Moving Off Campus

All first-year/freshman, sophomore, and junior students are required to live on campus and carry a meal plan at Loyola University New Orleans unless they are granted an approved Residency Requirement Exemption. The three-year residency requirement is posted in the University Bulletin, on the university website, and in the Student Code of Conduct. 

• Students who are required to live on campus must maintain on-campus housing for the full academic year unless approved for exemption.
• Students who do not have an approved exemption by the end of their Room Selection period may be automatically assigned to an available on-campus space—even if they did not submit a housing application. These assignments will be emailed to the student’s Loyola address, and charges will appear on their student account.
• These students will be financially responsible for the cost of their assignment based on the housing contract.

For more information about eligibility, exemption requests, or appeal procedures, please visit the Residency Requirement Exemption section or email reslife@loyno.edu.

Commuter Student Commutable Distance Policy

The following zip codes represent the acceptable and approved commutable distance for first-year, sophomore, and junior students at Loyola:

• Ama - 70031
• Arabi - 70032
• Chalmette - 70043
• Destrehan - 70047
• Gretna - 70053, 70056
• Harvey - 70058-70059
• Kenner - 70062, 70065
• Luling - 70070
• Marrero - 70072
• Meraux - 70075
• Metairie - 70001-70003, 70005-70006
• New Orleans - 70012-70119, 70121-70131, 70139, 70143, 70146, 70163, 70170
• Saint Rose - 70087
• Violet - 70092
• Westwego - 70094

ALL students who wish to live off campus while under the residency requirement must complete and submit a Residency Requirement Exemption Application for review. Residing within a commutable distance does not automatically guarantee a student commuter status or a Residency Requirement Exemption. 

Students who wish to request a housing exemption and who meet the criteria for commuter status must submit a housing exemption request form with appropriate documentation by the stated deadline. Students will be notified in writing of the outcome of their request by the Director of Residential Life.

Residency Requirement Exemption Criteria

Loyola University New Orleans requires all undergraduate students to live on campus for their first three years unless they are granted an approved Residency Requirement Exemption.

Subject to review and approval, a student may be granted exemption from Loyola’s residency requirement if their Residency Requirement Exemption Application meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Student lives with parent(s) or legal guardian in the New Orleans metropolitan area, defined as a physical address within commutable distance (approx. 25 minutes) of Loyola’s campus (Refer to Loyola's Commuter Policy above for details).
• Student has previously completed three (3) years of full-time college enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education; -OR-  student has attained Senior standing (90 earned credit hours) at Loyola University New Orleans. Credits transferred in from AP credits or dual enrollment credits during high school will not count toward your credit hour total for the residency requirement.  
• Student turns 22 years of age on or before the first day of classes for the fall term of the academic year.
• Student is an honorably discharged veteran.
• Student is or becomes legally married (proof of legal marriage required); OR student is or becomes the biological parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.
• Student participates in student teaching, academic internship, or a special University program that requires the student to be away from the New Orleans metropolitan area for the semester or major portion thereof.
• Student graduates or matriculation is formally terminated at Loyola University New Orleans.

ALL students who wish to live off campus while under the residency requirement must complete and submit a Residency Requirement Exemption Application for review. Meeting the eligibility criteria for an exemption does not automatically guarantee approval. All requests are reviewed through an established process, and exemptions are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Submission of a housing exemption request does not imply nor guarantee that the request will be granted; students should assume that their request has not been granted until written confirmation is received from the Office of Residential Life.

Submitting A Residency Requirement Exemption Application

All requests for exemption from the University's housing requirement must be submitted by the requesting student, and should include:

1. Completed Housing Exemption Application
2. Appropriate supplementary information and/or documentation, as outlined below

Submission of a completed Housing Exemption Request should not, on its own, be considered an approval. Residential Life will contact each student within 14 business days in writing to confirm the outcome of the exemption request. Students whose exemption requests are incomplete or denied will be required to submit a Residence Hall Contract and will be assigned housing.

Deadlines to Submit an Exemption

It is in the student's interest to submit the exemption request early. The deadlines to submit housing exemption requests are:

• Spring 2026 (New/First-Year Students): December 1
• Fall 2026:
  • (Returning Students): March 11
  • (New/First-Year Students): May 1

Students who submit exemption applications after this date are not guaranteed a decision before the start of the semester and may be subject to applicable cancellation fees based on the date their housing contract is canceled.

