Columbia University Graduate Student Housing: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating housing options as a graduate student at Columbia University can feel overwhelming. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of on-campus and off-campus resources, application processes, and important considerations to help you find the right fit.

Introduction

Columbia University offers a variety of housing options for graduate students, ranging from university-managed apartments to off-campus rentals. Understanding the available resources and application procedures is crucial for securing suitable accommodation.

On-Campus Housing: Columbia Residential

Columbia Residential manages a significant portfolio of apartments primarily located in the Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, and Manhattanville neighborhoods, generally within a 10-block radius of the campus, specifically spanning from 103rd Street to 125th Street. In addition, there is more university housing available in Riverdale, the Bronx, about 20 minutes from campus via shuttle bus. These buildings house graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. A dedicated staff of live-in superintendents and university facility staff maintains these properties.

Eligibility and Application

To be eligible for Columbia Residential housing, students must be enrolled full-time in an on-campus degree-seeking program, except in their final semester. Housing is very competitive, and priority is given to incoming doctoral students.

The application process involves submitting an online application through the Columbia Residential Housing Portal. For the fall semester, decisions are released on a rolling basis between May 1 and June 30, with incoming Ph.D. students prioritized. Remaining housing units are distributed to continuing Ph.D. and MS students through a lottery system. For the spring term, all housing applicants enter the housing Open Selection process.

Read also: Columbia University Legacy

Housing Options within Columbia Residential

Columbia Residential offers a variety of housing options to students:

Apartment Shares: Most Columbia Residential students live in two- and three-bedroom apartment shares, providing an affordable and community-oriented living experience. These are reserved for single students only.
Studio Apartments: These offer private, self-contained living spaces for single students or couples. Availability is limited and highly sought after. Each studio typically consists of a single room with kitchen appliances and a private bathroom.
One-Bedroom Apartments: These provide additional privacy and comfort, featuring a separate bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. These apartments are scarce and highly sought after, with most available unfurnished. Smaller one-bedroom apartments are available to single students and couples, while larger ones are reserved for couples and students with children.
Two-Bedroom Apartments: Designed for students with dependent children, these apartments offer ample space for family living, including a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. Availability is limited, and residents must follow the Couple and Family Housing Policies.
Dormitory-style suites: A number of housing options are dormitory-style suites.

Key Expectations for Shared Living

Living with roommates can be a rewarding experience, and Columbia Residential encourages students to build positive relationships through mutual respect, cooperation, and adherence to the Roommate Rights and Responsibilities. Residents are responsible for communicating directly and respectfully with roommates to address concerns and resolve conflicts. Common areas must be shared equitably and remain accessible to all assigned residents. Residents are expected to maintain clean, safe, and respectful living spaces. Privacy must be respected at all times; entry into a roommate’s private room requires permission. Residents must adhere to the Columbia Residential Guest Policy.

Lease Renewal and Transfers

Current residents receive information about renewing their housing 1-2 months before the end of their current agreement. While lease extensions may be requested, they are not guaranteed. Columbia Residential recognizes that students’ needs may change during their time at the University and offers current residents a structured transfer process to move to a different room or apartment, subject to availability and eligibility. The General Transfer process is open from October 1 through February 6, with a final move-in date of February 27.

Specific School Housing

Some housing is offered only to students in specific schools. A number of buildings are available only to Columbia Law School students. New Residence Hall at Teachers College is available to students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and in the School of General Studies. The Law School owns a number of apartments in Morningside Gardens, a residential cooperative apartment complex with multiple buildings and over 900 units. Columbia Residential has made special arrangements with Teachers College to lease a limited number of efficiency units at their New Residence Hall, located at 517 West 121st Street. These are only available to students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of General Studies. Housing is available in both private and shared apartments. Residents are responsible for maintaining their units and fostering respectful, collaborative roommate relationships. While this is an independent living experience the experience, GS Resident Advisors (RA’s) are available to assist as needed.

