Sign 2026-2027 Housing License Agreement and Meal Plan Contract
• February 2 – 27:  Complete roommate registration
• February 10:  Cluster appeals due (if applicable)
• February 12:  Defined Community Application due (if applicable)
• February 13:  Housing Accommodation Requests due (if applicable)
• February 23:  Priority numbers sent to students who completed the contract
• March 5:  Group numbers sent based on registered roommate groups
• March 16:  Selection date/time sent to each group; Room availability visible in Housing Portal
• March 17 – 20:  Housing Selection, week 1
• March 23 – 26:  Housing Selection, week 2

All students who plan to live on campus during the 2026-2027 academic year must sign the 2026-2027 Housing License Agreement & Meal Plan Contract to select housing.

The license agreement covers both the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters. Students who are going abroad for one semester or graduate mid-year will be automatically released from the agreement for the semester when they are not here.

The license agreement must be signed electronically via the Housing Portal, and this is the required first step to be able to continue with other steps in the housing selection process.

The deadline to sign the agreement is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20th. Students who do not sign the agreement by this deadline may not be able to participate in housing selection.

Students are welcome to form roommate groups of 2, 4, or 5; they are also able to enter selection as an individual.

Groups of 3 are not permitted due to lack of options for groups of that size. Additionally, rising sophomores cannot form groups of 5 due to limited options at their selection time.

Students are able to form groups with other students of any gender or class year. All roommate requests must be mutual and consensual, meaning that each member of the group must register and confirm each other person in the group via the Housing Portal.

Students who plan to enter selection as an individual (without registering a group) do not need to complete this step of the process.

The deadline to register roommates is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27th. Roommate groups cannot be modified after that date.

All groups (including individuals / “groups of 1”) will receive their selection date and time on Monday, March 16th.

Selection will take place each day March 17th-20th and 23rd-26th from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Groups will be placed into selection order and each group will be assigned to a unique selection time in three minute intervals. Each group will have three exclusive minutes to select an assignment before the next group is eligible, but they are welcome to take more time making their selection.

Only one member of each group will need to log into the Housing Portal to complete selection for the entire group. Selection is completed via the Housing Portal, where students can choose from a list of available options at their designated selection time. Once a selection is successfully made, that selection is final and cannot be changed. An automated confirmation email will be sent to all group members upon selection of an assignment.

Bentley University provides equal opportunities for all students with diagnosed disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and with documentation from a specialist) and/or religious needs by way of reasonable accommodation. The request process for a Housing & Meal Plan Accommodation is a pre-selection process, with all approved applicants securing an appropriate assignment before their respective housing selection/assignment process begins if the materials below are submitted by the respective deadline. Please note that this is an application process that is subject to review* by the Housing Accommodation Committee. The Committee will review all requests and communicate a decision to the applicant.

Students must submit documentation from a medical specialist to be considered for a medical accommodation. Students submitting a request for a religious accommodation do not require supporting documentation. Please note that housing accommodations may not be approved if the impact of the respective disability or religious practice does not warrant a specific housing accommodation for the student to be able to function successfully in a university housing setting.

If you have any questions about this process or would like more information, please contact HousingAccommodations@bentley.edu.

Each applicant must complete all steps below to apply for a housing and/or meal plan accommodation, including:
1. Full completion of the online form (links below).
2. A self-written statement from the applicant detailing the specific style of housing they are requesting and why their medical or religious situation necessitates this accommodation.
3. (medical accommodation requests only) Attachment of supporting documentation in a detailed typed-letter, on letterhead, with a hand signature and date from a medical specialist. This letter must include the following information: diagnosis, symptoms and impact of diagnosis, treatment plan and history of treatment, recommended accommodation, and an explanation of the direct correlation between the symptoms/impact and the recommended accommodation (i.e. why the accommodation is necessary to prevent a significant impairment). All medical documentation must be either originally written in English or translated to English by a professional translation service.

To be considered prior to the respective housing process, this form must be completed by the following dates:
·    Returning Students for Fall 2026: Due by 4:00PM on Friday, February 13, 2026
·    New Students for Fall 2026: Due by 4:00PM on Wednesday, June 17, 2026
·    Students Returning from Abroad/Leave for Spring 2027: Due by 4:00PM on Thursday, November 12, 2026
·    New Students for Spring 2027: Due by 4:00PM on Wednesday, December 2, 2026


Requests received before the scheduled deadlines will be reviewed the Committee shortly after the deadline passes, and decisions will be communicated via email within a few weeks after the deadline. All requests received before the deadline, if approved, will be accommodated prior to the general housing selection/assignment process for the respective general student population.

