Two-Year Residency Program

The Drexel University 2-Year Residency Program has been developed to provide a living environment that complements the student's educational experience and contributes to the student's growth as a member of the University community and beyond. To facilitate this experience, full-time undergraduate students whose permanent address, as stated in their official University Record, is outside of a 10-mile radius of the University City Campus, are required to live in a Drexel Residence Hall for their first year. During the students second year, they are required to live in a Drexel residence hall, Drexel fraternity/sorority house (with invitation from the organization), or University Affiliated Housing (American Campus Communities': The Summit, Chestnut Square, or University Crossings), or the Haven at Drexel.

First-Year Housing Options

Second-Year Housing Options

Housing and Residence Life is in no way associated, affiliated with, or connected in any way to any of their affiliates or related organizations.

Housing Accommodation Requests

Drexel University is committed to supporting students with medical and religious/spiritual needs so they can be successful students. Through partnership with other campus offices, Housing and Residence Life can provide room accommodations and dining plan modifications to address individuals’ needs. Medical and religious/spiritual accommodation requests can be submitted through the Housing portal, available via Drexel One.

Students seeking a medical accommodation must also submit documentation that supports their requested accommodation to Drexel's Disability Resources (DR) office. More information, including deadlines, can be found on the DR website. Requests will not be processed until Housing and Residence Life has received an approved accommodation verification letter from DR.

Students seeking a religious/spiritual accommodation should submit details about how their religious/spiritual practice is in conflict with the university's 2-Year Residency Program. Accommodation decisions will be made based on the specific facts and circumstances of each individual situation, with decision made in partnership with the Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture and campus spiritual leaders. Accommodations can include, but are not limited to, relocation to a lower floor, adjustment of a dining plan, and relocation to a different room type. Historically, most religious accommodations can be met on campus.

First-year students can indicate interest in ablution (wudu) or kosher/Shabbat-friendly housing on their housing application. Students with questions about these housing options should contact Housing and Residence Life to learn more.

Housing Exemption Reasons

Current first- and second-year students may request an exemption from Drexel's 2-Year Residency Program through the Housing portal, available via Drexel One. Housing exemptions are approved for the following reasons:

• Commuting from permanent address within the approved zip codes authorized by Drexel University with a University listed parent or legal guardian.
• Co-Op opportunity that is outside of the approved zip codes AND student opts to live outside of this area. Remote Co-Ops are not eligible for this exemption.
• Change in financial circumstances or financial hardship
• Study Abroad
• Other extenuating circumstances.

Signing an off-campus lease or finding lower cost housing are not reasons for an exemption to be approved.

The Housing Exemption form is currently available for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Exemption requests can be made in accordance with the timeline below:

• Fall term exemptions will not be accepted after Oct 6
• Winter term exemptions will not be accepted after January 19
• Spring term exemptions will not be accepted after April 13
• Summer term exemptions will not be accepted after July 6

Exemption decisions will be sent to a student’s Drexel email. Students can appeal an exemption decision by following the instructions provided in the initial decision email. All appeals decisions are final.

Incoming students are not eligible for a housing exemption unless they are a local resident requesting a change to commuting status. New students may be permitted to reside with a parent or legal guardian if your permanent address is within a 10-mile radius of the University City campus. Prior to the start of the academic year, incoming first-year students may request to commute from their permanent address by contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 215.895.2400 or enroll@drexel.edu.

Compliance

Prior to the start of the academic year, incoming first-year students may request a change in residency status by contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 215.895.2400 or enroll@drexel.edu.

Second-year students who fail or refuse to comply with the 2-Year Residency Program and/or furnish false information to a University official or office will be assessed a housing charge equivalent to two academic quarters, posted to their student account at the beginning of week seven of the spring quarter during the student's second year. Non-compliant students will be charged the double-occupancy, suite-style rate within the applicable assessment year.

FAFSA

For financial aid purposes, University-affiliated housing is considered "off-campus" on the FAFSA.