Required Documentation

Exemptions to the University housing requirement will be considered for a limited number of reasons, each of which requires a specific set of documentation. Please note that it is the submitting student's, not the university's, responsibility to submit any and all required documentation for their exemption. Failure to provide supporting documentation in a timely manner may result in delays in a students exemption being reviewed and/or the student's exemption being denied.

1. Student lives with parent(s) or legal guardian in the New Orleans metropolitan area, defined as a physical address within commutable distance (approx. 25 miles) of Loyola’s campus. Refer to Loyola's commuter policy for a listing of zip codes that qualify as commutable distance.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED: 
     • Parent/guardian must submit a statement in writing attesting that the student will reside at the permanent address with parent/guardian for three years, or until student otherwise meets requirements for off-campus housing.
     • A copy of identification naming the student and listing a permanent address within the commutable distance (such as a state ID, driver’s license, or other forms of identification accepted by Loyola University).
     • A copy of identification naming the parent or guardian listed in the student’s academic record and listing a permanent address within the commutable distance (such as a state ID, driver’s license, or other forms of identification accepted by Loyola University).
     • Proof of parent/guardian occupancy at permanent residence (ie, a lease or purchase agreement listing parent's and student's names and address).
2. Student has completed three (3) years of previous, full-time college enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education; OR student has attained Senior status (90earned credit-hours) at Loyola University New Orleans
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Copy of transcript(s) that show the student has completed three (3) years of previous, full-time college enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education  (unofficial transcripts accepted).
3. Student turns 22 years of age on or before the first day of classes for the fall term of the given academic year.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • A copy of identification naming the student and displaying the student's date of birth (such as a state ID, driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, or other forms of identification accepted by Loyola University).
4. Student is an honorably discharged veteran.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Proof of discharge status such as a DD 214, DD 256, or DD 257
5. Student is or becomes legally married, or student is or becomes biological parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED: 
     • Legal documentation of marriage or parent or guardianship, including but not limited to: 
       • Marriage Certificate
       • Birth Certificate of dependent child naming the student as a parent
       • Legal Guardianship papers naming the student as the guardian of a dependent child
       • Adoption papers naming the student as the parent of a dependent child
6. Student participates in student teaching, academic internship, or a special University program that requires the student to be away from the New Orleans metropolitan area for the semester or major portion thereof.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Proof of acceptance to program or statement from sponsoring faculty/Registrar confirming participation in program.
7. Student graduates or withdraws from the University.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Copy of completed petition for graduation during the established commencement term.
     • Copy of completed official withdrawal form, including the signature of a Residential Life staff member.

Special Appeals For Exemption

If you believe you have an extenuating circumstance for which you would like to request a housing exemption, but that is not otherwise addressed by the housing exemption policy, you may submit an appeal in writing to the Exemption and Cancellation Appeals Committee for review.

Please note the following:

• Students are eligible for a Residency Requirement Exemption only if they will live with a parent or legal guardian who resides within the University’s commutable radius. Requests to live with someone other than a parent or legal guardian are considered special appeals and are reviewed by the Exemption and Cancellation Appeals Committee as exceptions to the Exemption Policy.
   

• The Residency Exemption Committee cannot review financial-based exemption requests solely on the basis of a student’s ability to save money by living off-campus. Loyola University New Orleans considers on-campus residency a vital part of the student experience, and financial responsibility for housing is a standard component of the cost of attendance. 

  Students requesting an exemption based on financial hardship must demonstrate a significant, unforeseen change in financial status since enrolling at Loyola that makes living on campus an undue burden. Examples may include, but are not limited to:

  • Loss of primary income source due to job loss, disability, or death of a financial supporter

  • Significant decrease in household income due to documented circumstances

  • Unexpected medical expenses or other financial emergencies impacting basic needs

  • Other extraordinary financial circumstances beyond the student’s control

• The Residency Exemption Committee is unable to consider a student for exemption due to a lack of desire to live on campus or because of a past residential living experience. If you have a disability and may require accommodations while enrolled in courses at Loyola, please be advised that you must complete the Office for Accessible Education's accommodation process. 

• The Residency Exemption Committee/ Residential Life cannot accept any medical documentation or consider a student for exemption for disability, medical, mental health, or wellness reasons.

