Central Washington UniversityMove-In Guide
Ellensburg, Washington
🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1891🔗 www.cwu.edu
Central Washington University is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington, with a long-standing teacher-education tradition. Housing and Residence Life houses almost 2,500 students in traditional and amenity residence halls plus on-campus apartments. All first-year students must live on campus for one full academic year unless they are granted an exemption. Fall 2026 residence hall move-in for first-year students is September 17 and 18.
Enrollment
8,309
Total Students
Freshman Class
1,593
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Sep 17-18, 2026
Fall 2026 (completed)
Acceptance Rate
94%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
First-year students move in Thursday, Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Transfer and returning students move in Sunday, Sept. 20. Appointment times are posted in the MyHousing portal in mid-August and emailed to your CWU account. Apartment residents have separate move-in dates between Sept. 4 and Sept. 13.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.
Move-in day logistics
- Check-in location
- The page does not name a check-in location. Use the Move-In Guide mailed in mid-August.
- Parking
- A separate traffic map for each residence hall shows the route through campus. Do not bring refrigerators, microwaves, pets, weapons, hot plates, candles, alcohol or drugs. Rooms already include a microwave and fridge unit.
Move-in day tips
- Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
- Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
- Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
- Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.
Housing & Dorms
Residence halls (16)
Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)
Barto Hall
Amenity hall · Coed
Beck Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Davies Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Dugmore Hall
Amenity hall · Coed
Show 12 moreShow fewer
Hitchcock Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Kamola Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Meisner Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Moore Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
North Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Quigley Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Sparks Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Stephens-Whitney Hall
Suite (standard hall) · Coed
Sue Lombard Hall
Amenity hall · Coed
Wendell Hill Hall A
Amenity hall · Coed
Wendell Hill Hall B
Amenity hall · Coed
Wilson Hall
Traditional (standard hall) · Coed
Housing Links
Who can live where
- Residence halls:
- Not marked first-year only, so they may also house returning students. Assignment follows the school's housing process.
Eligibility rules vary and can change. Check with the housing office.
Orientation
New Student Orientation
Orientation is recommended for all new students.
June 29 - August 28, 2026
Orientation tips
- Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
- Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
- Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.
Costs
Room & Board
$16,814
Estimated / Year
Nearby Essentials
We haven't listed nearby stores for this campus yet. Use the Campus Map link to find essentials near campus.
More Links
Checklists
Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist
A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Central Washington University.
Share
Send this page to a roommate, a parent, or anyone else helping plan the move.
Dates last checked October 2026.