Off-Campus Residency

Grinnell College is a residential college. All full-time students are required to live in student residences and board with College dining all four years. The number of students granted off-campus permission is determined by projected total enrollment for the upcoming term.  Students are not approved to live off-campus until an offer is received from Residence Life.   

Exceptions 

Exceptions to our residential policy are automatically granted to the very few students who meet one or more of the following criteria: 

  • are 24 years of age by September 1 (of the upcoming academic year), 
  • live with their immediate family (parent or guardian) in the Grinnell area, 
  • are legally married (or legally partnered in a civil union) and live in the Grinnell area, or 
  • have a child(ren) who lives with them. 

Please note students eligible for automatic permission must complete and submit the required request form by the sign-up due date.   

Exceptions are also granted to a limited number of seniors and third-year students (not studying abroad or taking a leave of absence during the fall term) who request and have been granted permission to live off-campus by Residence Life.   

What you need to know 

Students may only live off-campus if granted permission by Residence Life. 

  • Students must request permission to live off-campus EACH academic year, or when returning from a leave of absence or studying abroad, even if permission was granted previously. 
  • Students interested in requesting permission to live off-campus must complete and submit the electronic request form by the due date. 
  • Students approved to live off campus: 
    • must live in the Grinnell area 
    • are approved for the entire academic year 
  • Notify Dining Services of their choice of meal plan  
  • Students who accept an off-campus offer may, at any time, request on-campus residency; however, single room assignments are not guaranteed. Assignments depend on availability.   
  • Students who decline or cancel their off-campus offer / status must reapply for off-campus permission, regardless of class year. 

Check out our Off Campus Housing Guidelines - Learn What You Need to Know!

Notification 

After applying for off-campus housing students are notified via email when the off-campus agreement is available to complete within the housing portal. Please note: without approval from Residence Life students are not able to complete the agreement.

Study Abroad/On Leave

Students studying abroad must follow the room-split process for off-campus housing. 

Contact 

Please contact Britta Meints with questions.  

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