American University Dorms Guide: Finding Your Home Away From Home

Finding an apartment near American University or navigating on-campus housing options is an exciting milestone, whether you’re transitioning from on-campus living or moving to D.C. Living near AU means balancing academics, internships, and the vibrant cultural life Washington, D.C. offers. This guide provides insights into on-campus housing and finding the perfect off-campus apartment, covering everything from neighborhoods to budget considerations.

On-Campus Housing at American University

American University has a strong commitment to the development of students, the promotion of civility, and the expectation that students will act responsibly. As an American University student living on campus, you may participate in various housing processes throughout the year, such as room changes and returning room selection.

First-Year Student Housing Options

First-year students at AU are generally required to live on campus, with some exceptions. They have a variety of housing options to choose from, primarily consisting of traditional residence halls and suite-style living arrangements. Here's a brief rundown of some popular freshman housing options:

Anderson Hall and Centennial Hall: These are traditional dormitory-style buildings with communal bathrooms. The rooms are typically doubles, meaning you would share the space with a roommate.
Letts Hall: Another traditional residence hall, but with the addition of a few triples (three students sharing a room). It has communal bathrooms.
Leonard Hall and Hughes Hall: These newer buildings offer suite-style living, with two double rooms connected by a shared bathroom. This option is a bit more expensive than the traditional dormitories but offers increased privacy.

Key Features and Amenities

Each room is furnished with a desk, desk chair, bed, drawers, and shelf space, per resident. Community standards have been established in the residence halls with a combination of the Student Conduct Code, specifically the Residence Hall Regulations, and the Housing License Agreement. Residents are required to register all guest at their area front desk.

American University mattresses are twin-sized mattresses that measure 80 inches in length. Our twin XL mattresses measure 84 inches long. Students who are taller than 6 ft. 3 in. may request an XL bedframe and mattress through their AU Housing Portal. Laundry facilities are located in each residence hall and students can pay for laundry using EagleBucks.

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The Frequency

The Frequency is an apartment-style hall that offers in-suite kitchens and laundry, a fitness center, roof deck, community lounges and study spaces, and other amenities in the heart of the popular Tenleytown shopping and restaurant area. It's an ideal location for AU students looking for a blend of apartment-style living and a fully supported residential experience. The Frequency is five minutes from main campus by the free AU shuttle or a short 15-20 minute walk. It is located only steps away from the Tenleytown/American University metro stop for easy access to downtown Washington, DC. Nearby restaurants and shops include Whole Foods, CVS, Target, Panera and a host of other conveniences. As with all AU residence halls, the Frequency has 24/7 front desk and can only be entered with your key fob. In-hall staff include resident assistants (RAs) and a community director (CD). Each apartment has its own WiFi router, located in the living room of 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, and in the living space of studio units. The sticker on the router has the login information for the WiFi access point. 16 parking spaces are available at the Frequency and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Frequency parking permits do not provide parking privileges on the AU campus.

Important Policies and Procedures

Requests involving furniture (bed, couch, desk, set of drawers, etc.) should be submitted through the AU Housing Portal Work Order section. This agreement is designed for assigned residents of a shared space, whether that be a traditional, suite, or apartment style space, to facilitate communication with one another. Parties should not assume that everyone will naturally fall into a rhythm of cleaning. Nor should parties assume that feelings are known before they are clearly and appropriately articulated. If a breakdown in communication and shared living expectations occurs, your Resident Assistant (RA) may use this document to guide the discussion they facilitate between applicable parties.

Items to Bring and Restrictions

We've provided a list of items to best help with your transition at AU. The items on this list are frequently reviewed by AU Housing & Residence Life and AU Risk Management. Microwaves are only allowed in-room when rented from Breez as part of a microfridge unit. Students may bring a personally-owned refrigerator that is no larger than 4.5 cubic ft. Single serve coffee maker with automatic shut-off (ex. All cooking devices that produce heat (ex. rice cooker, toaster, crock pot, air fryer, pressure cooker etc.) may only be used in common (traditional or suite style halls) or in-unit (apartment style halls) kitchens. All heat elements must be enclosed (ex.

Special Housing Options

American University is committed to ensuring access to university programs and activities for all qualified students with disabilities. Students should contact the Academic Support and Access Center (ASAC) to initiate requests for housing accommodations related to a documented disability. Some examples of accommodations that American University may provide include: visual fire/smoke alarms; wheelchair accessible housing; accessibility features in room, bathroom, or common areas; double or single room placement; and/or support animals. We offer all-gender housing as an option to ensure AU's Residence Life is a supportive space for students of all gender identities and expressions. Students participating in study abroad during the fall or spring semesters will receive special instructions for each housing process.

