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Here’s How to Apply
1 APPLY FOR ADMISSION
You must be admitted before applying for housing.
2 CONFIRM ENROLLMENT
Students must confirm enrollment to access the housing application. Confirming enrollment does not commit a student to attending.
3 FILL OUT THE HOUSING APPLICATION
Our application is in the Housing & Dining Portal. Use your StarID/password to login to E-services and then select Housing & Dining in the left menu bar of E-services, which will redirect you to the portal.
TIP : You will be able to register for a Learning Community in the Housing Application if this interests you.
If you apply for housing between October 7 and February 14, we will not ask for your room or roommate preferences because you are on track to choose your own roommate and room in the spring. If you apply after February 14, we will ask you to rank your room type preferences because you will be assigned to a room.
4 SIGN THE HOUSING CONTRACT
Housing contracts are signed in the Housing & Dining Portal. Students under age 18 need to have a parent/guardian sign the contract in addition to the student. Housing contracts are in effect for one academic year. Once signed, the contract is legal and binding and cannot be broken (except in very specific circumstances).
5 PAY $250 PREPAYMENT
A student’s prepayment is applied to first semester room charges (like a down payment). A reduced prepayment may be available if you qualify.
Your reservation is not complete until we receive your prepayment. Your application may be cancelled if prepayment is not received.
REDUCED PREPAYMENT
Students who meet any of the following criteria may apply for a reduced prepayment on our website. If approved, the prepayment will be reduced to $50.
• Student received or is eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
Student is enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program (FRPL).
Student’s family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Student is enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
Student’s family receives public assistance.
Student lives in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or is homeless.
Student is a ward of the state or an orphan.
• Student is eligible for a Pell Grant.
APPLY EARLY FOR THE BEST SELECTION
APPLICATION TIMELINE
October 2024 ---- August 2025
APPLY FOR HOUSING
BY FEB. 14 TO MEET THE PRIORITY DEADLINE
ROOMMATE MATCHING FOR STUDENTS WHO MET PRIORITY DEADLINE ROOM SELECTION FOR STUDENTS WHO MET PRIORITY DEADLINE ROOMMATE ASSIGNMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO APPLIED AFTER THE PRIORITY DEADLINE
SELECT MEAL PLAN BY AUGUST 17
MOVE-IN AUGUST 21-24
STANDARD ROOMS
SUITES
• Most Available. We have the largest quantity of this room type.
• Air-Conditioned.
• Community Bathroom. Residents share the bathroom with floormates.
• Includes single, double, and triple, options. There are limited quantities of singles and triples.
• Located in Crawford, McElroy, and Preska I Hall. You are minutes away from dining, classes, the library, and friends.
APARTMENTS
Scan the QR-Code for all room types, laundry rooms, common areas, bathrooms, and convenience stores.
• Most Popular. Demand for this room type is high.
• Air-Conditioned.
• Private Bathroom. The bathroom is shared with a roommate and suitemates.
• Includes single and double room options. Located in Julia Sears and Preska J/K/L Halls. You are minutes away from dining, classes, the library, and friends.
• Most Spacious. Residents enjoy more space.
• Air-Conditioned.
• Private Bathroom. Each unit has a full bathroom that is shared with roommates.
Includes 3-Person, 4-Person, and 5-Person Apartments in single and double room options.
Located off-campus at Stadium Heights. Students ride the bus for free to and from campus.
ROOM TYPES
VIRTUAL ROOM TOURS
Rooms vary in size, shape, and layout
from building to building – even room to room – on any given floor.
BATHROOMS AND COMMON SPACES PROVIDED ITEMS
Crawford A Hall and B Hall
feature expanded and renovated community bathrooms with individual toilet/shower rooms with floor-to-ceiling lockable doors.
We provide furnishings in every room type. Rooms come with one set of furniture per student.
