Your Student Guide to FSU Dorms & On-Campus Housing
When you're starting at Florida State University in your first year, you have a lot of student housing details and FSU dorms to navigate. And because first-year students don't have to live on campus, you have both on-campus and off-campus student housing to choose between.
Here, we've collected all the info you need to understand on-campus student housing at FSU – including alternatives if you decide living on campus isn't right for you.
Key Takeaways
- Freshmen don't need to live on campus at FSU, but the built-in community of FSU dorms and dedicated student housing options can help you meet friends and settle in successfully.
- Check out the University Housing website and online portal for the most up-to-date information
- Living-learning communities, which are available in on-campus residence halls, can connect you with students who have similar interests, classes, and/or majors.
- While apartment-style dorms stay open during winter and spring breaks, suite-style halls on campus close during those short breaks and at the end of each semester.
- Pets are not allowed in any on-campus student housing at FSU except for fish in small bowls or aquariums.
- If on-campus living isn't right for you – if you have a pet or need to stay in Tallahassee over breaks – you can find other luxury student apartment options that give you tailored amenities and still keep you connected to your FSU community.
Types of FSU Dorms on Campus
FSU offers more than 15 on-campus residence halls, including living-learning communities, FSU Honors Program housing, and other organized communities.
The two newest halls on campus are Magnolia and Azalea, which form an open courtyard area with the next newest, Dorman and Deviney. But with other renovations completed throughout the halls and different community styles and locations, newest doesn't mean they're the best for you. It's important to look into all the details of each dorm before you make your preferred list.
One of the most important factors to consider is which community style you prefer. Depending on the building you're placed in on campus, you'll get one of two types:
- Suite-style residence halls feature two bedrooms that share a bathroom, which has one shower and toilet for 4-5 students. Residents are responsible for cleaning their own bathroom. This type of housing is located in Azalea, Broward, Bryan, Cawthon, DeGraff, Dorman, Deviney, Gilchrist, Jennie Murphree, Landis, Magnolia, Reynolds, Salley, and Wildwood Halls.
- Apartment-style residence halls provide residents with kitchens and living rooms shared by roommates in a typical apartment-style layout. Often filled by upperclassmen who have already lived on campus for at least one year, these communities have their own eligibility requirements, including McCollum, Ragans, Rogers, and Traditions Halls.
It's important to note that, while apartment-style dorms stay open during winter and spring breaks, suite-style halls on campus close during those short breaks, and both close at the end of each semester. Also, pets are not allowed in any on-campus student housing at FSU except for fish in small bowls or aquariums.
For more specific information about things like policies, housing contracts, and what to bring, check out University Housing FAQs. And keep reading to get insight into what distinct communities are available to you within these FSU dorms.
Living-Learning Communities at FSU
FSU offers 10 living-learning communities, which are smaller groups of students living within an on-campus residence hall. While they live in their residence hall with a wide variety of other students, the smaller living-learning group will be grouped closer and take one or two of their classes together. This helps first-year students, especially, find their network of peers and faculty.
However, an interest in a certain major, class, or topic doesn't mean you'll be admitted to your chosen living-learning community. Because the number of students in these communities can be as small as 30, spots are limited, and you have to submit an online application for each living-learning community you're interested in.
Focuses available inside FSU living-learning communities include:
- Business
- Engineering
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Exploration and discovery
- First-generation students
- Global and public affairs
- Health professionals
- Music
- Nursing
- Women in STEM
Get all the details online, including updated location, features, and eligibility requirements.
All-Girls Dorms at FSU
While FSU used to offer single-sex dorms, the university has more recently made all of its dormitories co-ed, including Jennie Murphree Hall, which was its last women-only residence hall.
That means you may have co-ed neighbors. However, all suites and apartments are single-sex, so you'll have roommates of the same gender.
FSU Honors Program Housing
If you've been accepted into the University Honors Program, the special-interest Honors housing community in Landis Hall may be available to you. It's a good option for highly motivated students to form study groups, organize social events, and enjoy a central location convenient for classes, dining, and the library.
However, this housing is not required for Honors students, and spaces are limited. So don't worry if you don't get accepted into Honors Program Housing or if you're not interested. You can still live in a different residence hall, an off-campus option, or even a different living-learning community.