Additional Amenities and Services

Breez provides our residential students with convenient and affordable solutions for essential in-room amenities. Breez also offers a digital lockbox-an easy and secure way to keep personal items safe in your room. Bed lofts provide approximately four to five feet of additional space under your bed, which allows for extra storage or a nook for your desk and can be purchased in your AU Housing Portal. Students placed into temporary triples for the fall semester should not rent a loft, as one will be provided.

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The on-campus UPS Store offers a variety of storage options for students over the summer, studying abroad or other periods you may need. The UPS Store is currently receiving boxes for those students who send items prior to the start of school. If received before a certain date, boxes will be placed in your room before you arrive at AU.

Double-as-Single Buyouts

Beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, Housing & Residence Life will designate rooms in specific residence halls as “double-as-single buyouts.” These rooms are built as double occupancy spaces but will only have one resident. The student will be permitted to arrange furniture to their liking, however no university-issued furniture may be removed from the room. You will be responsible for both sets of furniture in the room space.

Application Process and Important Dates

It is important that students submit their enrollment and housing deposits to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible to secure their preferred space. The housing application will open at noon on a specific date for students who have already submitted a housing deposit with AU Admissions. You can apply through the AU Housing Portal. The housing application priority deadline for first-year students is a specific date at noon. Students interested in applying for an exemption to the residency requirement must do so immediately following the completion of the application. The deadline for most exemption criteria is a specific date. Students with disabilities may request an exemption from the housing requirement by completing the University's disability accommodation process through the Academic Support & Access Center (ASAC). Students who have sincerely-held religious beliefs may request an exemption from the housing requirement by completing the University's religious accommodation process through the Kay Spiritual Life Center. Roommate matching begins at noon on a specific date. You can match with 1-3 roommates through the AU Housing Portal. The vast majority of available first-year rooms are traditional double rooms. You'll have the option to match with someone you know or search for a potential roommate using the roommate profile questions collected in Step 1. You will select your Home at AU in early June. You'll be assigned a timeslot (the time you can begin to select your room) between specific dates. The earliest timeslots are given to Early Decision students and then all regular decision students are randomly assigned a timeslot. Using the AU Housing Portal, you'll select a room when your timeslot begins and must select a space by a certain time on a specific date.

Off-Campus Housing Near American University

Living off-campus for the first time is about more than signing a lease. You want to experience D.C. Both options offer distinct benefits-but moving off-campus often means gaining autonomy, saving money, and experiencing D.C.

Neighborhood Guide

Living near AU gives you access to some of D.C.’s most charming and well-connected neighborhoods.

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Tenleytown: Located just steps from American University, Tenleytown offers the ultimate convenience. The Red Line metro station (Tenleytown-AU) connects you easily to the rest of D.C. You’ll find supermarkets, cafes, gyms, and everything a student needs. It's an ideal location for AU students looking for a blend of apartment-style living and a fully supported residential experience.
Friendship Heights: Friendship Heights feels a little more upscale, with luxury shopping centers, Whole Foods, and restaurants lining Wisconsin Avenue.
Glover Park: This hidden gem is lush, green, and peaceful. Glover Park has a real neighborhood vibe, with parks, local businesses, and beautiful older apartment buildings.
Cathedral Heights: Known for its beautiful architecture and historic homes, Cathedral Heights offers a refined, relaxed environment.
Georgetown: Georgetown needs no introduction.
Cleveland Park: If you want beautiful tree-lined streets, classic D.C. row houses, and a chill atmosphere, Cleveland Park fits the bill.

Budgeting for Off-Campus Living

Washington, D.C., is known for being one of the pricier housing markets in the country. Many students focus only on the monthly rent, but D.C.

Living with 1-2 roommates can slash your housing costs dramatically.

Finding the Right Apartment

Apartment hunting in Washington, D.C., can feel overwhelming-especially if it’s your first time.

Many apartments near American University are rented out months in advance.
When you find a good place, you'll need to act fast.
Photos can be deceiving.

Safety and Convenience

When searching for apartments near American University, two things are crucial: safety and everyday convenience. Luckily, the Northwest D.C. area around AU is generally considered one of the safest in the city. According to recent D.C.

Transportation Advantages

Living in Washington, D.C., offers major transportation advantages compared to suburban campuses. D.C.

Longer Stability

Ideal for people who plan to stay in D.C.

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