University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Dorms: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing a residence hall at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a significant decision for incoming students. With 24 undergraduate residence halls to choose from, the options can seem overwhelming. This guide provides a structured overview of the different residence hall areas, living-learning communities, and other housing options available to help you find the best fit for your needs and preferences.

Understanding the Residence Hall Areas

Undergraduate halls at UIUC are grouped into four main areas: Urbana North, Urbana South, Ike North, and Ike South. These areas offer distinct living experiences and access to various campus amenities.

Urbana North

This area includes Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls (LAR), Allen Hall, and Busey-Evans Hall.

LAR (Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls) and Allen Hall: These halls are connected and share an all-you-care-to-eat dining hall in the basement, as well as LAR’s Field of Greens - a vegan/vegetarian dining hall.
Allen Hall (Unit One): It is a creative living-learning community for musically inclined or artsy students. Watch current student Molly show you how she and her roommate decorated their space in Allen Hall to maximize storage and show off their individual personalities.
Busey-Evans Hall: A smaller, stand-alone hall with a strong community. Busey is an all-female hall with a non-visitation wing, and Evans is an all-male hall.

A significant advantage of living in Urbana North is the easy access to the Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE), making it convenient for residents to maintain an active lifestyle. Busey-Evans is also a short walk to both the LAR and ISR dining halls.

Urbana South

This area consists of Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Halls (PAR) and Florida Avenue Residence Halls (FAR).

PAR and FAR: These halls are close to each other. A benefit of PAR and FAR is the easy access to the PAR dining hall. The Corner Café, a retail location inside FAR, offers coffee and food. There is also a dining retail location in PAR and a fitness room in FAR. Outside, there are tennis and basketball courts as well as Illini Grove.

Ikenberry Commons (Ike)

Ikenberry Commons, comprising Ike North and Ike South, is the most populated residence hall area with 11 residence halls. It’s considered a highly social area with its own open green space, the Ike Quad. Residents have convenient access to the Ike Dining Center, located in the Student Dining and Residential Programs Building (SDRP). The SDRP also features The Caffeinator and 57 North retail locations, study lounges, and hosts various events.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

UIUC offers 10 Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) throughout the residence halls. These communities connect students with similar interests, providing opportunities for academic and personal growth. Examples of LLCs include:

Business LLC
Sustainability LLC
Women in Math, Science, and Engineering LLC

Living in an LLC can enhance your college experience by fostering a supportive and engaging environment. Join one of 11 Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), where you'll meet other students with the same interests as you.

Private Certified Housing

In addition to university-owned residence halls, UIUC also has private certified housing options. These facilities offer a different living experience, often with amenities such as air conditioning, semi-private bathrooms, in-room kitchens, and fitness centers.

Illini Tower

Illini Tower brings over 81 years of tradition in private, university-certified housing in the heart of UIUC. Located in the heart of it all, Illini Tower brings the full University of Illinois experience right to your doorstep. With restaurants, shops, and campus highlights a short walk away, Illini Tower makes it easy to dive into all that Champaign has to offer.

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Unit Features and Amenities:

Illini Tower offers a range of unit types, including studios, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and four-bedroom apartments. Each unit is fully furnished and includes essential amenities for comfortable living.

Studio Apartments: These units are ideal for independent living and feature a fully furnished space with a functional kitchenette. Choose between the S1 for simplicity or the S2 for extra space.
- Size: 465 - 560 Sqft
- Features: Fully Furnished, Kitchenette
Two-Bedroom Apartments: These units are perfect for students who want to live with a roommate. They offer private or shared bedrooms and a comfortable shared living space.
- Size: 630 - 700 Sqft
- Features: Private or Shared Bedrooms, Fully Furnished, Full Kitchen
Three-Bedroom Apartments: The C1 floor plan offers private bedrooms for each resident, a shared bath, and an inviting common area.
- Size: 760 Sqft
- Features: Private Bedrooms, Fully Furnished, Full Kitchen
Four-Bedroom Apartments: The D1 layout provides each resident with a private bedroom and access to a full kitchen and comfortable shared areas.
- Size: 860 Sqft
- Features: Private Bedrooms, Fully Furnished, Full Kitchen

Community Perks:

Illini Tower offers a variety of community amenities to enhance the college experience.

Dining Hall with Flexible Meal Plan Options
Study Lounges with Collaborative Workspaces
Fully Equipped Fitness Center
24/7 On-Site Management and Maintenance Support

Dining Services:

Illini Tower Dining is open for meals seven days a week and offers a diverse menu that caters to different dietary needs. The menus reflect values and priorities, serving up delicious meals every day.

"Eat Well" selections make up over 30% of menu items.
Over 15% of items feature whole grain selections.
Over 30% vegetarian and vegan selections.
Plant-Forward selections highlight nutrient-rich plants.

Tips for Dorm Life

Dorm life can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Here are some tips to help you survive and thrive in your new environment:

Be Open to New Experiences: Your move-in day will be just as terrifying for you as it will be for the rest of your floormates. In fact, I can personally thank some Scotch tape and an open door as the starting point of conversation between me and my future apartment roommates for next semester.
Take Responsibility for Your Space: Therefore, while you may no longer be chastised for not tidying up your room, do it as a favor to both your roommate and yourself and clean up after yourself. Show responsibility especially in the bathroom.
Manage Roommate Expectations: I met my roommate for the first time when I walked into my dorm room, and I was skeptical of whether we’d truly get along. In fact, the reality is most people will not instantly become BFFs with their roommates.
Utilize Dining Hall Options: While dining hall food can never live up to our fantasies, they truly do incorporate options. Yet the dining hall truly did outshine itself, always keeping everything from a sandwich bar to PAR’s famous stir fry meals.
Explore and Personalize Your Space: Watch current student Molly show you how she and her roommate decorated their space in Allen Hall to maximize storage and show off their individual personalities.

University Housing vs. Private Certified Housing

First-time attending students are required to live in university-approved housing. But with 40 options, where do you start? If you're required to live in housing owned or certified by the university, don't worry-you're not limited! You have many choices within our undergraduate halls, including our transfer community in Scott Hall.

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Each facility is privately owned and operated, with rates comparable to other living options. Transfer students who have earned more than 30 credit hours are typically eligible to live off campus. Please read the student housing code or check with the Housing Information Office before securing housing with a private landlord.

Making Your Decision

Choosing the right residence hall involves considering your personal preferences, academic interests, and lifestyle. Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision:

Research: Use the Compare Options and Cost Calculator page to explore pictures, costs, and detailed descriptions of each hall. This page has all the information in one place - including hall groups!
Consider Your Priorities: Determine what is most important to you in a living environment, such as proximity to academic buildings, dining options, recreational facilities, or specific communities.
Explore LLCs: If you have specific interests, consider applying to a Living-Learning Community that aligns with your passions.
Keep Up with Deadlines: Make sure to keep up with important dates and deadlines so you are ready to make your selection. Time slots to select your hall are randomized for everyone who submits their housing contracts before the priority deadline. If you do not submit by the priority deadline, you will be assigned a space. That means some of our premier, most sought after spaces may not be available for first-year students.

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