Iowa State University Housing Options: A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing where to live at Iowa State University is a crucial decision that significantly impacts your overall college experience. Whether you're a freshman just starting your academic journey towards your bachelor's degree, a master's student balancing research and assignments, or a doctoral candidate focused on completing your PhD, Iowa State offers a diverse range of housing options to suit your needs and preferences. From the vibrant and social atmosphere of traditional residence halls to the more independent and family-oriented environment of on-campus apartments, there's a place for everyone to call home.
On-Campus Residence Halls
Iowa State University provides housing for over 11,000 students in University-owned on-campus residence halls and on-campus apartments, as well as University-operated off-campus apartments. Housing is available for undergraduate and graduate students, single students, and families. Academic Year (fall and spring), Spring only, and Summer only contracts are available.
Traditional vs. Suite-Style Halls
With the exception of Buchanan, Eaton, and Martin halls, all residence halls are "traditional style," meaning most residents live in double occupancy rooms and share a common, hallway bathroom. A limited number of triple and single occupancy rooms are also available. Buchanan, Eaton, and Martin halls offer a "suite-style" set-up with two rooms joined by a private bathroom.
Co-ed and Single-Gender Housing
Students may preference single-gender or coed houses. Coed houses have male and female students living at opposite ends or on separate levels of the house. They have separate bathrooms, but share common area space and house activities.
Air Conditioning
Of the 19 residence halls on the ISU campus, only seven are air-conditioned. As such, the vast majority of new students are assigned to non-air-conditioned housing. In buildings that are air-conditioned, due to the relatively mild temperatures in Ames, air-conditioning is typically only turned on through the first four weeks of fall classes and the last two weeks of spring classes.
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Popular Residence Halls
- Friley Hall: Known as a super social hall with a great location on campus. While the rooms are small, it encourages residents to get out of their rooms and socialize. Friley also has AC and larger rooms.
- Helser Hall: Despite lacking air conditioning, Helser fosters a strong sense of community. Many residents make their best friends there.
- Maple, Willow, Larch Halls: These halls offer a similar living experience.
Residence Hall Amenities
Bed frame and mattress - extra long twin (36" x 80").
Residence Hall Meal Plan Requirement
All residents of Buchanan Hall, Richardson Court or Union Drive are required to purchase one of five Semester meal plans. Wallace and Wilson residents are not required to purchase a meal plan.
Winter Break Housing
All Richardson Court and Union Drive residence halls close during Winter Break.
Residential Learning Communities (RLC)
Located throughout Richardson Court and Union Drive, RLCs are small groups of students who live together on designated houses or floors. Students share academic interests, classes, living spaces and develop friendships as part of an innovative program in cooperative learning. As such, most RLCs are limited to students in certain majors. Not all academic programs offer RLCs.
Theme Houses
Theme houses provide opportunities for students with common interests to live together and pursue those interests through organized programs and activities. Currently, the following Theme Houses are available: Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC and Cross Cultural.
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House Cabinets
The House System is one of Iowa State's great traditions. Houses of 40 to 60 residents elect a group of officers, called the Cabinet.
Inter Residence Hall Association
The Inter Residence Hall Association (IRHA) is composed of representatives from each hall, five Government of the Student Body (GSB) representatives, four at-large representatives, and an executive council. IRHA allocates funds and implements a variety of programs to meet the needs and requests of students in the residence hall system. In addition, IRHA acts as the voice of residence hall students to the university administrative personnel concerning policies, proposals, and regulations. IRHA meets weekly throughout the academic year.
On-Campus Apartments
For students seeking a more independent living experience, Iowa State offers several on-campus apartment complexes. These apartments typically provide more space and amenities than residence halls, including kitchens and private bathrooms.
Frederiksen Court
Both Frederiksen Court and University Village house single students and residents must be at least 19 years old or in their second year of college to be eligible to live there. Apartments accommodate four persons of the same gender in either two or four bedrooms. Each apartment is furnished with living room and bedroom furniture and the kitchen has a full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and garbage disposal. A washer and dryer are also included in each apartment. Apartment rates include all utilities: electricity, water, garbage pickup, basic phone service, expanded basic cable, and high-speed university Ethernet.
University Village (UV)
Located in SUV, each apartment accommodates up to two residents of either the same or mixed gender. All apartments contain two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen furnished with a cook top, oven, workspace, refrigerator, and sink. The majority of University Village apartments are unfurnished, but a limited number of furnished units are available. Rates include expanded basic cable television, high-speed Internet connectivity, water, and garbage removal service.
Read also: UUI Tuition Costs
Schilletter Village (SV)
Also located in SUV, all apartments contain two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen furnished with a cook top, oven, workspace, refrigerator, and sink. Students provide their own furniture and window coverings. Rates include expanded basic cable television, high-speed Internet connectivity, water, and garbage removal service.
