Georgia Tech University Dorms Guide: Finding Your Home Away From Home

Choosing the right housing is a crucial part of the college experience. At Georgia Tech, students have a variety of on-campus and off-campus living options. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of these options, helping you make an informed decision about where to live during your time at Tech.

On-Campus Housing

Georgia Tech Housing and Residence Life offers a range of on-campus housing for undergraduate and graduate students. The application opens in early spring via the My Housing portal. It's important to note that Housing and Residence Life does not guarantee housing, and contracts are for a space on campus, not a specific assignment. Room selection numbers are assigned based on when applications are completed, so applying early increases your chances of securing your preferred option. All students pay a one-time, non-refundable $80 application fee.

First-Year Experience

Georgia Tech promotes on-campus living for freshmen through the First-Year Experience Program. While not mandatory, the majority of first-year students participate in this program, which aims to ease the transition into college life. Students in the First-Year Experience Program are required to enroll in the GT Dining meal plan. Both housing and meal plan contracts typically span from August to early May.

Residence Halls

Residence halls are a popular choice for freshmen. These dorms are strategically located on campus. Most dorms feature individual rooms equipped with two beds, two desks with chairs, two dressers, and two wardrobes for you and your roommate. Community bathrooms are common in most residence halls. Depending on the building, you may have the option to live in a triple (accommodating three students) or a quad (housing four students). Some buildings also offer suite-style bathrooms as an alternative to communal facilities.

Apartment-Style Residence Halls

Georgia Tech-owned apartment-style residence halls are leased directly from the school. These apartments typically feature either four or six bedrooms, with residents sharing a living room and kitchen while enjoying the privacy of individual bedrooms. Amenities vary depending on the building. One of the most sought-after apartment buildings is North Avenue, which offers study spaces on multiple floors, access to a gym, and convenient access to the North Avenue dining hall.

Family Housing

Georgia Tech offers one- and two-bedroom unfurnished apartments for graduate students and students with families. These apartments are spacious, providing ample room to live and study. To apply, log in to My Housing and select the "Family-Monthly" tab. The Tenth and Home complex on North Campus offers one- and two-bedroom Family-monthly apartments that are unfurnished. The full-size kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, stove, oven, refrigerator, cabinets, pantry, and a washer and dryer.

Living Learning Communities

Living Learning Communities (LLCs) immerse first-year students in shared interests, fostering collaboration and easing the transition to college. Georgia Tech offers several LLC options:

Global Leadership Living Learning Community: This program helps newly admitted, first-year students adjust to college life through shared courses, excursions, and living space in Matheson and Perry Residence Halls.
Explore Living Learning Communities: Open to both first-year and transfer students.
I-House and I-Lead: These are two living learning community options for visiting exchange and Techsplore students attending Georgia Tech for 1-2 semesters as non-degree seeking students.
First-Year Wellness Experience (FYWE): FYWE is designed to support the personal, academic, and professional growth of first-year students by fostering a strong first-year cohort that centers well-being.
The Transfer-Year Experience Program: This program is a self-selected living option offered to help new transfer residents access the services and resources that are relevant to their current needs.
John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP): First-Year and Transfer students admitted to Georgia Tech can apply to the John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP). JMHP students are encouraged to pursue their curiosity, creativity, and connection across disciplinary boundaries and the boundary between theory and practice.

Room Configurations and Furnishings

Georgia Tech offers a variety of room configurations and furnishings for on-campus residents. Residents and their roommate(s) may configure the beds in four ways depending on the building and its furniture: low, medium, high, and bunked. All furnishings must always remain in the room, suite, or apartment and cannot be removed or placed in storage. Lofts may not be constructed or erected in any residence hall room; however, some rooms do contain beds that can be arranged in multiple configurations.

Important Considerations for On-Campus Residents

While tradition and suite residence halls include communal kitchens, cookware and utensils are not provided.
The academic year housing contract includes both fall and spring semesters. Termination of your contract will incur significant financial loss.
Students who require disability accommodation should register with the Office of Disability Services. The fall semester deadline is May 1, and the spring semester deadline is October 14.
Personal appliances that are used for cooking need to be used in a proper and safe manner. No open flame device is allowed in any residence hall. Appliances that generate high temperatures (generally over 140 degrees such as a George Foreman grill or portable deep fat fryers) can only be used at approved locations. The top of any of the apartment or common area stoves provided with exhaust hoods are considered the only approved locations for use within residence halls.
The actions below are not permitted in the residence halls or apartments.

