Important Information and Dates
The Department of Residence Life uses the StarRez Housing Portal for all housing application and selection processes each year. In order for returning students to participate in general room selection, they must complete a general housing application each year.
Students who are interested in living in a residential affinity housing experience (RAHE), project house, language house, special residence selection (apartment spaces in traditional residence halls), or Renfrow Hall, must complete an additional application that is specific to the experience they are looking for. On the StarRez Housing Portal, students can navigate to the "Individualized Housing Experience Applications" tab to find the specific application(s) to submit.
Individualized housing experience (IHE) applications operate on one shared timeline. Any student who doesn't receive an offer to participate in one of the experiences will then have the opportunity to fully participate in general room selection.
Individualized Housing Experience Application Timeline
- Applications open: Jan. 25
- Application due: Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.
- Offers sent to students: March 12
- Offer responses due: March 29 at 5 p.m.
Students who don't receive an offer for an IHE will participate in general room selection based on the selection timeline below.
If an IHE space doesn't fill, additional applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all spaces are filled.
General Housing Application and Selection Timeline
- Application opens: Jan. 25
- Application due: April 1 at 5 p.m.
- Selection time slots released: April 2 by 5 p.m.
- 4th year room selection: April 5
- Rising 4th year room selection: April 6
- Rising 3rd year room selection: April 7
- Rising 2nd year room selection: April 8
- Final room selection: April 9
Residential Affinity Housing Experience (RAHE)
Residential affinity housing experiences work closely with identity specialists in identity and community development experiences for students in shared affinity.
Each RAHE will have engagement opportunities to grow residents personal and communal goals around identity exploration.
For academic year 2026–27 the following RAHE experiences will be available:
- First-Generation: 1130 East Street
- Latinx Living Learning Community: Windsor House (Latinx Cultural Center)
- Lavender Hall: LGBTQIA+ Living Learning Community, Younker First Floor
- Sawubona House: Black/Pan-African Living Learning Community, 1318 East Street
Project Houses
Project houses currently include the following:
- DAG House: 1019 Park Street
- Farm House: 1023 Park Street
- G.A.M.E. House: 1128 East Street
- GWARC House: 1008 Park Street
Renfrow Hall
Apartment styles include the following:
- 4-person
- Four single rooms
- Two double rooms
- One double room and two single rooms
- 3-person
- Three single rooms
- One double room and one single room
Special Residence Selection (SRS)
Grinnell College Housing has special and unique room setups. These include three (3), four (4), five (5), six (6) and seven (7) person spaces in Cowles, apartments in Read, Haines, Cleveland, and Lazier. Students who are interested in these types of spaces will be able to apply for special residence selection.
General Room Selection
General room selection is Grinnell Residence Life’s largest housing room selection. Students who choose not to live in a specific affinity group, project house, or special residence selection will participate in the general room selection.