Living on campus in the dorms is a great way to become part of the University of Arizona community. Our dorms offer a great way to meet people, live close to your classes and campus activities and provide a strong support system to help you adjust to life in America and our university campus. Did you know that students who live in a dorm on campus at least one year have a 50% higher 4-year graduation rate than students who never live in a dorm?
Choices for Living On Campus
- Academic year (August – May, closes during winter break)
- Academic year and winter break (August – May, open during winter break)
- Summer housing for students attending Summer school
Most of dorm rooms are doubles (for two people). Housing & Residential Life also offers single rooms (one person), triple rooms (three people) and quadruple rooms (four people). Most of the dorms have community bathrooms on their floor or wing, which are shared by students of the same gender. There are also a few dorms with different types of bathrooms: a suite-style bathroom, where two rooms of students of the same gender share a bathroom; and a private bathroom inside the room, where the students in the room share a bathroom. All of the buildings have a community kitchen which is mostly used for small meals or snacks.
Rooms include all furniture, utilities (electricity, water), local telephone, and internet and Wi-Fi access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook if I live in the dorms?
Community kitchens are offered in all of our dorms. Students typically use this community space to prepare small meals or snacks, with no restrictions on the types of food prepared or spices used. Community kitchens equipped with full-sized stoves and refrigerators. Pots and pans can be checked out from the front desk of your hall. Since these kitchens are shared by all we do not recommend that they be used for every meal. We strongly recommend that you purchase a campus meal plan to eat at the more than 40 eateries located around campus. Arizona Student Unions’ professional dining staff is available to assist in finding menu options that fit your needs, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free offerings. Click here for more information on menus and nutritional information. If you have dietary restrictions, we encourage you to discuss food-related accommodations with the Disability Resource Center. Our dorms also include several other amenities which can be found on our Amenities page.
Do males and females live in the same building?
22 of our dorms are all-gender, with both males and females living in the dorm. We have one dorm, Maricopa, that is all female/women-only.
Tell me about the all-female/women-only dorm.
Our all-female/women-only dorm, Maricopa, does allow male visitors into the halls.
If you choose to live off campus, the University of Arizona has an Off-Campus Housing department which offers free services for students. On the Off-Campus Housing website, you can search for places to live, learn about apartment contracts and questions to ask your roommate.
Guidebook
The best place to start your off-campus housing search is to read through the Off-Campus Housing Guidebook. This Guidebook offers information about:
- How to Search for a Place. What’s your budget? What kind of place are you looking for? Do you care about the location? What amenities are necessities?
- Leases. A lease is a LEGAL DOCUMENT. Did you know that there are different types of leases? You can take a copy of your lease to Student Legal Services and have it reviewed, for free, before you sign it. Call (520) 621-ASUA (621-2782) to make an appointment.
- Security Deposit. The total amount of such charges cannot be more than one and one-half times your monthly rental amount (1.5 x monthly rent = maximum landlord can ask for up front).
- Roommates. Tips on how to get along.
- Red Tagging. Did you know that what you do off campus can affect you on campus?
Additional Resources
- Checklist: For step-by-step information, check out this checklist so you're prepared with housing when you arrive at the UA.
- Housing Terms and Abbreviations: Looking for off-campus housing? Please review our housing terms and abbreviations to make searching for an apartment less frustrating.
- Lease Information: Check out our lease information for help in understanding everything you need to know about leases.
- Renter's Insurance: Do you need help with renter's insurance? Consumers Advocate can help you make the right choice.
No other place on campus (or in Tucson) offers single graduate and professional students the opportunity to live in a community of 300 incredibly talented scholars from all over the world.
La Aldea Graduate Housing residents enjoy the best of both worlds: the security, convenience, and unparalleled experience of living on campus, combined with the space and amenities of apartment life! Enjoy walking to class, your research lab or the library in just minutes. Plus, major public transit routes are just outside your door!
