Residence Life

Housing for New Students

If you’re a returning student, please visit the returning student housing page.

Welcome New Residents!

Information for Prospective Students

SUNY Geneseo is a highly residential campus. This mean the residential experience is built into the educational mission of the college. In support of this, there is a two-year (four-semester) residency requirement.

Our housing options for incoming students include doubles, singles, corridor and suite options. Living Learning Communities are a large part of our campus and almost 1/3 of students live in an LLC (half of our incoming students!). There are academic based, interest based, and identity based LLC options.

Priority for housing placement takes into account deposit date and application submission date. SUNY Geneseo allows students to preference housing type, apply to an LLC, and preference 1 roommate if desired. Note all application requests are preferences and not guaranteed. Ability to get 1 or more of your preferences has to do with deposit and application submission dates. If a student is interested in preference a roommate, they should ensure both students request all the same preferences and apply for the same LLCs (conflicting preferences or a late application can result in students not being placed together). Students who preference a single should not preference a roommate.

See Information for Admitted Students for next steps information for incoming students.

Information for Admitted Students

New Student Housing Applications are available February 1st for Early Action Students and March 1st for Regular Decision Students. Access to this form is available after students deposit and set up their my.Geneseo accounts (typically 1-3 days after that account is activated). If you are getting an error, it is possible you are not using your Geneseo email account or have not waited the 1-3 days after setting up your My Geneseo account for our housing software to create an account for you. If you have access to your Geneseo email account and it has been more than 3 days, feel free to give us a call so we can assist you.

Securing on-campus housing as a new student (first-time first year or transfer student) is a straightforward process that’s done online. Remember SUNY Geneseo has a two-year residency requirement. All students must live on campus in College housing for two academic years unless they are commuting from the home of their legal guardian (their permanent address).

If you plan to commute, please read the instructions and submit a Release from Housing Form prior to June 1.

All incoming freshman must submit either a commuting release or housing application by June 1.

If you are a transfer student, coming in with more that 30 credits of college coursework, you have met the residency requirement and are not required to live on campus. You are still guaranteed on campus housing and must simply complete the Housing Application and Residential License to be housed. If a non-residency required transfer student completes a housing application/contract they are bound to live on campus the following year. Students who are unsure, should not submit a contract.

Anytime you are asked to log-in to our sites, it is always your Geneseo email.

Room Rates

Room rates can be checked on our website. Typically, room rates are updated in May for the following year. There is generally a 3% increase to room rates between years.

Fall 2026 Information

  • The deposit you paid after deciding to come to Geneseo covers your housing deposit.
  • June 1

    Housing applications (also called – New Student Housing Application Contract) are due

    The earlier the submission, the better chance of getting more of your preferences (especially for high in demand and low availability housing types like certain LLCs, singles, or suites.

    • Deposits and applications will be accepted after this date, but our options to assist you with your preferences may be significantly more limited at that time as you will not be placed until all of our on-time students are placed.

  • Housing applications are made available 1-3 days after a deposit is made and a student sets up their my.Geneseo account – it is not immediate and there is no notification to you that it has become available.

    • Housing for all residents is managed through software called Symplicity Residence.
    • Symplicity is accessed by visiting go.geneseo.edu/symplicity. You log in with the same username and password as your Geneseo email account.
  • Communication is always sent to your Geneseo email address. Be sure to check it regularly.
  • Housing assignment notifications will be sent out on or before August 1.
Move-in Day
Nassau Suite

Step 1: View Our Housing Options

Check out the Residence Halls and Living-Learning Communities page to learn about Geneseo’s on-campus housing.

Our incoming students live throughout the residential campus (North, Central, and South Villages) and all areas provide a variety of offerings. You can offer your preference for a few factors to help us determine your placement. While you cannot preference a specific residence hall – you can preference a housing style, LLC, and a roommate if you wish. Most of our students live in double rooms in corridor communities and about half of our incoming students live in LLCs as it is an amazing way to meet friends and live with people who have similar interests and values and to meet friends.