Lenfest Hall

Lenfest Hall is located on West 121st Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive. This luxury, high-rise building contains 181 furnished studio/efficiency units and 28 one-bedroom units. Lenfest's amenities include 24-hour security, public study rooms with WIFI, a bamboo garden and a card-operated laundry room. Utilities are included. All units are furnished with space-saving furniture that is able to accommodate a variety of arrangements and functions. Residents of Lenfest Hall must contact Columbia University Information Technology at (212) 854-1919 for more information on obtaining cable TV service.

Lionsgate

The University owns a number of furnished and unfurnished apartments in Lionsgate, a high rise building at 520 West 112th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. Lionsgate has 24-hour security and has studio/efficiency, one bedroom and two-bedroom units available.

Buildings Leased by Columbia University

61-63 West 108th Street and 950 Columbus Avenue are leased by Columbia University from a third-party landlord and offer apartment shares with private bedrooms and shared common areas. A limited number of studio apartments are available at 950 Columbus.

New Residence Hall at Teachers College

New Residence Hall at Teachers College (517 West 121st Street) is managed by Teachers College (TC). Residents must abide by the TC Rules, Policies, and Regulations. All efficiency units include a private bathroom. Residents have access to shared kitchens distributed throughout the building. Smaller Units (200 sq. ft.) have a small refrigerator, and larger units (250 sq.

Fees and Deposits

A $20 administrative fee is required to submit on-campus housing applications. A $750 reservation deposit is required to accept a housing offer, payable by credit or debit card only. This deposit is credited to your Student Financial Services account after move-in. A non-refundable $20 administrative processing fee applies to each transfer application. Each additional transfer request will incur a separate processing fee.

Bar Housing Extension

Graduating students who are in good standing with the university-and are up-to-date on rental payments with a zero balance on their student account-are eligible to apply for an extension to their existing housing contract for Bar Housing. Residents approved for a Bar Housing Extension will not be permitted to sublet during the extension period, or thirty days before the end of their agreement.

Read also: Paying for Columbia

Off-Campus Housing

University-managed housing is competitive, making off-campus options a viable alternative. Columbia University’s Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office helps Columbia students and affiliates find rental housing in the metropolitan area.

Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA)

OCHA manages a database called the Housing Registry, which displays available rooms and apartments in non-Columbia-owned buildings and sublets of units in Columbia-managed housing. Prospective roommates can also post and search profiles on this site. In addition, OCHA offers one-on-one counseling for your housing search and is supported in these efforts by cooperative relationships with two New York City real estate/relocation agencies.

OCHA’s services are provided free of charge, however, some listers and all real estate agents and brokers charge fees. You Can Visit Them At: 401 West 119th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive). Phone: 212-854-9300

OCHA also provides lists of realtors and temporary housing, maps, and more.

Subletting

Students participating in academic exchange programs, fieldwork, or research through their program may request to Sublet their apartment. Please review Columbia Residential's Subletting information. Students may request to sublet their apartment for personal leave: Summer: May 1-August 31 Winter: December 1-January 31. All university-owned apartments (including those in Law School-only buildings) are subject to Columbia Residential’s sublet policies. Students subletting these apartments must complete Columbia Residential's sublet application and follow all sublet guidelines.

Other Housing Resources

Columbia has several housing resources available to accommodate visitors. One avenue over from The School of Social Work, and one block away from the subway, is the Columbia Union Theological Seminary. Admitted students are allowed to reserve guest rooms at a discounted rate. Teachers College is just around the corner from The School of Social Work, and offers guest housing year-round to admitted students. Located several blocks south of The School of Social Work, Hotel International is an off-campus hotel that offers several resources for those traveling to New York City for the first time. For help with other aspects of traveling to the School of Social Work, please head to Columbia University’s Travel Portal.

Gender-Inclusive Housing

Columbia College Chicago is committed to providing a safe, accepting, and inclusive experience for all students. The college has a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity and/or expression. This policy extends to student housing. As such, our office of Housing & Residential Experience is proud to offer gender-inclusive housing options. These living options provide an on-campus residence experience that welcomes students across all gender identities and/or expressions, including transgender, questioning, or gender nonconforming students.

