FAQ

What are the application dates and move-in dates?

Occupancy PeriodPriority Application Dates*Official Move-In Dates*

SPRING 2025

October 28 - November 27, 2024 for ALL CSUDH students (new and continuing/returning)

  Friday, January 17, 2025
  (new Housing residents only)

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-25

March 29 - April 29, 2024 for continuing/returning CSUDH students.

March 29 - June 3, 2024 for new CSUDH students
(first-year and transfer)

Thursday, August 22, 2024 for students NEW to CSUDH

Saturday, August 24, 2024 for CONTINUING/RETURNING students

*All dates are subject to change.

  • Apply early as space in University Housing is limited. 
  • Applications are still accepted after the above-noted priority dates, but applicants may be waitlisted, depending on remaining space availability.
  • Applying by the priority date improves your chances but does NOT guarantee you a space or a specific type of space.
When do I pay the $30 Application Fee?
  • After you submit a University Housing application through the Portal, you will receive an email at your Toromail account requesting payment. Payment instructions will be included in that email. You may pay online using Toropay by following these payment instructions. Or, you may mail a check or money order (made payable to CSUDH Housing) to:: CSUDH Cashier's Office, 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747. 
  • The $30 Application fee is required and non-refundable. It CANNOT be deferred to Financial Aid.
  • Your Housing application fee MUST be paid within 5 business days of submitting your application.  Failure to pay the Application Fee within 5 business days will result in the cancellation and deletion of your application.
  • BOTH your application AND the $30 fee MUST be received by the priority date in order to make the priority cut-off date. Submitting an application by the priority date, but paying the $30 application fee AFTER the priority date may result in your being placed on the waitlist.
  • If you previously paid a $30 Application Fee for Fall 2024, you do NOT have to pay another Application Fee is you apply for Spring 2025; any application fee paid for Fall 2024 automatically covers Spring 2025. If you did not previously pay a $30 Application Fee for Fall 2024, then you MUST pay the fee if you apply for Spring 2025.
When do I pay the $300 Security Deposit?
  • Students who apply and pay the $30 Application Fee by the priority date and who are offered a space will be contacted shortly AFTER the priority date via their Toromail account and asked to submit a $300 Security Deposit in order to reserve a space in University Housing.
  • Do NOT attempt to pay the Deposit until University Housing contacts you and specifically requests that you pay it.
  • When requested, you may pay the $300 Security Deposit online using Toropay, or mail a check to: CSUDH Cashier's Office, 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747. 
  • The Deposit CANNOT be deferred to Financial Aid and is due in full when requested.
  • Depending on when your application is received, you may be asked to submit your Security Deposit at the same time as the first Room Fee Payment.
  • Failure to pay the Deposit when requested will result in the cancellation of your Housing application.
Will my Financial Aid help pay for my Housing fees?
  • When you apply for Financial Aid, you will need to indicate on your FAFSA that you want on-campus housing so that your total award can reflect the cost of living on campus.
  • Grants, scholarships, stipends, and loans are all forms of financial aid. Be sure to talk to a Financial Aid advisor to find out what you are eligible to apply for and receive.
  • If you are receiving Financial Aid, you will have the option to defer your Room Fees until your awards are disbursed (typically by mid-August in the fall, by mid-January in the spring, and by mid-July in the summer). You will be asked to complete a Deferment of Housing Fees Agreement and to provide a copy of your Financial Aid Award Summary. 
  • Failure to pay or defer your Room Fees when requested will result in the cancellation of your application.
  • You are responsible for any fees or remaining balances not covered by your financial aid awards.
  • NOTE: Only your Room Fees can be deferred to Financial Aid. The $30 Application Fee and $300 Security Deposit CANNOT be deferred and must be paid in full when payment is requested.

For more information, visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.

