Get Ready To Apply!
Be sure to review the information below regarding housing for the 2026 - 2027 academic year. Keep checking back for more information! Please note: All housing process timelines are tentative and may be changed at the discretion of the Housing Assignments Office.
2026 - 2027 Housing Application
The housing application for 26-27 will be live on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The application will close on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. NOON EST.
Blocking provides students the option to select a preferred roommate - as well as a larger group of friends whom they’d like to live near. While blocking does not guarantee an outcome, it gives all students in the block the same room selection window time.
You and your preferred roommate may choose to be members of a block or simply enter the quad housing lottery as two person block. For rising sophomores, all students within a block must have the same quad connection and will select rooms in their connected quad.
Juniors and seniors will indicate quad preferences on the housing application. When deciding your quad preferences, the quad connection should be the same ranking across all members, even if the quad connection is different. In the event quad eligibility differs across your block, the block leaders preference will be utilized.
Blocking Rules:
- Includes 2-4 students. (Preferred roommates are considered a 2-person block)
- Blocks may be comprised of students of any genders.
- Rising sophomores may form blocks with any sophomore student sharing their same quad connection.
- Every member of a block must complete an application through the Housing Portal.
- Block leaders will invite all members of the block through the Housing Portal.
- Invited members MUST accept or decline the block invitation, otherwise they will not be accounted for in the block.
- Block members will all be assigned the same room selection window.
Blocking Mythbusters
- Blocking (or not) does not increase or decrease the likelihood of receiving a good lottery number.
- Blocking does not guarantee a specific upperclass housing placement. For example, a large block that has a high lottery number may be bumped to their second preference building because they are too large to fit in their preferred building within a Quad/Hollows/300 Swift/Blue Light/301 Swift.
- Blocking does not guarantee room or apartment type, nor does it guarantee a certain number of beds within a room, suite or apartment. All of these items depend on lottery numbers, bed availability, and the selections of students in front of you – to name a few variables.
Mixed blocks are defined as any one of the following:
- Block members of differing class years (rising juniors and seniors)
- Block members of differing quad connections (rising juniors or seniors connected to two or more quads)
- Any combination of the above two
Block Type #1: Block members belong to different quad connections, but are the same class year:
- All members of your block are of the same class year.
- Members of your block belong to different quad connections.
Mixed quad connection blocks will be allocated by lottery number and quad preference.
Mixed quad connection blocks may be allocated to Hollows/300 Swift/Blue Light/301 Swift, but not to a quad connection.
If not allocated to Hollows/300 Swift/Blue Light/301 Swift, your mixed quad connection block will be disbanded.
Block Type #2: Block members belong to different class years, regardless of quad connections:
- Members of your block are seniors and juniors.
- Members of your block may belong to different quad connections.
Mixed class year blocks will be allocated after all senior only blocks and all junior only blocks.
Please note: In the last two housing processes, mixed CLASS YEAR blocks were not allocated to Hollows.
If not allocated to Hollows/300 Swift/Blue Light/301 Swift AND your block has different quad connections your mixed class year block will be disbanded, and you will be allocated back to your connected quads.
Any mixed class year blocks still remaining within a quad will be assigned room selection windows after junior only blocks but before sophomore room selection.
Students may decline housing for a variety of reasons:
- Met residency requirement (class of 2027 or lower)
- Housing accommodation to live off campus
- Enrolled in sponsored program (study away, Marine Lab, etc.)
- Voluntary leave from Duke (medical or personal leave, voluntary withdrawal)
- Involuntary leave from Duke (academic dismissal, administrative financial withdrawal, administrative withdrawal, disciplinary dismissal/suspension)
All declines are reviewed and verified via respective university offices and programs. Students who are declining housing should complete the Decline Housing form via the housing portal.
Students returning to Duke are still required to meet the three-year residency requirement. You may contact housing regarding your residency status while your return application is under review.
Below are the rates for the current 2025– 2026 academic year. Housing and Residence Life anticipates a rate increase in the range of 4–6% for the 2026-2027 academic year. All rates are preliminary and subject to change. Final rates will be reviewed and approved at the May Board of Trustees meeting.
Single Room: (West Campus, including singles in Hollows)
Semester: $7,206
Academic Year: $14,412
Double Room: (West Campus, including doubles in Hollows)
Semester: $5,455
Academic Year: $10,910
Apartment Private Bedroom: (Single rooms in 300 Swift and Blue Light)
Semester: $8,958
Academic Year: $17,916
Apartment Shared Bedroom: (Double rooms in 300 Swift and Blue Light, all rooms in 301 Swift)
Semester: $7,206
Academic Year: $14,412
Please note there are single and double bedroom occupancy options in Blue Light and Hollows. These bedrooms will be highlighted on floor plans and during the room selection process.
