PLU Residency Requirement

Campus Life will be moving to the following Residency Requirement, applicable to all incoming students, beginning Academic Year 2024-2025.

Pacific Lutheran University requires that all full-time students live in university housing unless the student meets one of the following criteria:

  • Live at home with a parent in Pierce County or in the following approved zip codes. Please see the attached document for approved zip codes located outside of Pierce County
  • Is at least 20 years of age on or before September 1 to be exempt for the academic year, or on or before February 1 to be exempt for the spring semester.
  • Enrolled in and completed at least 4 full semesters at Pacific Lutheran University; includes full semester study away programs, excludes J-term and Summer.
  • Living with a spouse or child [copy of marriage or birth certificate required].

A student enrolled at the University and living off-campus that does not meet the criteria listed above and without approval from the Department of Residential Life is in violation of this policy, and will be held responsible for room and meal charges for that period and will be required to move on-campus for the remainder of their time.

Students with an admit term prior to Fall 2024 will remain subject to the Residency Requirement active at the time of their admit term.

Register Your Housing Plans with Campus Life

All incoming students to PLU must submit the Living Plans and Learning Community Application and share their housing plans with our office. Students will have the option to select:

  • Live On Campus
    • Students will apply to on campus housing should apply through eRezLife!
      • Students enrolled in Spring semester 2024 (during academic year 2023-2024) should reach out to Campus Life directly at RLIF@plu.edu
  • Live At-Home [with parent/spouse/child]
    • Students should review the Residency Requirement to ensure they are eligible to live at home. If you are eligible, no action is needed.
  • Live Off-Campus
    • Students who satisfy the requirement to live off campus will submit this application. Campus Life will verify student eligibility and follow up if necessary.

Log into eRezLife!

Living On Campus

Minimum Age Requirement

Students must be a minimum of 17 years of age on or before September 1st to be eligible for on campus housing for the academic year, or on or before February 1st to be eligible for spring semester.

Meal Plan Requirement

Students residing in traditional residence halls (all halls but South Hall) will be automatically signed up for a meal plan.  South Hall residents are not required to have a meal plan.  Information on the Meal Plan Options and rates can be found at the Campus Restaurants website.

Roommate / Community Living Experience

PLU believes in the valuable experience gained by sharing a room with a roommate, as well as living in a larger wing/floor community with others.  Residential Life works to actively support students in this valuable life experience.

Live At-Home with a Parent, Spouse or Child

Students who wish to live at home must verify with the university that they are living with either a parent, spouse, or child in Pierce County or in the following approved zip codes. Please see the attached document for approved zip codes located outside of Pierce County

Students may not live with an aunt/uncle, grandparent, sibling, or friends in substitute of the parent, spouse, or child specifications.

Live Off Campus

Students must either be 20 years old or has been enrolled in and completed at least 4 full semesters at Pacific Lutheran University; includes full semester study away programs, excludes J-term and Summer, by the following deadlines:

  • To be eligible to live off campus for the academic year, students must meet either criteria before September 1
  • To be eligible to live off campus for Spring semester, students must meet either criteria before February 1

Married Housing?

The Lofts in our apartment style residence hall, South Hall, offer housing for students who are married.  Family student housing is unfortunately not available. Assignments are typically made in February for the following Academic Year.  If you are either married, email us at rlif@plu.edu with your questions.

Accessibility and Accommodation Housing

We encourage all students with housing specific accessibility and accommodation to contact Residential Life to discuss how their specific needs can best be met.

An application process has been established for students who wish to apply for a single room based on medical, physical, or psychological needs: Application for Accessibility and Accommodation