How are roommates/apartment-mates assigned?
  • If you know other students who currently live or who will be living in University Housing, you can request them through the Housing Portal when you submit your application.
  • To increase the chances of getting your preferred roommates, make sure that you all apply for the SAME term, that you REQUEST AND ACCEPT each other as housemates/roommates through the Housing Portal, AND that you have the SAME APARTMENT OR ROOM TYPE preference.
  • You are also able to search for and communicate with potential housemates/roommates through the Housing Portal.
  • If you do not know anyone with whom you might want to share an apartment or room, roommates will be assigned to you based on your answers to the Profile Questionnaire in your application.
  • First-year (freshmen) students can only live with other first-years. Likewise, upperclass (sophomores and above) students can only live with other upperclass students.
  • While every effort is made to accommodate specific roommate requests and to match you with compatible roommates, University Housing cannot guarantee that you will get the people you requested or that you will get completely compatible roommates.
When can I apply for Housing, and can I apply for Housing before I am admitted to CSUDH?
  • Applications for Summer and the Academic Year typically open at the end of March every year. Applications for Spring typically open at the end of October every year. Specific dates are posted on the New Students section of this web site. 
  • You MUST be an admitted or continuing undergraduate or graduate student at CSUDH for the term you're applying for.
  • If you're a new admit, you MUST have confirmed your Intent to Enroll at CSUDH before you can be eligible to apply for Housing. You will not be able to access the Housing portal if you haven't been admitted and assigned a CSUDH Student ID Number. You must also activate your Toromail email account.
  • Once you have confirmed your Intent to Enroll, please allow up to 2 days for University records to be updated before attempting to log into the Housing Portal and apply.
  • All Housing applicants must be enrolled or planning to be enrolled in at least 12 units (or 6 units for graduate students) for the term they're applying for.
What if I am not offered a space in Housing and am waitlisted?
  • First-year and transfer students who live 20 miles or more from campus get priority on the waitlist.
  • If you are on the waitlist for a particular term, and you are not offered a space in Housing, your application does NOT automatically roll over to the next term; i.e., if you are on the waitlist for fall semester, your application will NOT be carried over to spring or the next academic year. You MUST submit a new application. 
  • If you end up waitlisted for an upcoming term, you'll be contacted if/when spaces become available due to cancellations.
  • If waitlisted, there is no guarantee that a space will become available before the start of the term you applied for, so we recommend looking into off-campus accommodations as soon as you find out that you are on the waitlist.
  • Off-campus housing options:
    Please know that we do not endorse any non-university housing apartments and are simply providing this information as a resource to help you get started on your apartment search.

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Rental Factors to Consider [PDF]
CSUDH Student Services – Shelter Resources

Does CSUDH offer meal plans to students?

For more information on meal plans and on-campus dining options, please visit the Urban Mosaic Meal Plans website. Residence Hall residents in particular are strongly encouraged to purchase dining dollars.

A dining hall is scheduled to open in Fall 2026.

 

How do I get to CSUDH and University Housing?

We are located at the following address:

  • CSUDH University Housing 
    1100 East Victoria Street
    Carson, CA 90746

  • University Housing is located on the East side of the CSUDH campus. Our apartments are located across from Parking Lot 1. Our main office is in the Commons Building of the Residence Hall, located across from Parking Lot 2. View our campus map. All 3 areas of Housing are represented by buildings 70, 71, and 72 on the campus map.

Directions from 405 Freeway

  1. Exit Avalon Blvd (from 405 South turn left at Avalon) (from 405 North take the Avalon North exit). Continue going north on Avalon for approximately 1 to 1.5 miles. Go past the main entrance for the Dignity Health Center.
  2. Turn right on Victoria Street. The CSUDH campus will be on your right.
  3. Go past the second light (Tamcliff) and then turn right at the next light (Birchknoll, which is the CSUDH East Victoria Campus Entrance).
  4. Go straight forward about 100 yards to the Stop sign.
  5. To visit our office, go past the Stop sign, and turn right into the Residence Hall parking lot. (Housing residents may turn left at the Stop sign, then use their Housing-issued keycard to enter the apartment complex and access Parking Lots 5A and 5B.)
  6. Park your car in one of the designated visitor or loading/unloading parking spaces. The office entrance is located on the west side of the building and faces the CSUDH campus. 

Directions from 91 Freeway

  1. Exit Central Ave. (from 91 West turn, left on Central) (from 91 East, turn right on Central).
  2. Go to Victoria Street and turn right.
  3. Turn left at the first light (Birchknoll, which is the CSUDH East Victoria campus entrance).
  4. Go straight forward about 100 yards to the Stop sign.
  5. To visit our office, go past the Stop sign, and turn right into the Residence Hall parking lot. (Housing residents may turn left at the Stop sign, then use their Housing-issued keycard to enter the apartment complex and access Parking Lots 5A and 5B.)
  6. Park your car in one of the designated visitor or loading/unloading parking spaces. The office entrance is located on the west side of the building and faces the CSUDH campus. 

Directions from 110 Freeway

  1. Take the 110 Freeway (North or South) to the 91 Freeway East.
  2. Exit Central Avenue (from 91 East, turn right on Central)
  3. Turn right on Victoria Street.
  4. Turn left at the first light (Birchknoll, which is the CSUDH East Victoria campus entrance).
  5. Go straight forward about 100 yards to the Stop sign.
  6. To visit our office, go past the Stop sign, and turn right into the Residence Hall parking lot. (Housing residents may turn left at the Stop sign, then use their Housing-issued keycard to enter the apartment complex and access Parking Lots 5A and 5B.)
  7. Park your car in one of the designated visitor or loading/unloading parking spaces. The office entrance is located on the west side of the building and faces the CSUDH campus.