Elon University has a two-year residency requirement based on evidence that students who live on campus are more engaged in the community, perform better academically, and are more likely to utilize campus resources. If students wish to live off-campus before their junior year, they must apply and be released from the residency requirement.  Incoming transfer students are required to live on-campus unless they have completed two years (four semesters) of full-time enrollment at another institution. The only exceptions to this requirement are for those students who are living with their parent(s)/legal guardians or nontraditional aged students. In order to be exempt otherwise, the student must obtain approval from Residence Life. Students should NOT sign a lease off campus without approval from Residence Life. 

For more information about Elon’s residency requirement, please review the Student Handbook or the Residential Policies.

Please note that on campus housing is not guaranteed for students for all 4 years.

If you wish to request an exemption based on one of the above criteria, there will be an application process during Housing Selection and the application due dates can be seen on the Housing Selection timeline.

Please note that students who are requesting an exemption due to medical reasons are required to complete the medical accommodations process with Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA).

If you have questions, please contact Residence Life at residencelife@elon.edu or 336-278-7300.