Housing and Dining

Housing and Residence Life

About 65% of students live on campus throughout their four years at Purchase College, so our community is constantly infused with new faces, ideas and experiences.

With options like student-directed learning communities, special interest housing, or becoming an RA, you’re sure to feel at home at Purchase College. Enjoy the convenience of all-inclusive living, while being steps away from academic buildings, student services and campus dining locations.

We offer on-campus housing to full time, matriculated students. All residents must attend class and be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester.

Housing Selection

First Year Students

First year students typically live in either the Central, Farside, or Crossroads residence halls, in double or triple room accommodations.

Once first-year students submit their housing deposit, they will receive a questionnaire. Their responses result in a list of personal preferences, which we’ll use to match up with roommates who submitted similar responses.

After students fill out their residence license agreement, then they will receive a Housing Assignment Notification from the Office of Residential and Student Life.

Returning Students

Returning students choose from either three residential halls: Fort Awesome, Outback, or Wayback, or from three apartment communities: Alumni Village, The Commons, or The Olde.

Returning students will go through the housing selection process early in the spring semester to choose their housing for the following academic year. All the steps required for returning students to complete the housing selection process are found on the Housing Selection page.

Tip: Get to Know the Staff

The Office of Residential and Student Life employs 16 full-time professional staff members and over 100 undergraduate student staff. We work as a cohesive team to fulfill our stated mission and visionary goals.

Residence Coordinator (RC)

RCs are live-in staff members who oversee the daily community development of their assigned residence hall or apartment community. The RC staff have responsibility for their residential curriculum and facilities management, and supervise the Resident Assistant (RA) staff in their assigned area. RC staff serve as a level-one conduct officer as well as a first-year seminar instructor and advisor to students.

Resident Assistant (RA)

RAs are undergraduate student leaders who live among the students on each residence hall floor or in a apartment building. The RA role plays a vital part in building community in the residence halls. RAs are trained to create welcoming residential environments on campus through programming, one-to-one resident outreaches, and informative bulletin boards. They ensure physical, social, and emotional support to all residents.

Dining on Campus

We offer many dining options at Purchase College. From pizza at the Hub to the all-you-can-eat smorgasbord at the Dining Hall (D-Hall). Plus, there’s a Starbucks and a Einstein Bros. Bagels.

Meal Plans

All residential students—with the exception of those who live in on-campus apartments—are required to purchase a meal plan. However, like most things at Purchase, the parameters of meal plans are flexible.

Meal plans are primarily intended to be used in our all-you-care-to-eat Dining Hall, but can be used at any retail location on campus.

Why Should My Student Have a Meal Plan?

• The most obvious advantage is the convenience of having someone else do the cooking, enabling your student to spend more time studying and socializing.
• The variety and quality of meals often exceed anything found in the area’s most inexpensive restaurants, which are mostly fast food.
• We make it easier for students to eat a well-balanced, healthy meal. Our Balanced U program reinforces our commitment to using the most nutritious local products available and healthiest cooking methods possible in our kitchens.
• As long as your student has their More Card, there is never any need to carry cash in order to dine on campus.
• It’s easier for students to budget their money on a meal plan. Even if their funds run low before payday, they will always have access to a good meal.
• We have convenient service hours to accommodate any schedule.
• Eating on campus allows students to socialize during meals, allowing them an opportunity to interact with peers outside the classroom.
• They’ll have access to promotions and social events like our monthly theme nights, contests, and specials.
• Students won’t waste gas or lose time traveling when eating on campus.

Where to Eat on Campus

• Dining Hall (all-you-care-to-eat)
• The Hub (food court)
• Einstein’s Bros Bagels