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

Living on Campus

Student move-in, August 8, 2025

Living on campus at TCU is about more than where you stay. It is an opportunity to build community,
create meaningful connections, and grow in a supportive environment. As a residential student, you can
expect to meet new people, learn how to navigate shared living, and access resources that help you
succeed both in and out of the classroom. Through everyday experiences, campus involvement, and
support from staff, living on campus helps students feel known, connected, and empowered from the
start.

Two students talk in their room in Walsh Hall, October 23, 2025. Photo by James Anger.

We’re offering a limited opportunity for students to live in Shared Amenity spaces and converted
lounges. These spaces are larger rooms accommodating three or four residents that each have a bed and
dresser, but may share a desk or closet space. While the space is a bit cozier, it’s a great way to start
your TCU journey with built-in connections and extra housing benefits!

Students who choose this option will receive a $1,000 housing credit each semester, priority housing
selection for their second year, and a guaranteed housing option for their third and fourth years if they
choose to stay on campus.

You’ll be part of a small, supportive group of students helping us make the most of our on-campus
experience. During the housing application, you will have the opportunity to opt into this experience.
Not opting in does not mean you may not be placed in this room type as we need to accommodate all
first-year students on campus this fall. These spaces are located in many of our first-year communities.

Shared Amenity Gallery

First-Year Housing Application Video

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.

  1. Go to my.tcu.edu and enter your username and password
  2. Click the Student Services tile
  3. Click Housing Portal
  4. Click Forms in the purple menu bar
  5. 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.

First-Year Housing Application and Auto-Selection FAQs

Learn More

Meal Plan Information

Read More

Move-In Information

Read More