International Students

International Student Housing Information for the University Park Campus

On-Campus Housing


Housing Assignment Office
201 Johnston Commons
University Park, PA 16802
E-mail:
Phone: 814-865-7501
Fax: 814-863-8364

It is important to know that room assignments are made in the order in which students accept their admission offer to Penn State. The earlier a student accepts his or her admission offer, the better chance they will have to receive their housing preferences for the academic year.

First-Year Undergraduate Students

All first-year students are required to live on campus. When a first-year student accepts his or her offer of admission to Penn State, he or she is also accepting the housing contract. At that time, the student has a housing contract that obligates them to living on campus as required by Penn State regulations. After the student accepts his or her admission, including the housing contract, they are then invited to log into eLiving Web site to indicate the level of meal plan they want and if they have a roommate, Special Living Option or campus area they would like to choose. Students who do not log into eLiving to select these preferences are still obligated to on-campus housing.

First year students who do not want to live on campus must meet one of three conditions to be excused from living on campus. These conditions are:

  1. The student is 21 years or older at the time of his or her initial registration with the University;
  2. The student is married and their spouse is coming to Penn State with them;
  3. The student has served in the military prior to his or her admission to the University; and
  4. The student will be living with his or her parent or legal guardian in Centre County.

All other first year students are required to live on campus. Should the student meet one of these conditions, he or she is encouraged to submit an Exemption Form within 10 days of accepting his or her offer of admission or no less than 30 days prior to the arrival date of the semester in which the student is enrolled. Exemption forms received less than 30 days prior to the arrival date will be considered if the offer of admission was made during that same 30 day time period.

Upper Class Students including Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors:

Upper class students are not required to live on campus. Upper class students, who are transferring to Penn State from another university, must email the Assignment Office at assignmentoffice@psu.edu to indicate his or her interest in securing on-campus housing. Housing is very limited to new upper class students, so each student is encouraged to contact the Assignment Office immediately upon admission to the University. If space is available, the Assignment Office will provide further instructions. Students who are offered and accept a housing contract are obligated to live on campus for the academic period indicated on the housing contract. Students are warned not to sign another lease off campus if they have already signed a housing contract. A student will not be released because he or she found less expensive housing off campus. In addition, circumstances related to a student’s race, religion or sexual orientation are not considered as valid reasons to cancel a housing contract. Only students with extenuating circumstances will be considered for release from the obligation.

Break Access Housing:
(for students who wish to live on-campus during breaks)

International students are often unable to travel home during the scheduled academic year break periods: Fall Break, the break between the fall and spring semesters, and Spring Break. During these break periods, residence hall buildings close and all residents are required to leave for the entire period. To accommodate students who need or want to stay in their residence hall room, the Break Access Special Living Option exists. Students who select this option are not required to leave their residence hall but can remain in their own room. During the break period, staff will be available in the building to help in emergencies. Dining halls are closed, but food is available with your meal plan during posted hours at various other restaurants on campus.

To select the Break Access Option, log into www.eliving.psu.edu using your Friends of Penn State account and password. Click on the contract name, select the drop down menu in the “Special Living Option Preferences” box and click on “Break Access.” Before selecting this option, please understand there is an additional cost for the extra days in the residence hall and that refunds will not be issued if you decide to leave the halls for all or any part of the break periods. Assignments are limited to the buildings specified as break access buildings.

Graduate Students:

Full-time graduate students are not required to live on campus. They may apply to live in the on-campus White Course Apartments, which offer housing for singles, couples, and families. For more information, please visit the White Course Apartments Web site. Postdoctoral students are not eligible for on-campus housing.

Non-University Park Students:

Students who are enrolled at other Penn State campuses can find housing information on their campus Web site.

Off-Campus Housing


Students who are planning to live off campus should note that it is important to seek housing as soon as possible—prior to arrival in the United States. Off-campus housing is in high demand and becomes harder to find as the school year approaches.

The Penn State Off-Campus Living Web site is a good place to start an off-campus housing search. If you would like to post an ad on the Off-Campus Living Web site, you will need to obtain a temporary Friends of Penn State account to do so.

A variety of other online resources are also available:

Some unique housing options include:

  • The International Friendship House
    • Located at 244 East Nittany Avenue, State College, PA 16801, which is a 5-minute walk to campus
    • Can accommodate up to 20 students
    • Contact
  • The University Club

Other sources of information:

  • Students may wish to contact the international/multicultural organization associated with their nationality. This can be a good way to find potential roommates and learn about housing options.
  • Graduate students may wish to get in touch with their adviser, a contact in their department, or current grad students for advice.
  • There is a bulletin board on the 4th floor of Boucke Building where students often post housing availabilities or housing needed.
  • Students may wish to read this useful information about renting from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Web site.
  • The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides public bus transportation in State College and the surrounding area. Many off-campus housing options are not within walking distance of the University Park campus, so it is useful to become familiar with the local bus routes.

Do you have a housing availability for an international student?

Fill out the University Office of Global Programs Housing Form to list your availability on our housing list.

*Disclaimer - The Pennsylvania State University makes no representation whatsoever regarding the housing linked from this webpage. Students are responsible to inspect the property and negotiate lease terms with any landlord. The Pennsylvania State University has not inspected or investigated these listings in any way and is not endorsing any specific properties or landlords for students by this listing. The Pennsylvania State University disclaims any responsibility, among other things, for the condition of any premises, terms of any leases, treatment by any landlord, or compliance with any applicable local zoning ordinances.

Penn State supports local, state and federal fair housing laws and regulations.