STANDARD ROOMS AND SUITES
Dresser
Desk
Desk Chair
Adjustable loft bed with Twin XL mattress
Shared closet space
APARTMENTS
Leather upholstered seating (one couch and two chairs)
Coffee table and end table
Full-size refrigerator/freezer
Electric range
Dishwasher
• Breakfast bar seating
Dresser
Sink
Towel bar or hook near sink
Medicine cabinet (Standard Rooms Only)
Window covering
Full-length mirror (Suites Only)
COMMUNITY BATHROOMS
A community bathroom is a room on the floor that contains multiple showers, toilets, and sink fixtures. Showers are individually enclosed by partition walls and an entrance curtain;toilets are stall-type with walls and doors. Sink basins are in a shared space within the bathroom.
Community bathrooms are cleaned on weekdays by Residential Life custodial staff and are supplied with paper products for resident use.
You will find community bathrooms in Crawford, McElroy, and Preska I Hall.
SUITE BATHROOMS
Suite bathrooms are contained within the suite and are accessible to all rooms within the suite. Each bathroom contains a private shower stall with an entrance curtain and a private toilet room.
Residents are responsible for cleaning the bathroom space. Toilet paper is provided all year long.
FLOOR KITCHEN
Desk
Desk Chair
Double rooms have an adjustable loft bed with Twin XL mattress. Single rooms have a full-size bed and mattress.
Shared closet space
Window coverings
APARTMENT BATHROOMS
There is one bathroom in each apartment unit that is accessible to all rooms within the unit. Each bathroom contains a tub/shower, toilet, medicine cabinet, and sink. Additionally, there is a bonus vanity, medicine cabinet, and sink located directly outside the bathroom.
Residents are responsible for cleaning the bathroom space. Toilet paper is provided all year long.
Residence communities on main campus (Crawford, Julia Sears, McElroy, and Preska) have a kitchen located on every residence hall floor. These spaces contain a sink, microwave, electric stovetop and oven, table, chairs, and purified water station. Items such as pots, pans, and baking sheets maybe checked out at the Front Desk of each community.
FLOOR LOUNGE
Residence communities on main campus (Crawford, Julia Sears, McElroy, and Preska) have a lounge located on every residence hall floor. These spaces are furnished with soft seating, tables, chairs, and large dry-erase board. Students utilize these spaces for hanging out, studying, and relaxing.
LAUNDRY
Laundry is included in your room rate – no quarters needed!
LOCATIONS
Laundry rooms are located in each residence community (exact location varies by building).
Residents of Crawford, McElroy, and Preska also have access to the All-Resident Laundry Room located in the lower level of Preska. This space features modern amenities, soft seating, tables and chairs, and a television.
CSC GO MOBILE APP
Students who use the CSC GO Mobile App can check machine availability, sign up to receive text alerts when laundry is finished, and see how many minutes remain on their cycle.
We offer multiple price points, as everyone has different resources. Prices listed are per person.
Our rate structure is based on two academic semesters (fall and spring). Students may stay on campus over Thanksgiving and Spring Break for no additional charge (there is no meal service). A separate fee is charged for Winter Break and Summer Housing.
TIP
: When choosing a room and meal plan, consider your financial status. There may be a gap between your financial aid award package and the total amount due. Do not assume that financial aid will cover everything. Student Financial Services (507-389-1866) can advise you on this topic.
BILLING AND PAYMENTS
Room and meal plan charges are billed to the student prior to each semester. Bills are not mailed out. Students can access their charges on E-services (mnsu.edu/eservices).
STANDARD ROOMS
SUITES
We offer four meal plans. Students choose their meal plan in the Housing & Dining Portal.
DINING DOLLARS
Learning Communities are for students with a shared interest who take courses together on campus. Students have the option of living on a designated floor with their Learning Community or in another room of their choice.
You will be co-enrolled in core courses together, participate in ready-made study groups, service opportunities, and social events.
TIP : There is no extra cost to join a Learning Community.
ROOMMATES
Students in Learning Communities can choose to room with another Learning Community student or the roommate of their choice (if both students apply by the priority deadline of February 14, 2025).