Your appeal must include all of the following:

1. An explanation of the rationale for your request
2. Clear and thorough documentation to support your request
3. A personal statement discussing how you believe commuter status would benefit you in your academic and co-curricular pursuits at Loyola.

Appeals will be considered by a review board, and a determination communicated in writing. Appeals should be submitted by the established deadlines, and should not be considered granted until official written notification is received from the Director of Residential Life.

Appeals may be emailed to: reslife@loyno.edu

Please make sure you have read and understand the specific Terms & Conditions in your housing contract before you submit it. Once a student is assigned to a space, they become financially responsible for housing charges according to the schedule below. Charges are posted to the student’s university account and are separate from tuition and meal plans.

Submitting a housing application is considered acceptance of the Terms & Conditions, and the contract becomes binding once an application is made. 

Below is an overview of Loyola's housing cancellation policies, but should not be considered an alternative or replacement to the Terms & Conditions of the housing contract. 

All housing contracts are for the full academic year (Fall and Spring).

If you choose to terminate that contract before the academic year ends, you will be responsible for financial penalties as listed in the schedule below. 
Residential Life does not offer short-term or fall-only housing options. 
Students enrolling only for the Spring term may apply for housing as available, in which case the housing agreement will only apply to the Spring term.

Parents: Please note that as your student is the official contract holder, all official housing communications are sent to your student’s Loyola email address, and modifications to assignments must come from the student directly. Please encourage your student to check their my.loyno.edu email address regularly for housing updates and deadlines.

Assignment & Cancellation Policy Overview - New Students*

New students are defined as:

• Newly admitted first-year students
• Transfer students
• Students re-admitted after exclusion, separation, or withdrawal
• Exchange students
• Intensive English students
• Returning re-admit students

Housing Deposit

New students are required to submit an enrollment deposit prior to receiving a room assignment. This enrollment deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances and will post as a credit toward the student's university account.

Cancellation Fee & Refund Schedule

New Students who have an approved Residency Requirement Exemption or are otherwise eligible to move off-campus, may cancel their application without penalty before receiving a housing assignment.. 

Important: All cancellations must be submitted in the Housing & Dining Portal to be considered valid; email or phone communication alone may not be regarded as a sufficient means for cancellation.

Cancellations received after the deadline are subject to the cancellation schedule below:

Fall Semester Fee Schedule

Spring Semester Fee Schedule

Special Note for New Spring Applicants:

Students who did not live on campus in the fall and cancel by November 13 will be charged a $200 cancellation fee.  After November 13, the standard spring cancellation fees (starting at 40%) apply.

Refunds for Withdrawals, Deferrals, and Declined Admissions

Students who withdraw, defer, or decline admission to the university prior to moving into their assigned housing will not be charged a cancellation fee, even if they received a housing assignment.
Once a student has moved in, regular cancellation penalties apply according to the schedule above.

Assignment & Cancellation Policy Overview - Returning Students

Returning students are defined as any student who has been continuously enrolled at Loyola University New Orleans, regardless of their previous on-campus housing status. 

Housing Deposit

Returning students are not required to submit an additional housing deposit. 

Cancellation Fee & Refund Schedule

Returning students who have an approved Residency Requirement Exemption, or are otherwise eligible to move off-campus, may cancel their housing within 72 hours of receiving their initial assignment notification with only a $200 penalty.

Important: All cancellations must be submitted in the Housing & Dining Portal to be considered valid; email or phone communication alone may not be considered a sufficient means for cancellation. 

Cancellations received after the deadline are subject to the cancellation schedule outlined in the housing contract.
 

Fall Semester Fee Schedule

Spring Semester Fee Schedule

Special Note for New Spring Applicants:

Returning students who did not live on campus in the fall and cancel by November 13 will be charged a $200 cancellation fee.
After November 13, the standard spring cancellation fees (starting at 40%) apply.

Graduation and Special Academic Programs

Students are not charged a cancellation fee if they submit a housing cancellation due to:

• Graduation (for the term immediately following graduation), or
• Participation in a special academic program, such as Study Abroad

When completing the cancellation form in the Housing & Dining Portal:

• Graduating seniors should select “Graduating” and upload a copy of their graduation application email.
• Study Abroad participants should select “Study Abroad” and upload a copy of their program acceptance letter.

Please review our off-campus housing page for a list of resources to help you budget and prepare for your new living arrangement. 

For help finding rentals and roommates, explore Loyola's off-campus housing website