SUV Community Center
The SUV Community Center serves UV and SV and features meeting rooms, lounge space, a community kitchen, and a computer lab.
On-campus Apartment Meal Plan Requirement
Residents of Frederiksen Court, UV, and SV are not required to purchase a meal plan. However many residents in these areas opt to purchase some combination of meals and Dining Dollar$ so they can make purchases in one of the many Dining Centers, Cafes, Restaurants and C-Stores.
Off-Campus Housing
Due to increasing enrollment, the demand for housing has exceeded the availability of existing on-campus space. As such the University has entered into lease agreements with property managers in the off-campus community. The leased spaces are solely occupied by contracted ISU students and are completely managed and staffed by the DOR. Students assigned to these locations will continue to receive the same student centered, academically focused services and programs that are expected of the on-campus housing experience at ISU. Staffing includes student Community Advisers and live-in, professional Apartment Community Managers. All residents are held to the same policies, procedures, and standards as residents in other DOR housing. Off-campus housing information may be obtained through real estate agents, local newspapers, or by contacting individual property managers / owners.
Greek Community Housing
The Greek Community is comprised of over 3,550 undergraduate students in more than 55 chapters. 40 of these organizations have houses which approximately 1,800 undergraduate students call home. The organizations without chapter facilities provide the same scholastic, service and social opportunities for their members. Greek Community houses are an excellent living option. These houses are similar to that of a private residence and include a living room, kitchen, den, laundry, and study area. The average cost of living in a fraternity or sorority house is $3,700 per semester. Men who join a fraternity with a facility may move directly into a fraternity house at the beginning of an academic year. Typically, they continue living there throughout their collegiate career. The staff in the Office of Greek Affairs, a department in the Dean of Students Office, provides advising, programs, and services for Greek organizations.
Iowa State University Dining
With over 20 locations, a fresh meal or snack is right around the corner! Iowa State University Dining has worked with students to develop a variety of convenient, flexible dining options that fit with the ISU student lifestyle. We offer flexible meal plans for students living both on- and off-campus. Our dining centers serve a wide variety of fresh-made items and are a great place for a sit-down meal. Locations like our cafes, restaurants, and markets are perfect for coffee breaks, meals, and snacks when youâre on the go.
Meal Plan Options
If youâre a first-year student living in Birch-Welch-Roberts, Barton-Lyon-Freeman, Maple, Willow, Larch, Geoffroy, Buchanan, Eaton, Martin, Helser, or Friley Halls, you can choose from the following plans.
Cardinal Plan: This convenient plan not only lets you eat where you want, but you get unlimited access to any of our dining centers. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and late-night dining with friends all without counting your meal swipes. Enjoy added flexibility with Dining Dollars.
Gold Plan: This is a declining meal balance plan.
GET & Go: For one dining center swipe, you can grab a quick meal on the go at one of our five GET & Go locations! Order your meal on the GET app and be on your way.
Residents in Wallace, Wilson, and Linden may choose from meal plans if theyâd like although they arenât required to.
Semester Meal Plans
Semester Meal Plans - Cyclone, Cardinal, Gold, Silver and Bronze â offer a combination of meals and DD$. A set number of meals are allotted each semester so students can vary the meals they eat each week according to their schedule. Meals can be used in all dining centers and, in the form of a meal bundle, at select retail locations. Unused meals expire at the end of the semester. All students who live in Buchanan Hall, Richardson Court or Union Drive are required to purchase a Semester meal plan.
Yearly Meal Blocks
Yearly Meal Blocks consist of meals, without DD$. Meals can be used in all dining centers and, in the form of a meal bundle, at select retail locations. The meals on these Blocks remain available for the entire academic year (August â May). Unused meals expire at the end of the spring semester.
Dining Dollars (DD$)
Dining Dollar$ (DD$) are added to your ISUCard and are a convenient way to pay for snacks and meals. DD$ are available for any ISU student to purchase and can be used in any ISU Dining establishment on campus. DD$ can be added anytime on Access Plus and are billed through your U-Bill. If you purchase $200 or more, discounts apply. All semester-based plans automatically come with an allotment of DD$. Individuals on these plans should only purchase additional DD$ only if their plan DD$ run out. Once DD$ have been issued, they cannot be reduced or refunded. At the end of summer, unused DD$ roll over for use during fall. At the end of fall, unused DD$ roll over for use during spring.
Important Considerations
Contract Cancellation
For reasons other than those listed, students who cancel their contract after the cancellation deadline (March 1 for current ISU students, May 1 for newly admitted ISU students) will receive a cancellation penalty equal to 80% of the remaining value of their entire contract, both housing and dining.
Diverse Community
While newly admitted freshmen 18 and under are assigned to the halls, all halls and apartments have a diverse mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students, making on-campus housing a great place to live and learn.
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