Off-Campus Housing

Off-campus housing offers more freedom to choose your living arrangements, roommates, lease terms, preferred amenities, and other preferences. You have the flexibility to decide whether you want to reside in new, luxury student apartments located near campus or in more spacious, conventional apartments within the broader Midtown area. In contrast, off-campus housing typically offers year-long leases, giving you more flexibility in your summer arrangements.

Georgia Tech Housing and Residence Life has partnered with College Pads to provide an off-campus housing marketplace for students and community members at offcampus.housing.gatech.edu. The site includes renter education modules and a roommate and sublease portal.

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Student Housing Apartments

Student housing apartments are strategically constructed close to campus, catering specifically to the needs of students. The leasing structure operates on an individual lease basis, commonly referred to as a "by-the-bed lease." Under this arrangement, each tenant signs a separate personal lease with the landlord. Student apartments often feature lavish amenities tailored to college students.

Traditional Apartments

Traditional apartments differ from student housing apartments in that they lack tailored features for students. Traditional apartments also come with a distinct type of lease. While typically spanning a year, the lease is signed by the apartment as a whole rather than on a per-bed basis. Midtown has several traditional apartments, but it is challenging to specify a price range for typical apartment costs.

Traditional Houses

Renting a traditional house near campus is another off-campus housing option. House rentals are more popular among upperclassmen or graduate students. These properties are not specifically designed for student living, unlike on-campus residences or student apartments. Residents in traditional houses may find themselves farther from campus, with limited or no access to amenities, often in unfurnished homes. Leases for these properties generally follow the traditional year-long format. House rentals in Home Park are typically more affordable than those in other off-campus locations due to the distance from campus and the absence of student-oriented amenities.

Greek Housing

Georgia Tech fraternities and sororities are located across East Campus. With over 40 Greek houses on campus, many students choose to live in their respective sorority or fraternity houses, often during their second or third year. Leases for Greek houses typically span from August to early May. Lease prices vary considerably depending on the size, capacity, amenities, and quality of the house. Generally, the rent is either equal to or less than that of on- and off-campus apartments. The layout and features of these houses can differ, but itâs common to share a room with one or more roommates and use a community bathroom. Some houses may offer study rooms and lounges. Fraternity and sorority houses are managed and supervised by their respective organizations.

Atlanta Neighborhoods

Georgia Tech is located in Midtown, an area north of Downtown Atlanta. Housing options vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, as does the expense, safety, and convenience. Neighborhoods adjacent to Georgia Tech campus include:

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Downtown: Home to corporate headquarters, government facilities, sporting facilities, and tourist attractions. Less common for Georgia Tech student housing.
Midtown: Features high-rise condos, apartments, hotels, skyscrapers, and shopping areas. Popular with students due to its convenient location and proximity to campus, Piedmont Park, grocery stores, shops, restaurants, and bars/nightclubs.
Westside: Offers apartment complexes and small homes. Rapidly developing with new restaurants and shops.
Atlantic Station: A residential and shopping community located approximately 1.6 km (1 mile) from Georgia Tech.
Home Park: A community of houses where many students live and walk or bike to campus.
Virginia Highland: Located just east of Midtown, known for restaurants, bars, shops, and lower rents.
Buckhead: An upscale residential and commercial district approximately 9.6 km (6 miles) from Georgia Tech.
Vinings: More common for families and younger working couples, making it quieter and more expensive.

Temporary Accommodation

If you need temporary accommodation upon arrival, several hotels are reasonably priced and convenient to Tech. The hotels listed are within walking distance or accessible by MARTA, the Atlanta transportation system. Some hotels may offer discounted rates to Tech students, so be sure to ask. It is recommended to make temporary housing reservations as soon as possible.

Here are a few options:

Days Inn Atlanta Airport West: Located 23.3km/14.5 miles from Tech.
Microtel Inn and Suites Perimeter Center: Located 21km/13 miles from Tech.
Comfort Inn & Suites Airport North: Located 17.2km/10.7 miles from Tech.
Extended Stay Deluxe Lenox North: Located 13.5km/8.4 miles from Tech.
Hampton Inn â Georgia Tech: Located 0.3km/0.2 miles from Tech, right across North Ave. from the southern edge of campus.

Applying for Housing

On-Campus: Complete the Georgia Tech Housing Application via the My Housing Portal. The sooner you finish this application, the higher youâll rank on the waitlist, increasing your chances of getting your preferred dorm.
Off-Campus: Compile a list of apartments youâre interested in and schedule tours. Leasing staff will provide details about rates, amenities, and availability.

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