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Renew Your Housing

The residential experience is an essential part of your education at McKendree University.

Renew & select your housing for the 2026-2027 academic year!

All full-time undergraduate students are required to live in University housing. Some exemptions apply.

Choose your room, meal plan, and roommates through the Housing Selection Process.

 

Housing and Meal Plan Selection Options

All current residential students who wish to live on campus for the following academic year must participate in the Returing Student Housing Selection Process.  For the rest of this page, we will refer to this process simply as the "renewal process".  

Housing Options

To see the spaces on campus, please check out our Housing Options and Rates page for photos.

Traditional Halls - Baker Hall, Barnett Hall, and Walton Hall
          • Double/Shared Room - $2,735 per semester - 1 dorm room, 2 students per room
          • Single/Individual Room - $3,640 per semester - 1 dorm room, 1 student per room - Baker and Walton Only. Priority goes to students with accommodations.
Suite Style Buildings
          • The Suites Double/Shared Bedroom - $2,735 per semester - 3 bedrooms in a suite, 2 students per bedroom, 6 residents total
          • Residence Hall East and West Double/Shared Bedroom - $3,590 per semester - 4 students to a suite, two students share a bedroom
          • Residence Hall East and West Single/Individual Bedroom - $3,890 per semester - 4 students to a suite, each has their own bedroom
Apartments - Only Students with 30+ Credit Hours
          • Hunter Street Apartments - $3,865 per semester - 2 bedrooms with 1 student in the smaller bedroom and 2 students in the other, 3 residents total
          • McKendree West Apartments Double/Shared Bedroom - $3,865 per semester - 2 bedrooms with 2 students per bedroom, 4 residents total

          • McKendree West Renovated Apartments Double/Shared Bedroom - $4,500 per semester - 2 bedrooms with 2 students per bedroom, 4 residents total

                  • This includes all apartments in building 1201 and apartments 4, 8, and 12 in building 1213

          • McKendree West Apartments Single/Individual Bedroom - $5,140 per semester - 2 bedrooms with 1 student pays to have a bedroom alone, resulting in 2 residents total. Priority goes to students with accommodations.

Requesting Housing Accommodations

If you believe you require specific housing accommodations due to a mental, emotional, or physical health condition, please reach out to the Office of Accessibility Services.

The Office of Accessibility Services will assess and determine the approval of your request.

          • Preferred Deadline: The Office of Residence Life can guarantee accommodations submitted by 3/10/2026 and which are approved by the Office of Accessibility Services. Students with approved accommodations will be contacted by the Office of Residence Life 7 to 21 days after 3/10/2026 to select their housing location.
          • After Preferred Deadline: After 3/10/2026, while we will endeavor to meet the student’s needs if space is available, we cannot guarantee requested space. If your documentation is received in full on or after 3/11/2026, the committee will not consider it until the April meeting.

Following guidelines from the US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, the University provides comparable, convenient, and accessible housing to students with disabilities as those provided to students without a disability.

For more detailed information, please visit the Accessibility Service's website.

 

Single Room Reminder

A selection of rooms in the traditional halls and McKendree West apartments will be held for single rooms.  You will not be able to select these locations during the renewal process; they are reserved for medical/ADA accommodations.  Students can place themselves on a waitlist on or after registration day via the ResLife Portal.  The Waiting Lists are found under "Rooms and Roommates".  If any singles remain after accommodations are completed, we will contact students in late July and August to offer them these open single room spaces.

The single-room spaces in Residence Hall East will be available during the renewal process. 

 

21+ Approved Housing

McKendree University encourages students to make responsible decisions concerning the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The University recognizes that some students who are of the legal drinking age as determined by the State of Illinois (21 and over, e.g. 21+) desire to participate in the use of alcohol.  The university will continue to pilot the 21+ Approved Housing Policy for a 3rd year. Students who are 21+ will have the freedom to make their own choices regarding alcohol use while promoting responsible consumption and continuing to foster a safe and welcoming environment.

Students of legal age, 21+, who applied and are approved to reside in the 21+ alcohol-designated residential building(s) and their guests may possess and consume alcoholic beverages in their residential spaces, so long as all persons are 21+ during the time of consumption and all other policies are followed.  

Additional requirements apply.