Housing for Columbia Public Health Students

Columbia Public Health is located on the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus on 168th Street in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. As a Columbia Public Health student, there are a few on-campus housing opportunities available for full-time students. Accommodations on the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus are a practical and cost-effective way to live in Manhattan. Housing options at 154 Haven Avenue include furnished studio apartments with a full bath and kitchenette for single students and one-bedroom apartments for couples. Built in the 1960s, this residential building became part of the medical center in the early 1980s. This 11-story building features dormitory-style rooms with communal bathrooms, a green courtyard with benches, and a terrace with extraordinary views of the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge. Residents can take advantage of the athletic center downstairs and various student lounges. Built in 1971, Towers 1, 2, and 3 are a landmark feature of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center skyline. Tower 1 conveniently connects to 50 Haven Avenue. The Towers provide spacious two- and three-person suites for single students and junior one-bedrooms and one-bedroom apartments for couples. You can join the Towers community through the 50 Haven Ave. Since 1983, the Georgian Residence has housed academic offices on its first three floors and residential units on the top four floors. Accommodation options include studios and two- and three-person suites. The Georgian is located moments from classrooms, the library, and the campus bookstore. For full-time students or full-time postdoctoral research fellows, CUIMC has off-campus housing listings that include rooms and apartments available for rent in non-Columbia University-owned properties. A free electric shuttle bus connects CUIMC with Columbia University's Morningside and Manhattanville campuses and Harlem Hospital. The inter-campus shuttle runs Monday through Friday, excluding University holidays. All riders must present a valid University ID upon boarding.

Housing for Columbia College Students

On-campus housing at Columbia College is available to full-time students only. Housing includes single and double room options in our residence halls and on-campus cottages. Commuter students can kick back between classes in their own commuter lounge. Every first and second-year student is required to live on campus unless they meet one of the exemption categories: Living in Richland or Lexington County with your parent(s)/guardian(s). Living with your spouse and/or children. 21 years or older. You must fill out the exemption form in order to be considered for exemption. Housing applications are sent once you have confirmed your spot in the incoming class. The application asks about housing preferences, roommate requests, and meal plan options.

Residence Halls

McNair Hall is a co-educational community that our first-year students call home. Conveniently located near academic and athletic facilities, first-year students living in McNair are a short walk from all our campus offerings. In addition to its convenient location, students living in McNair have access to a community kitchen, free laundry units, community spaces on each floor, and a fitness center in the basement.

Hudson Hall is a co-educational community that our upperclassmen call home. Conveniently located next door to the Student Union, which houses the dining hall, Terrace Café, and fitness center, students living in Hudson have access to all of campus’ essentials just outside of their front door. In addition to their convenient location, residents in Hudson enjoy a student lounge on each floor, a newly renovated community kitchen and free laundry units.

Mirse Hall is a co-educational community that our upperclassmen call home. Next to Wesley Hall (connected on the first floor), residents of Mirse enjoy three student lounges (one on each floor), have access to a community kitchen located in the basement, and enjoy free laundry in their building.

Wesley Hall is a co-educational community that our upperclassmen call home. Nestled between Mirse and Hudson and just steps away from McNair, the very centrally located residents of Wesley enjoy three student lounges (one on each floor), have access to a community kitchen located on the main level, and enjoy free laundry in their building.

Kneece & Knox Hall are collectively known as the Cottages. These apartment-style residence halls offer a smaller community for our upperclassmen residents. The Cottages are located directly across from our athletic facilities and a short walk from many of our academic spaces.

Important Considerations

Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines for both on-campus and off-campus housing.
Financial Planning: Factor in the costs of application fees, security deposits, and monthly rent.
Roommate Compatibility: If opting for shared housing, consider your lifestyle and preferences to find compatible roommates.
Transportation: Evaluate the proximity of housing options to campus and transportation options.
Housing Duration: Housing is granted for a maximum of 5 years or the length of your original admitted degree program (whichever is less). Doctoral students (MS/Ph.D. and Ph.D.) are eligible for five consecutive academic years of housing starting with their first semester of registration if they applied for housing by their admitted term's specified deadline for incoming doctoral students. Students must remain in good academic and administrative standing.

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