Requests received after the above deadlines will be reviewed by the Committee and a decision will be communicated to the applicant within 2-3 weeks. Students who submit a request after their respective deadline and are approved for an accommodation after housing processes are underway or completed may not be able to receive a housing option that meets their approved accommodation, depending on availability. If a space later becomes available that meets the accommodation, it will be offered to the student.

Below are examples of medical and/or religious accommodations that we are able to provide. This list is not exhaustive and students are welcome to request accommodations that are not listed here. Please note that each request is reviewed independently and will only be approved if the committee determines that a medical and/or religious need is present that requires the requested accommodation to prevent a significant limitation or impairment. Submitting an accommodation request does not guarantee that the request will be approved.

Below are examples of requests that we cannot provide as a medical or religious housing accommodation:

• Specific roommates
• Random assignment with roommate of same religion, dietary needs, or other identity/lifestyle
• Fully private suite/apartment with no suitemates
• Fully private bathroom
• Double bedroom for only one student (i.e. double as a single)
• Private bedroom for studying / academic work (many spaces are present around campus that students can utilize to meet this need)
• Private bedroom for participating in telehealth and/or therapy appointments (students are expected to communicate with their roommate when they may need privacy in their living environment)
• Private bedroom for prayer practice/observance (students are expected to communicate with their roommate when they may need privacy, and there are also dedicated prayer rooms on campus)

If you have any questions about this process or would like more information, please contact HousingAccommodations@bentley.edu.

Please click here to access the Housing and Meal Plan MEDICAL Accommodation Form.

Please click here to access the Housing and Meal Plan RELIGIOUS Accommodation Form.

The Residential Center offers multiple opportunities to help students find a roommate group or additional roommates for their existing group. 

We will host Roommate Mixer events, where students looking for a roommate can meet and get to know each other. Snacks and activities will be provided! Anyone looking to find roommates is strongly encouraged to join us for one of these events:

• Wednesday, February 18 at 2 p.m. in Harry's Pub (Student Center, 2^nd floor)
• Tuesday, February 24 at 5 p.m. in Harry’s Pub (Student Center, 2^nd floor)

Additionally, the Roommate Finder Board will be located outside of Student Center suite 320 for the duration of the roommate registration period, where students can post a message if they are looking to find roommates. Other students will be able to view the posting and contact them if they are interested. This has helped unite many students over the past few years.

Lastly, students can request to host a transfer or exchange student, which will add an additional person to their group size. More information is available in the next section.

Another option to add an additional roommate to a group is by hosting a transfer or exchange student during fall 2026 semester (exchange student) or the entire 2026-2027 academic year (transfer student).

To do so, students must complete the Transfer/Exchange Hosting Request form by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. This form can be found under Forms & Applications on the Housing Portal. Upon approval, the group will have a “placeholder” added which will increase the size of the group by one. Then, over the summer, we will assign an incoming transfer or exchange student to that placeholder spot. As there are a limited number of incoming transfer/exchange students, we will only assign one per group and may not be able to accommodate all requests. Assignments will be made on a first come, first serve basis.

This is a great option for 3 students who are looking to become a group of 4 (since groups of 3 are not permitted).Additionally, requesting an exchange student for one semester (fall) is a great option for groups who have one friend abroad during the fall who plans to live with them when they return for the spring semester.

All students who are eligible to participate in housing selection are placed into a cluster at the start of the process. These are based on the number of credits completed prior to the beginning of the Spring 2026 semester and are used to help determine overall selection order. See the section below on "determining selection order" for more detailed information.

The current cluster parameters are: Cluster 1 (76+ credits), Cluster 2 (46-75 credits), Cluster 3 (20-45 credits), Cluster 4 (0-19 credits). Spring 2026 courses that are still in progress are not counted toward cluster determination, as credit has not yet been received for those courses.

Students who feel they have been placed into the wrong cluster based on their completed credits can appeal their cluster assignment via the "Cluster Appeal Form" in the Housing Portal. All cluster appeals are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10th, and late appeals will not be considered.

