University of Minnesota Dorms: A Comprehensive Guide to On-Campus Housing

Choosing where to live is a crucial decision for incoming students at the University of Minnesota. With a variety of U of M dorms and on-campus apartments, understanding the unique characteristics of each residence hall is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the U of M dorms, exploring their locations, amenities, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Exploring the University of Minnesota's Neighborhoods

The University of Minnesota is centrally located within the Twin Cities, offering students easy access to a diverse range of neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own unique character and attractions.

Dinkytown: Located at the heart of the East Bank campus, Dinkytown is a popular destination for students. It features a variety of cafes, coffee houses, restaurants, bookstores, and shops.
Stadium Village: Situated across from the southeastern residence halls, Stadium Village is a convenient location with numerous restaurants offering diverse cuisines.
Cedar-Riverside: This neighborhood, located off the West Bank, offers a blend of collegiate, artsy, trendy, and funky influences. It is home to theaters, music clubs, ethnic and vegetarian restaurants, co-ops, and cafes.
St. Anthony Park: Near the St. Paul campus, St. Anthony Park is a quaint community with shops and restaurants clustered about a half-mile from campus.
Downtown Minneapolis: Just a short bus or light rail ride from the West Bank, Downtown Minneapolis offers stores, restaurants, a library, bars, theaters, and various events.
Downtown St. Paul: A quieter city center than Minneapolis, Downtown St. Paul is known for its theaters and museums.

The Superblock: A Hub of U of M Dorms

Frontier Hall, Pioneer Hall, Territorial Hall, and Centennial Hall are collectively known as the Superblock. These four U of M dorms are located on the East Side of campus.

Frontier Hall

Frontier Hall features two large lounges, a volleyball court, and a lighted basketball court. Residents share a dining hall with Pioneer Hall, connected by a tunnel. It is one of four halls located on adjacent blocks known collectively as the "Superblock" on the Minneapolis east bank campus. Frontier uses the dining center located in Pioneer Hall, but residents may also use the dining center in Centennial. Centennial is near several sports arenas, the University Hospital/Health Sciences complex, and Stadium Village (a local shopping and eating area). Centennial is easily accessible by foot, bike, free campus connector and shuttle system, and soon to be completed - light rail.

Pioneer Hall

Pioneer Hall, built in the 1930s, is a coed U of M dorm open to students of all years. Its colonial style creates a unique layout. Pioneer Hall offers single, double, and triple dorm rooms, as well as suites that can house up to four residents. Suites in Pioneer Hall include living rooms and bathrooms. Pioneer Hall boasts its own impressive dining hall-the largest on campus!

Territorial Hall

This is a freshmen-only residence hall located on the Superblock. The four-story building houses nearly 700 students, divided into fourteen "houses" or community units. Centennial is one of four halls located on adjacent blocks known collectively as the "Superblock" on the Minneapolis east bank campus. Centennial houses a dining center and shares it with Territorial Hall which is connected by tunnel.

Centennial Hall

Centennial Hall is open to students of all ages but primarily houses upper-class students. It is a good option for students who prefer single rooms, although a limited number of double rooms are available. It is near several sports arenas, the University Hospital/Health Sciences complex, and Stadium Village (a local shopping and eating area). Centennial is easily accessible by foot, bike, free campus connector and shuttle system, and soon to be completed - light rail. It is located adjacent to the east bank of the Mississippi River, Coffman Memorial Union, and the Weisman Art Museum. Centennial also keeps a suspiciously clean record with a centralized location and the only single rooms to be found in Superblock. Though it does not house its’ own dining hall, it does feature a market!

Other U of M Dorms

Middlebrook Hall

Located on the West Bank, Middlebrook Hall houses around 900 students, many of whom are part of the University of Minnesota honors program. It is conveniently located near the Wilson Library, Carlson School of Management, the School of Music, the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, and other academic buildings. Middlebrook houses a dining center. It is located adjacent to the west bank of the Mississippi River, Ted Mann Concert Hall, Wilson Library, and is near downtown Minneapolis. The west bank Riverside area offers a variety of music clubs, coffee shops, co-ops, historical buildings, and ethnic and vegetarian restaurants. Middlebrook is easily accessible by foot, bike, free campus connector and shuttle system, and soon to be completed - light rail. Most west bank classroom buildings are connected by underground tunnels. The hall was named for William T. Middlebrook, former Vice President for Business Administration. Middlebrook Hall's Information Desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bailey Hall