To make it easier for you, utilities are included in your monthly rent.
Highlighted Features
- 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 4-bedroom apartments with 1 bathroom per bedroom
- Full-sized kitchen and living room
- Furniture in common areas and bedrooms INCLUDED
- Utilities are all INCLUDED and already set-up
- FREE laundry
- Live-in staff to support safety & security and plan community events
- Dedicated UA custodial & maintenance service
- ENERGY STAR certified appliances
- CONVIENENT parking options located nearby (parking permits are available through Parking & Transportation)
- 10 or 12-month contract (August 1 or the date you move-in (whichever is earlier), through July 31)
- Rent billed monthly to your UA Bursar's account and payable online at the UAccess Student Center
Click here for more information about graduate housing at the University of Arizona. For information regarding La Aldea move-in, click here.
Before you move in, make sure you turn on or transfer utility services that are your responsibility. If you are unsure of what your responsibility is or who the utility provider is in your neighborhood, ask the landlord.
Sharing Expenses with Your Roommates
If you share utility expenses with your roommates, have a written agreement of:
- Who will be responsible for paying what bill
- What percentage you are responsible for
- How you will pay your percentage (check/cash/transfer)
- When you will pay (how many days before the bill is due)
TIP: Set up online bill paying - it's convenient, and you won't miss a payment. Make sure you and your roommates have in writing that each of you will pay your percentages of the bill.
Utility Companies
Internet, Phone & Cable TV
This list is for reference and is not intended to be inclusive.
Types of Plans
When selecting a cell phone plan, you have two main options:
- A contract plan. These are more common and offer more discounts, but usually require a Social Security Number (SSN) or initial deposit. Remember that once a contract is signed, you will be obligated to pay for the entire contract period. If you break a contract, be prepared to pay a large fee.
- A pay-as-you-go or prepaid plan. These plans typically have higher monthly fees, but are convenient because there is no SSN requirement. Expect higher phone costs and fewer phone options, but more flexibility with your plan.
Cell Phone Providers
This list is for reference and is not intended to be inclusive.
Considerations
Questions to ask when choosing a cell phone plan:
- Do I want a contract plan or prepaid plan?
- Do I need an SSN or initial deposit for the plan?
- How can I make international calls or texts or to a specific country?
- Can I use my current phone from my home country with this provider?
- Is there a student discount program?
If you want to use a cell phone from your home country, you may be able to use an unlocked current phone with an American SIM card. You can purchase a SIM card through most big retail stores (such as Walmart, Target or Best Buy) or through the cell phone providers listed above.
The goal of the Campus Pantry is to reduce food insecurity in our Wildcat Community. At distribution events, students and staff can grab important food staples at no cost. All you need is your CatCard!
There are many banks to choose from in the U.S. and several located right on the University of Arizona campus. Finding a bank that meets your needs and is convenient for you is a big decision, so make sure you do your research before selecting a bank.
Banks or Credit Unions Located on or by the University of Arizona Campus
This list is for reference and is not intended to be inclusive.
When selecting a bank, consider the following:
- Does the bank charge a monthly fee?
- Are there any service charges or overdraft fees?
- Are any fees or service charges waived for college students?
- Are there ATMs available nearby?
- Is there a minimum balance required to open an account?
- Is there a minimum monthly balance required to maintain the account?
- How can money be transferred?
The two main types of accounts you can open at a bank are checking accounts and savings accounts. Checking accounts are typically used to deposit and withdraw money frequently and often come with a checkbook and a debit card to access funds, whereas savings accounts collect money over a longer period of time and may have limits to withdrawal.
When opening a bank account, you may be asked to show any of the following:
- Immigration documents
- Multiple forms of identification
- Money for an initial deposit in the account
- Phone number and proof of U.S. address (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.)
- Materials showing you’re a university student
You may also be asked to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). These numbers should not be required to open a bank account and are only available for students with employment or cash scholarships.