Housing Options by Group Size

• Group of 1 (Individual)
  • Single in a suite
  • Single in a house (Castle, Stratton)
  • Single on North Campus
  • Limited double rooms in suites & apartments
• Group of 2
  • Double in a suite
  • Double in a North Campus apartment
  • 2-person apartment (Collins, Rhodes, Waverley Oaks)
  • Two singles in a suite or North Campus apartment
• Group of 4
  • Two doubles in a suite
  • Two singles & one double in a suite
  • 4-person apartment (Collins, Boylstons, Rhodes, Waverley Oaks, North Campus)
• Group of 5
  • 5-person apartment (Orchards, Falcones)
  • Two doubles & one single in a suite (limited)

Group Size Reminders:

• Groups of 3 are not permitted due to room configurations and lack of options for groups of that size.
• For groups of rising sophomores, registering as a group of 5 is not permitted due to the fact that most 5-person apartments will typically be filled prior to their selection times.

Suites vs. Apartments

• Suites feature a collection of bedrooms sharing a common room, bathroom, and kitchenette.
  • Kitchenettes contain a mini-fridge, microwave, sink, and counter/cabinet space.
  • Bedrooms are either doubles or singles, or a mix of both, depending on the building.
  • Suites house between 2 and 8 students, depending on the building.
  • Students living in suites must be on the Block 192, 240, or 304 meal plan.
  • Suite-style buildings are: Copley North, Copley South, Fenway, Forest, & Kresge
• Apartments feature a collection of bedrooms sharing a full kitchen, common room, & bathroom.
  • Full kitchens include a sink, counter/cabinets, refrigerator, and stove/oven.
  • Bedrooms are a combination of doubles, singles, and/or triples, depending on the building.
  • Apartments house between 2 and 5 students, depending on the building.
  • Students living in apartments are not required to have a meal plan, but may choose from any meal plan option if desired.
  • Apartment-style buildings are: Boylston A/B, Collins, Falcone East/North/West, North Campus, Orchard North/South, & Waverley Oaks

Click here to learn more about the different residence halls on campus.

• Selection rules regarding filling bedrooms vs entire units varies by housing type:
  • Groups selecting an apartment (except for North Campus) must completely fill the space. For example, a 4-person apartment is only selectable by a 4-person group. A 2-person group cannot select one double in a 4-person apartment.
  • Groups selecting a suite or North Campus apartment only need to fill individual bedrooms within the space. For example, a 2-person group could select one double bedroom in a 4-person suite, or an individual could select a single room.
• Mixed gender groups (any group containing more than one gender identity) must completely fill any space they choose, regardless of whether it is a suite or apartment.
  • For example, a mixed gender group of 2 can only select a 2-person suite or apartment; they cannot select a double bedroom within a larger suite.
• Only one member of each group will need to log into the Housing Portal and select assignments for the entire group.
  • While any member of the group is able to do this, the group should discuss their selection plan in advance and designate one member to make the selections.
  • Group members are encouraged to discuss their housing preferences and collectively create a ranked list of options they prefer, which will help with efficient decision making at their selection time.
• Once a housing assignment is selected, no changes can be made during the selection process.
  • A room change process will be available over the summer for students who are interested in finding a different assignment. This process is dependent on availability of spaces.
  • Students should pay close attention to the housing assignment they are choosing and ensure they have selected the correct room before completing the process. An automated confirmation email is generated when a student officially selects their housing, and at that point the selection is final.
• Students are encouraged to pay attention to their assigned selection date/time so they can select their housing promptly.
  • Each group/individual has three exclusive minutes to select their assignment before the next group is eligible to begin selecting, but they are welcome to take more time to make their selection if needed.
  • Students should not select housing during a class or miss a class due to housing selection.
  • If no member of a group is available at the scheduled selection time, they can request for the Residential Center to select on their behalf as a proxy. Requests for proxy selection must be made in writing to housing@bentley.edu at least 24 hours before the selection time and must include a list of top preferences/options.

The process of determining housing selection order is intentionally designed to be as fair as possible for all participating students.

All students who are eligible to participate in housing selection are placed into a cluster at the start of the process. These are based on the number of credits completed prior to the beginning of the Spring 2026 semester.