Single rooms are NOT guaranteed. We strongly encourage all students to identify a preferred roommate in the event that single rooms are not available during room selection.
Info Sessions:
Zoom links for each info session will be sent to your Duke email address.
Tuesday, January 27 at 5:30 P.M.: Class of 2027
French Family Science Center Rm 2231
Join the Housing Assignments and Off Campus & Community Life Offices to discuss all housing options and processes for rising seniors.
Monday, February 2 at 7:00 P.M.: Students with SDAO approved accommodations
Learn more about how your accommodation will be utilized throughout the housing application process. Students with accommodations from all class years are encouraged to join.
Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00 P.M. - LLC Members
Learn more about the housing application process as an LLC member. LLC members from all class years are encouraged to join.
Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 P.M. - Students with approved Faith-Based Exceptions
Learn more about how your exception will be utilized throughout the housing application process. Students with exceptions from all class years are encouraged to join.
Monday, February 9 at 7:00 P.M. - Class of 2029
Join the Housing Assignments team to learn more about the upcoming housing application process for rising sophomores.
Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00 P.M. - Upperclass students
Join the Housing Assignments team to learn more about the upcoming housing application process for rising juniors and seniors.
Monday, February 16 at 7:00 P.M. - All Students
Join the Housing Assignments team for a general overview of the housing application process.
Application Process Timeline
Tuesday, February 17: 26-27 Housing Application and decline form live
Friday, February 20: 26-27 Housing Application closes at 12:00 p.m. (noon).
Thursday, February 26: Deadline to add accommodations through the SDAO. Deadline to receive approval for Faith-Based Exceptions through the application in the Housing Portal.
Monday, March 16: Quad allocations sent out
Room Selection:
Thursday, March 19 - Room selection time slots sent out
Monday, March 23 - Room selection
Tuesday, March 24 - Room selection
Thursday, March 26 - Room selection
Monday, March 30 - Room selection
Tuesday, March 31 - Room selection
Housing and Residence Life is currently NOT conducting an off-campus lottery for the fall 2026 semester. Decisions for a spring 2027 lottery will be made in early September. If decisions change or develop regarding any off campus options, eligible students will be notified. Rising juniors should not sign any off-campus leases until the results of the lottery are released.
Class of 2029 may choose to submit a Roommate Appeal Form to live with a preferred roommate with a different quad connection. Students will be asked to provide a thorough explanation for their request. Your preferred roommate must also submit the request. HRL will assign the approved roommate pair into one of their connecting quads based on capacity. The application will be available on the Housing Portal starting January 28, 2026 until 12:00 p.m. (NOON) on February 4, 2026.
All appeal requests must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. (NOON) EST on February 4, 2026.
Terms of Appeal:
- Once you submit your appeal request, it will be reviewed by a committee of staff and faculty. They may be in contact with you to discuss your appeal and may request any applicable documentation. Decisions regarding your appeal will be made by February 10th.
- If your appeal is not granted you will follow the general assignments process based upon your original quad connection. You will be expected to find a roommate or block within your original quad connection.
- If your appeal is granted, you and your preferred roommate (if you have one) will be assigned the same quad connection and will submit your housing application with the ability to form a block with students also assigned to that connection.
Regardless of your appeal outcome, you must apply for housing when the application is open between February 17th and February 20th.
Students will be assigned a room selection time slot based upon their individual or block lottery number. The order for room selection will be as follows:
- Senior only blocks and senior solo applicants
- Junior only blocks and junior solo applicants
- Mixed blocks (for mixed block definitions, review the Mixed Blocks section)
- Sophomore only blocks and sophomore solo applicants
Information about your room selection time slot will be sent out on March 19th.
Housing and Residence Life works in conjunction with the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) to ensure consistency in evaluating special housing accommodation requests. The SDAO reviews requests and shares approved student accommodations with HRL.
Students who wish to be considered for reasonable accommodations must submit current documentation (i.e., medical/educational/diagnostic reports) from licensed physicians, psychologists, or other qualified professionals as well as supporting historical records and materials.
Information regarding the process to request an accommodation can be found on the Student Disability and Access Office website or at 919-668-1267.