LGBTQ+ Housing at FSU
An available option in any on-campus residence hall, you can opt into LGBTQ+ housing when filling out your housing contract. Then, housing staff will try to assign you with other residents and roommates who also opted in, if space is available.
On-Campus Housing for Upperclassmen at FSU
While they're not all reserved for upperclassmen, it's important to know that the apartment-style communities on campus give priority to students with high credit hours (i.e. upperclassmen) and those who have lived on campus for at least a year. So, if you're an upperclassman interested in on-campus apartment-style housing, you have a higher likelihood of getting a spot in McCollum, Ragans, Rogers, and Traditions Halls. But, if you're an upperclassman who has lived off campus so far, you may have to look elsewhere.
If you want the suite-style lifestyle, Broward Hall is 100% reserved for upperclassmen students.
Benefits of Living in FSU Dorms
Living in FSU dorms offers several advantages that can significantly enhance your college experience. Here are some of those top benefits.
Meet Other Students
When you live on campus, you're surrounded by peers who are in the same stage of life, facing similar challenges and experiences, and who use the same dining halls, library, and resources as you. This built-in community can make it easier to find friends, join study groups, and participate in social activities.
Whether it's through casual interactions in the hallways or organized events hosted by residence life staff, you'll have plenty of chances to build lasting relationships right there in your home.
No Parking or Commute Hassles
Living in an FSU dorm means you can avoid daily struggles caused by finding parking and commuting to campus. From your dorm, you're just a short distance from classes, libraries, dining halls, and other campus facilities – whether you're riding or walking there. This convenience saves you time and reduces the stress and costs associated with owning a car or relying on public transportation.
Access to On-Campus Resources
When you live on campus, you have convenient access to libraries, gyms, dining halls, and academic support services like tutoring and career counseling. This proximity makes it easier to take advantage of these resources, helping you stay on top of your studies and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Plus, many residence halls host their own events and programs that provide additional learning and networking opportunities.
Ease Into Independence
The built-in community and support inside FSU residence halls provides an environment where you can ease into the responsibilities of independent living. You may be away from home for the first time, but with Resident Assistants (RAs), a community of other students, and on-campus resources right outside, you're not entirely on your own. This gradual transition can help you build confidence and self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
Reasons to Consider Off-Campus Housing
Because freshmen don't have to live on campus at FSU, your student housing options aren't limited to on-campus residence halls, no matter what year you're in. And if you choose the right community, you can enjoy all the same benefits listed above – without any of the cons.
Here are a few of the top reasons you might want or need to consider off-campus student housing at FSU.
Living with a Pet
If you're coming to Tallahassee with your beloved dog or cat in tow, FSU dorms aren't an option for you. However, there are pet-friendly off-campus housing options located just as close to your campus essentials that will make your pet feel right at home.
Staying in Tallahassee Over Breaks
Suite-style residence halls at FSU close over class breaks. That means, if you're staying for work or play while classes aren't in session, you'll need to find a temporary place to stay. Many off-campus student apartments stay open for these breaks, so you don't have to worry about moving at all.
Want a More Luxurious Lifestyle
While living in on-campus housing can offer you an in-depth and historic campus experience, it also means you may be dealing with historic-building-style problems. In fact, the oldest building on campus is Bryan Hall, a suite-style hall that was built in 1907.
And no matter what hall you're placed in, on-campus housing also limits your amenities to on-campus resources. Off-campus student housing in Tallahassee can give you easier access to apartment living with luxurious amenities they don't have on campus, including:
- Private bedrooms and bathrooms so you get a whole suite to yourself
- In-unit washer and dryer for easier laundry days
- Kitchens with a dishwasher for seamless dining and entertaining
- Fully furnished apartments so you still get provided essentials
- Tailored roommate matching services provided for a smaller population
- Extra community spaces like a pool and cabanas, 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour computer lab, private study rooms, and more
Get All These Benefits in One Place at NxNW
To see how all of the benefits of on- and off-campus student housing come together in one place, check out NxNW: a student housing community located right across Tennessee Street from your FSU campus.
Our community is designed to give you convenient luxuries and stacked amenities, including fully furnished apartments, a 24-hour computer lab with free printing, an outdoor courtyard, and a luxurious clubhouse – all for you and our community of FSU students.