• The current cluster parameters are: Cluster 1 (76+ credits), Cluster 2 (46-75 credits), Cluster 3 (20-45 credits), Cluster 4 (0-19 credits). Spring 2026 courses that are still in progress are not counted toward cluster determination, as credit has not yet been received for those courses.
• Students who feel they have been placed into the wrong cluster based on their completed credits can appeal their cluster assignment via the Housing Portal. All cluster appeals are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10th.

Once the deadline has passed for signing the housing agreement (contract), students are randomized within each cluster and assigned an individual priority number.

Students who form roommate groups will have their priority numbers averaged with all others in their group to create their group number. Students entering selection as an individual (without registering a roommate group) retain their individual priority number as their group number.

All groups/individuals are then placed in order by group number, which is how housing selection times are determined.

Cluster Assignment -> Priority Number -> Group Number -> Selection Time

All residence halls on Bentley’s campus are fully gender inclusive, meaning that any student can consensually choose to live with any other student regardless of gender identity. Bentley University is committed to creating an affirming community for trans, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming students. The Residential Center will work with students to find a housing situation that is affirming and supportive of each student’s academic and personal wellbeing. If you would like to speak with someone regarding your specific request, please contact our office at housing@bentley.edu.

Specific rules apply to housing selection groups containing more than one gender identity:

• Roommate groups with students of more than one gender identity will need to fill an entire suite or apartment when selecting housing (e.g. a 2-person group must select a 2-person suite or apartment).
• Roommate groups that cannot fill entire suites/apartments, or students looking for a gender inclusive space but do not have specific roommates in mind, will be able to select from pre-designated spaces that are available for students of any gender who are looking for a specifically queer affirming/allied living environment.
• While all residence halls can accommodate gender inclusive groups depending on group size, single-gender groups will not be placed in gender inclusive spaces without their consent. For example, if the first group to select a bedroom within an 8-person suite is all women, the remaining spaces in the suite will automatically be designated for only other women to select.

Students who are actively away from campus on an approved Leave of Absence must complete the University's return process to be eligible to participate in housing selection. Please follow the Leave of Absence/Return process, then email housing@bentley.edu to request housing.

To guarantee participation in the 2026-2027 housing selection process, students on leave must complete their return form no later than Friday, February 20. Students who submit after that date may be assigned to housing after selection is complete, pending availability of rooms.

Abroad Fall 2026 / Living on Campus Spring 2027

Students going abroad in Fall 2026 are not eligible to participate in the standard housing selection process, but should still sign the Housing License Agreement & Meal Plan Contract by the February 20 deadline if they plan to live on campus when they return in the spring. Once the Residential Center receives confirmation that they are committed to a fall abroad program, those students will be removed from the process. They will then be assigned to housing during the spring selection process that runs from October-December 2026.

Abroad Spring 2027 / Living on Campus Fall 2026

Students going abroad in Spring 2027 will fully participate in the above housing selection process. During the fall semester, once the Residential Center confirms they are still planning to go abroad in the spring, we will remove their housing for the spring semester.

Students who select an assignment but later wish to cancel their housing can request to do so via the Housing License Agreement Release Form (previously known as the Contract Release Form) in the Housing Portal. This form will be available after the conclusion of housing selection.

Students who submit the form by Monday, June 1, will be released from the agreement without penalty.

Submissions received after Monday, June 1, will be subject to review. If a late request is approved for release, a cancellation fee may be applied to the student’s account.

We strongly encourage all students who think they may need on-campus housing, but are not yet sure, to sign the agreement, participate in housing selection, and then later cancel their housing if needed. It is much harder to find assignments for students requesting housing after selection has concluded.

Have questions about housing selection? Stop by our office during drop-in hours!

Professional staff will be available to answer your housing selection questions - no appointment necessary!

Drop-in hours will be held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Student Center suite 320 on the following dates:

• Tuesday, February 3rd
• Thursday, February 5th
• Tuesday, February 10th
• Thursday, February 12th
• Thursday, February 19th
• Thursday, February 26th
• Tuesday, March 3rd
• Thursday, March 5th

We look forward to answering your questions!

Would you and/or your group like a dedicated meeting with a professional staff member? Sign up for a housing selection consultation meeting!

Click here to sign up for a one-on-one housing selection consultation meeting

Please contact our office with any questions at 781-891-2148 or housing@bentley.edu.

Please note that our hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Your Residence Director (RD) can also serve as a great resource for housing selection. Click here to learn how to contact your RD.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for important updates: @livingatbentley