Bailey Hall is the only University of Minnesota housing option on the St. Paul campus. It is popular among biology, veterinary medicine, and agriculture students who take most of their classes on the St. Paul campus. Bailey Hall is home to Rock Bottom, a dance club and lounge area available for all students living in the U of M dorms. Bailey Hall houses its own dining hall and is connected to the St. Paul Student Center and the Magrath Library through the Gopher tunnel system. It is a relatively newer dorm in very good condition, it's next to the dining hall and St. Paul campus student center, and it has air conditioning and a nice lounge with ping pong, fussball, pool, piano and music practice rooms. It happens to be next door to the state fair grounds which is open during move-in week. The bathrooms are pretty new, and some have bathrooms. It primarily hosts classes only for College of Design (CDes) and College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Science (CFANS) students.

Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 500-749
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles, suites (doubles)

Comstock Hall

Comstock is one of two U of M dorms located by the East Bank area. This University of Minnesota housing area is near the Coffman Memorial Union and close to the many of the academic buildings. Comstock houses 561 residents, mostly in single and double rooms. Comstock Hall, built in 1940, is named for Ada L. It is situated near various classrooms, Coffman Memorial Union, the University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview and the Weisman Art Museum. Comstock is easily accessible by foot, bike, the free campus connector and shuttle system, and soon to be completed - light rail. Its central location is popular for returning students.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Sanford Hall

Sanford Hall is conveniently close to Dinkytown, making it an especially exciting University of Minnesota housing area for students to live in. is a coeducational unit housing 502 residents. Sanford houses its own dining center. Sanford is located adjacent to Dinkytown and the Minneapolis east bank campus. Sanford is easily accessible by foot, bike, and free campus connector and shuttle system. Sanford Hall was constructed in 1910 and expanded with the tower in 1964. Sanford was originally built in a colonial-style architecture to house women and was named after Maria L. Sanford, Professor of Rhetoric and Elocution at the University, 1880-1909.

17th Ave Hall

This is the brand new hall housing a couple of frats on north end of campus. Hall (soon to be named) is a six-story coeducational hall housing 600 residents. The new residence hall has been intentionally designed and developed to foster community among residents, as well as include sustainable design principles emphasizing energy efficiency, regional materials, and long-ter m viability. It is adjacent to the university sports arenas, Dinkytown, and the Minneapolis east bank campus. 17th Ave. is easily accessible by foot, bike, free campus connector and shuttle system. 17th Ave. Hall's Information Desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Freshman Dorm Tier List (Based on First-Year Experiences)

Pioneer Hall: Tier A - The gold star of campus, “Pio” Hall boasts its own impressive dining hall-the largest on campus!
Centennial Hall: Tier B- - “Centen” also keeps a suspiciously clean record with a centralized location and the only single rooms to be found in Superblock. Though it does not house its’ own dining hall, it does feature a market!
Frontier Hall: Tier C - Having neither its’ own dining hall NOR its’ own market, the only high point of this building is the location in Superblock-and, of course, the fact that it isn’t Territorial.
Territorial Hall: Tier F - Don’t let the identical interior fool you, this building is no carbon copy of Frontier. The only way I could describe this dorm is an amalgamation of horrors.
Comstock Hall: Tier B - A criminally underrated residence hall on the UMN Campus. Not only does Comstock have its own dining hall, it is also found directly next to Coffman Memorial Union.
Sanford Hall: Tier C - Though this building has a stunning exterior and its own dining hall, it misses out on points by being in an odd location and having no air conditioning. I sweat in pity for anyone residing here during the hotter months.
17th Avenue: Tier A- - 17th is perfect-and horrible-with its’ Dinkytown location. It houses the student athletes and is right next to frat row. The good news is that you never will be bored; the bad news is that you will never know peace.
Middlebrook Hall: Tier A- - The hidden gem of the UMN Campus, Middlebrook is the honors dorm and, though for some it may have an inconvenient location, it is right next to the arts departments and Carlson.
Bailey Hall: Tier C- - Bailey does have its’ own dining hall but, unfortunately, it’s on the St.

Packing Essentials for Dorm Life

Your residence hall or apartment will be your new home for the coming year. Space is often limited, so it's essential to pack efficiently. Focus on bringing essentials like bedding, bathroom supplies, tech gear, and health and wellness items. You can always bring other things in later after you know how much space you have. If you will have roommate(s), you should contact them to plan ahead to talk about what you are each planning to bring. This will allow you to avoid unnecessary duplication meaning you will save space AND money. Pack items in reusable bins or laundry baskets to reduce waste.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

tags: #university #of #minnesota #dorms #guide