 

Meal Plan Options

All McKendree University students can purchase a meal plan with flex dollars; however, meal plans are required for students living in the following residence halls:  Baker Hall, Barnett Hall, Residence Hall East, Residence Hall West, the Summerfield Suites, and Walton Hall.

See meal plan rates on our Dining Services and Meal Plans page.

Students can change their meal plan, up and until the 2nd Friday of the semester, by emailing reslife@mckendree.edu.

 

Housing Selection Requirements

Automatic Housing Placement

Please remember that it is the requirement of McKendree University that all undergraduate students must live in University housing unless they have an approved residency waiver (see bottom of page). Thus, if the Office of Residence Life does not approve a waiver by July 1 but you are registered for classes, we will choose a housing placement and the lowest meal plan on your behalf.  

Other Agreements

Residents agree to abide by the McKendree University housing policies and procedures as stated in the Terms and Conditions of the McKendree University Housing and Meal Plan Contract as well as the McKendree University Student Handbook. The student must understand and accept the responsibilities, policies, and processes contained within. 

 

Housing Selection Process

We have attempted to break down this process into steps ordered chronologically. 

Step 1. Get academically registered for Fall 2026

Before completing your application, choosing roommates, or selecting housing,  students must be registered full-time for classes; thus, if one person in your roommate group is not registered, it can result in delays to your ability to choose a housing placement.  The longer it takes a Housing Group to register, the less options are available.

Step 2. - Complete the Returning Student Housing Application 

Unlike for incoming students, the submission date and time of your housing application do not matter for the renewal process, with the caveat that it must be completed by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 13, 2026.

The application will open after Spring Break on your ResLife Portal.

Click Here to see instructions for getting to your Housing Application.

Applications can be revisited, edited, and submitted up to 5:00 pm on Monday, April 13, 2026;  after that date, please email reslife@mckendree.edu your requested changes.

Step 3. - Select Roommates in the ResLife Portal

Once the application is submitted, you will be able to search for a roommate or accept a request from another to be roommates.  Make sure you complete it by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 13, 2026. 

The application must be completed before the ability to search and select roommates is opened on The ResLife Portal.

Step 4. - Select your Housing 

When housing selection assignments start, the first timeslots for selection go to those who have the highest combined credit hours shared by the roommates.  

Additional details about how to use the ResLife Portal to select housing will be emailed out and an update will appear ont his webpage in the near future.

Reminder: Students are never guaranteed a specific building, room, or roommate(s), but every reasonable consideration will be given to students' preferences and requested for housing.    

After housing assignments are made students will be able to join a Waiting List if they did not receive the housing preference they desired most.

 

 NOTE :  If you are part of a Fall Early Arrival, you will be restricted from selecting housing at McK West that is for Summer Housing.  You will not be able to select apartments in McK West 1201, 1203, nor the summer housing buildings.  We know this can be disappointing, but is a requirement for our Physical Plant's maintenance and custodial teams to ensure that necessary work is completed before fall residents move in.

 

After the main housing selection process, all students who need to renew their housing for Fall 2026 will need to call the Office of Residence Life at 618-537-6855 and speak with the Assistant Director or Director of Residence Life.

 

Renewal Process Calendar

Selection Schedule

Returning Student Housing Application Opens - Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Returning Student Housing Application Due - 5:00 pm on Monday, April 13, 2026

Housing Selection - The first selection timeslot will be 6:00 am on Friday, April 17, 2026

Each person, will see their timeslot of when they can choose their housing on their ResLife Dashboard.

Past this date, Housing Groups or individuals will need to book an appointment with the Assistant Director or Director of Residence Life to secure housing by calling at 618-537-6855.

 

Thinking about living off campus?

Don't forget about all the "pros" of living on!

    • It's convenient to be near other campus facilities - sleep in later!

    • No need to worry about utilities - it's included in the cost!

    • There's more opportunity to be involved in campus life

    • Studies show that students who live on campus get better grades

    • It's generally more safe and secure

    • Living on campus helps to develop interpersonal and leadership skills!

    • Your room comes furnished

    • There are more opportunities to meet people!

    • Living on campus exposes you to a wide range of interests, ideas, cultures, and perspectives

Still wanting to live off? Make sure to complete the Residency Requirement Waiver.

Once a student's waiver is approved they will be granted log in access to the Off-Campus Housing Market.