ROOM
In the housing application, students who join a Learning Community will choose whether they want to live on the designated floor with the Learning Community (in a Standard Double room) or elsewhere on campus. A student can update their status anytime in the Housing & Dining Portal (if they change their mind).
During Room Selection (for students who meet the February 14 priority deadline), students who requested Learning Community housing will select from the Standard Doubles on the floor where their Learning Community is located. If a Roommate Pair contains any student who opted into Learning Community Housing, the pair will only be able to choose a room on the designated LC floor.
ROOMMATES
The date you apply for housing determines how you will receive a roommate. Apply by the Priority Deadline (February 14, 2025) if you want to choose your own roommate.
HOW YOUR APPLICATION DATE AFFECTS YOUR ROOMMATE OPTIONS
OCTOBER 7, 2024 – FEBRUARY 14, 2025
FEBRUARY 15 – AUGUST 20, 2025
If you apply for housing between these dates, you will be eligible to participate in Roommate Matching to select your own roommate. Participation in Roommate Matching is optional.
If you apply between these dates, you will be assigned to a room and roommate. You cannot select your own roommate. We will match you up with a roommate based on age and gender.
HOW STUDENTS FIND ROOMMATES
Residential Life utilizes software called Roommate Matching, which allows students to search and select a roommate in the Housing & Dining Portal.
Roommate Matching is available February 24 – March 14 only to students who meet the Priority Deadline. During Roommate Matching, you can search for a roommate based on major, hobbies, and profiles (such as level of cleanliness, personality, or study habits). You will be able to send messages to students you are interested in getting to know better to see if they would be a match.
Another feature of the software is that it will suggest roommates based on compatibility (by comparing your profile to everyone else’s). This is a good place to start!
Outside of Roommate Matching, there are other popular ways that students find roommates:
Instagram or Facebook Groups (these are not monitored or affiliated with the University). Oftentimes if you search MNSU Class of 2029 you will find them.
Friends you want to live with (for example, from a hometown).
Affiliations such as sports teams, if you are an athlete.
Students who find a roommate through the means listed above will need to create a Roommate Pair during Roommate Matching to make it official. This means that your desired roommate should also apply for housing by February 14 so they can be selected. If they do not apply by the Priority Deadline, you will not be able to select them as a roommate.
ROOMMATE PAIRS
ROOMMATES
Students who find someone they would like to share a room with need to create a Roommate Pair during Roommate Matching. A Roommate Pair is 2 students who want to live in the same room or apartment. Instructions on how to do this will be shared with students who meet the Priority Deadline.
This is the process students use to pick their room (if they applied by the Priority Deadline).
Room Selection takes place in the Housing & Dining Portal March 30 - April 11, 2025.
Eligible students will be issued a timeslot, which is their assigned time to go online and pick their room. Timeslots will stay open for one week from the date that it opens.
Timeslots are generated by the student’s application date. The earlier you apply for housing, the earlier your timeslot will be.
Students who apply for housing after the Priority Deadline do not participate in Room Selection. They will be assigned to a room in June or July. Notification of a room assignment will be sent by email and can be viewed in the Housing & Dining Portal.
All students may bring a car to campus.
STUDENTS LIVING ON MAIN CAMPUS (CRAWFORD, JULIA SEARS, MCELROY, PRESKA)
You will need to purchase a parking privilege from the University.
• Residence hall students park in Lots 1, 2, 14, and 16.
• 24-25 parking rates are $248 for Dark Green lots (1 and 2) and $321 for Light Green Lot 16 and Stripe 14. Parking rates for 25-26 will be set in Spring 2025.
• A student’s license plate acts as their parking permit (enforcement scans the license plates to determine if someone is in violation), therefore students don’t receive a physical permit.
• Parking privileges typically go on sale in early August (before move-in).
STUDENTS LIVING AT STADIUM HEIGHTS
A parking permit is included in your room rate. Do not buy a university parking privilege.
Permits will be issued at move-in