While most of our students live in doubles, some singles are available. A very small amount of suites are available outside of LLCs. Note that some suites have designed triple rooms in them that are considered standard occupancy rooms. Suite bedrooms are also typically much smaller than corridor rooms due to the common space and shared bathroom. Shared bathrooms are not cleaned by custodial staff however toilet paper, shower curtains, and some cleaning products are provided. Suites are considered a more independent living environment as you have multiple roommates to communicate and compromise with and you have common spaces you are responsible for cleaning. As a reminder, incoming students can only preference one person as their direct roommate regardless of if they have preferenced a suite or a corridor. Remember everything is a preference and not a guarantee.

What is an LLC?

A Living Learning Community, or LLC, is a floor or building in which those of similar academic interests, personal interests or hobbies, or identities come together to live. A few of our LLCs involve courses, others have specialized programming, and some are cohort communities – where people of similar interests live together.

This is a GREAT way to meet people who have similar interests as you and to find a place where you feel like you belong early!

Shared-Interest LLCs

  • The Artists House: Open to all majors and class years, The Artists House LLC provides a space for artists of various mediums to engage and connect creatively through all dimensions of the artistic process.
  • The Gamers Guild Community: The Gamers Guild Community brings together students at any skill level around the shared interest of gaming in all its forms (video games, board games, e-sports, cooperative tabletop games).
  • Sports Leadership : The Sports Leadership LLC is a community that brings together students of all class years who are athletes, enthusiasts, or interested in leadership within the world of athletics, including sports medicine, athletic marketing, fitness and training, and coaching principles.
  • Eco House: Students from all years and majors are interested in exploring sustainability, increasing awareness of how we as a community contribute to the global environment, and participating in eco-friendly advocacy on campus. Required Course: XLRN 102 – Intro to Eco House

Affinity Housing

  • Global House LLC: The Global House LLC is a vibrant community bringing together domestic and international students of all majors and class years to connect around the exploration and diffusion of global cultures. This LLC celebrates cross-cultural understanding, shared experiences, cultural discussion, and expanding our worldview, building a welcoming, diverse community.
  • Multicultural House: Open to students of all years, the Multicultural House LLC brings together individuals from various backgrounds to celebrate their identities, develop leadership skills, and support one another. It provides a welcoming space where students can be their authentic selves, minimizing code-switching and reducing emotional labor while fostering meaningful connections.
  • Lavender House: Open to students of all class years, the Lavender House LLC is a community of LGBTQIAA students and their allies. It is open to any student, regardless of how they identify, who wishes to live in a supportive community.
  • Sensory Retreat: Open to students of all class years, the Sensory Retreat LLC is a home for students who would benefit from a smaller, less stimulating residence hall community. This community also provides accessibility-related amenities, and designs its programs and physical spaces to lessen sensory overload for students of various needs and abilities, including neurodivergence, allergen-friendly spaces, and neighbors who commit to respecting these needs.
  • Substance-Free Housing: Open to students of all class years, the Substance-Free Housing LLC is for students who commit to living in an environment free from substance use including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
  • Transfer Student Experience Housing: This LLC is open to all new and returning students who have transferred into Geneseo and are interested in living with others sharing that experience, while integrating into the broader campus community.
  • First Generation Student Experience: The First-Gen LLC is a supportive and empowering community for students who are the first in their families to attend college. Open to students of all years, this community provides a space to connect with peers who share similar experiences while building academic, professional, and leadership skills. Students in this LLC will work together to gain the tools and confidence to navigate college life, embrace their identities, and achieve their goals.

Academic-Related LLCs

  • Business: The Business LLC is open to students of all majors and years for students interested in the many facets of business, including accounting, human resources, data analytics, economics, finance, and entrepreneurship. Students in this LLC will gain insight into how businesses shape communities, drive innovation, and impact the global economy. Required Course: MGMT 100 – Society and Business (or ENTR 100 – Intro to Entrepreneurship)
  • STEM: The STEM LLC is a community for students passionate about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Open to students of all years, this community fosters innovation, problem-solving, and equity in STEM. Students in this community build a strong foundation for success in their fields while connecting with like-minded peers.
  • Writers House: Open to students of all majors and years, the Writers House community brings together students who share a passion for writing in all its forms – literary, science writing, poetry, music, the teaching of writing, and more. Students in this community will experience programs and opportunities to help them author their future.

