First Year Experience
Welcome to First-Year Housing at TCU. Our residential communities are designed to help students be
known, connected, and empowered from the moment they arrive on campus. Here you’ll find key
dates, application steps, move-in details, and helpful resources to prepare for your first year.
Application Dates
Incoming first-year students will complete their housing application via my.tcu.edu.
The Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Housing Application is open from May 1 to May 15, 2026. More details will be shared via students’ TCU emails mid-Spring.
Check out the links below for more information.
Move-In Dates
Students who live within 30 miles of TCU and with a parent or legal guardian are eligible to commute from home. The TCU address we use is 2800 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Please print, complete, and notarize the Commuter Request Form if you wish to commute. Incoming students can submit their Commuter Request Forms beginning May 1. Please follow the steps below to complete your commuter request form.
- Go to my.tcu.edu and enter your username and password
- Click the Student Services tile
- Click Housing Portal
- Click Forms in the purple menu bar
- Choose the Commuter Request Form
Complete, notarize, and upload your Commuter Request Form (accessible in the Housing Portal) and wait for written approval/denial from the Housing & Residence Life team.
Submit your one-time, non-refundable $500 Enrollment Deposit via my.tcu.edu. TCU has a two-year residential and dining requirement. Housing & Residence Life uses your high school graduation year to determine your classification for housing.
All incoming students must comply with the following vaccination requirements to enroll at TCU:
Both dates and records must be submitted on the TCU Student Health Portal. Students must enter the dates of their vaccinations and upload supporting documents.
For more information, visit the TCU Health Center’s website or email healthinfo@tcu.edu.
The Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Housing/Dining Application is open from May 1 at 10:00am CT to May 15, 2026, at 8:00am CT.
Log into my.tcu.edu
Click on Student Services
Click on Housing Portal
Select Housing/Dining Application
Complete the following steps:
- Term Selector
- Contact Information
- Housing License (Please read thoroughly before signing)
- Housing Survey
- Dining Plan
- About Me Questionnaire
- Laundry Service
- Renter’s Insurance
- Roommate Group (maximum of three same-sex individuals)
- Submit Application
- Roommate Group
- Housing and Dining Summary
Please click here for a housing application video tutorial.
Please click here to view our residence hall options.
Your Move-In date and time slot will be emailed to you in mid-July. Please wait to receive this information before making travel arrangements. Students must move in on a designated Move-In day. Early arrivals are not permitted.
Parents & Families: We suggest booking return flights for the day after Move-In to allow enough time for you to get your student settled. It will be a busy day, and we want you to enjoy the experience rather than be rushed.
Information about specific Move-In dates, times, and locations can be found on our Move-In page.
Resources
Suggested Bathroom Items
- Toiletries
- Personal Care/Hygiene Products
Suggested Bedroom Items
- ¾” Nails or Pushpins
- Bedding (i.e., Twin XL/Full XL depending on room assignment)
- Single-Cup Coffee Brewers
- TV (non-mounting)
Suggested Cleaning Products
- All-Purpose Cleaners & Cleaning Accessories
- Laundry Soap & Dryer Sheets (if desired)
Items Provided by HRL
- Bed rails (limited quantity available)
- Bed ladder (limited quantity available)
- Printing stations in select halls
- Toilet paper
- Vacuum
What NOT to Bring
- 3M Strips
- Candles/Incense (NO Fire)
- Cooking Appliances (i.e., air/deep fryer, crockpot, hot plate, microwave, rice cooker, & toaster)
- Halogen/Lava/Love Lamps
- Peel and Stick Wallpaper
- Pets (except 10-gal or less fish tank)
- Routers
- Smart Lights
- Space heater
- TV Mounting
- Wallpaper
- Wireless Printers
For a complete list of What NOT to Bring, click here.