Thursday, 2/26 - SDAO Accommodation deadline. Approved accommodations must be received by HRL from SDAO for students to participate in SDAO accommodation assignment process.
- Any student who has approved housing accommodations submitted after February 26, 2026 and are NOT met through the room selection process must apply for reassignment in June.
Housing and Residence Life will make good faith efforts to meet a student’s sincerely held faith practices or beliefs that conflict with a Housing and Residence Life policy, procedure, or other requirement.
Please note that religious exceptions are not guaranteed, but will be considered as space permits.
Thursday, 2/26 - Faith-Based Exception approval deadline. Exceptions must be approved by HRL by this deadline in order for students to participate in the Faith-Based Exception assignment process.
- Any student who has approved housing exception submitted after February 26, 2026 and whose needs are NOT met through the room selection process must apply for reassignment in June.
Requesting exceptions for religious purposes is separate from the disability accommodations process. If you are seeking housing exceptions for religious purposes and accommodations for medical conditions/disabilities, please follow the process for requesting SDAO housing accommodations. After accommodations are approved and assigned, a separate form for religious housing exceptions is available in the Housing Portal.
Students participating in housing processes which conflict with religious observances may contact the Housing Assignments Office for options on how to navigate. Housing Assignments my offer proxy options for room selection processes.
Please check out the Quad Descriptions page of the Housing Website for information about each quad.
Click here to review FAQs for the 2026-2027 housing process.
If you would like to meet with a member of the Housing Assignments team to review questions about the upcoming housing application and room selection process, please use this scheduling link to set up a virtual meeting.
Duke Kunshan students are required to live on campus while in Durham. Students will submit their housing applications via the Duke Housing Portal in June and may indicate their preferred Duke Kunshan roommate.
Duke Kunshan students are NOT eligible for Living Learning Communities as these communities manage their own recruitment processes.
The Housing Assignment Office will send communications via email and website specifically for Duke Kunshan students.
If you are the member of a Learning Living Community, you will still need to apply for 26-27 housing. All students on approved LLC rosters will we be able to select assignments based on availability in your LLC designated living area.
Please reach out to your LLC advisor with any questions regarding LLC membership or housing.
Students who preference a substance free lifestyle should find a roommate who also holds the same values. Students can indicate preference for substance free living on the lifestyle questions within housing applications to assist in roommate matching.
Students returning to campus for the Fall 2026 semester should complete a housing application via the Housing Portal. Students studying at the Marine Lab for the Fall 2026 semester should decline housing via the Housing Portal. Students studying at the Marine Lab for the spring 2027 semester will be able to cancel housing in October 2026.
Housing process for Duke Robertson Scholars:
- During the fall semester, Duke Robertson Scholars may decline housing for the spring semester due to the Robertson Campus Switch. This is part of our annual spring assignment process.
- Duke Robertson Scholars are confirmed with the Robertson Scholars program and housing decline is processed.
- Duke Robertson Scholars are contacted during the spring semester to participate in the fall housing process.
Housing process for UNC Robertson Scholars:
- During the fall semester, UNC Robertson Scholars are contacted by the Robertson Scholars program and instructed to apply for housing at Duke for the spring semester.
- The Robertson Scholars program confirms UNC Robertson Scholars with the Housing Assignments office.
- UNC Robertson Scholars housing applications are managed via spring assignments process. Robertson Scholars are assigned and must go through housing confirmation process and select a meal plan.
NOTE: Robertson Scholars are NOT guaranteed a specific housing assignment, preferred roommate, nor will they be able to swap with another student.
Fall Study Away:
- Students may not maintain a fall housing assignment while pursuing study away opportunities. As a result, you will need to decline housing. If you do not decline housing by 3/6 and you have NOT cancelled your study away application, we will cancel your housing application for you. You can access the decline housing form via the housing portal beginning Tuesday, February 17th.
- Students who study away for the fall semester should plan to live on-campus when they return in the spring semester. Students are required to fulfill the 3-year/6-semester residency requirement.
- PLEASE NOTE: Students who leave for study away in the fall, are not guaranteed a specific housing assignment, near a specific block, nor will they be able to swap with another student who is planning to study away and will need to apply for spring housing.
Spring Study Away:
- Students who plan to study away for the spring semester and are required to live on campus (sophomores and juniors) should apply for 2026-2027 housing. The application can be found through the housing portal starting Tuesday, February 17.
- Students who study away for the spring semester will be able to participate in the room selection process and select their room for fall.