Step 2: Complete the Application

After March 1 (or if admitted after that date, within 1-3 business days of setting up your my.geneseo account), your Application will be available to you in the Symplicity Residence software. Log into Symplicity Residence using your Geneseo username and password and you will see a blue box that reads “Get Started” with your housing application.

Disability Accommodations

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) coordinates housing accommodations for students with disabilities who experience barriers in the residential hall setting. Refer to their website on accessible campus housing for information on the application process and deadlines. Questions? Contact the OAS by email (access@geneseo.edu), phone (585-245-5112), or in-person (Erwin Hall 22).

Housing Preferences

All components of the housing application are preferences, not guarantees. You can provide your preference for one roommate, the style of residence hall you prefer (corridor, suite, single), and apply to live in a Living Learning Communities (LLC) that interests you. Students should not apply for LLCs because of their location or hall as those change regularly and are not the main purpose of the LLC. Students who preference a single must NOT preference a roommate.

Step 3: Submit a Roommate Preference

Tell Us About Yourself!

While there are a small number of students who have a specific person with whom they would like to live, most of our incoming students are assigned to a room with a roommate by Residence Life. This can be stressful for some students, however living with and being open to living with new people is one of the great experiences of college. Our housing software system asks basic lifestyle questions that are used to match you with your future roommate. Expect questions about cleanliness, guests, sharing items, and more. Note that if you preference a roommate, this overrides what you put on this form.

Forming a Roommate Group is Optional!

If you would like to live with a friend, you will need to form a roommate group in the Symplicity. This step is optional. New students are assigned to residence halls according to deposit dates. Placement in your preferred housing or with your preferred roommate is not guaranteed. New students may only preference one roommate. This includes if you preference a suite. For visual instructions, you can view the Roommate Preference Form instructions.

  1. After you access your Symplicity Residence account, navigate to the “Roommate” tab on the top menu.
  2. You will then be asked to “Choose a Term”. Select the term for which you are selecting your housing (i.e. Fall 2023).
  3. Click on the “Find Someone You Know” tab.
  4. You will see a box labeled “Enter a Roommate Code”. In the event that you are forming your roommate group on behalf of your friends, you will need to ask your friend for their passcode. All students can find their passcodes in the upper-right corner of the Symplicity Residence home screen. As long as you type your friend’s passcode in the “Roommates:” field correctly, their name should appear in the larger text box below the magnifying glass. By clicking on the highlighted name, you can add your friend to the group.
  5. When you finish, click the “Save” button. (Note: It is not necessary to type your own passcode in the “Roommates:” field — you will be added to the group automatically.)
  6. If you can view your friends’ name in the text box below the magnifying glass, your group was created successfully.

About Roommate Preferences

  • Note early placement LLCs such as Sports Leadership will have an earlier roommate preference deadline as they are placed earlier. Late roommate preferences will not be able to be honored -if you are a part of these groups, reach out to your liaison.
  • Students who are preferencing ‘single’ housing should not preference a roommate. The system will only be able to meet one preference and someone will be disappointed.
  • You must have completed your Application to be able to be preferenced as a roommate. In the event that your friend’s Application is not completed, or saved in draft format, their name will not appear in the text box, even if you typed their passcode correctly.
  • Roommate preference will not be honored if one person’s application is late or if both students preference completely different housing options and/or LLCs on their forms.
  • Roommate preferences cannot be accepted late as our staff starts placing immediately to be able to get housing assignments out.
  • The Symplicity Residence software allows the formation of mixed-gender groups.

Roommate Group Size Restrictions

Incoming students are able to preference one roommate.

The entire Residence Life staff works intentionally over the summer, during orientation, and throughout the semester to help residents connect, engage, and get to know each other. Resident Assistants assist all incoming students in the process of building relationships with their roommates by facilitating a Shared Living Agreement during Orientation. Working through interpersonal conflicts is a key part of social, personal, and emotional development. The most important aspects of having a roommate, whether you have chosen them or not, include the ability to set reasonable expectations, communicate effectively, demonstrate empathy, create compromise, and develop resilience.

Housing Resources and Links

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