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The Ohio State UniversityMove-In Guide

Columbus, Ohio

🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1870🔗 www.osu.edu

Ohio State's Columbus campus centers on The Oval, the iconic green space at the heart of campus, with first-year students required to live on campus for two years in halls including Baker, Bowen, and Norton, most concentrated on South Campus.

Enrollment

60,046

Total Students

Freshman Class

11,432

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Jan 10, 2027

Next: Spring 2027

Acceptance Rate

57%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Spring 2027 Move-In Details

Residence halls open for spring semester on Jan. 10; early move-in begins Jan. 9. No times are listed.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.

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 (39)

Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)

  • Archer House

  • Baker Hall

    Traditional · Coed

  • Barrett House

  • Blackburn House

Show 35 more

  • Bowen House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Bradley Hall

  • Busch House

  • Canfield Hall

  • Fechko House

  • German House

  • Halloran House

  • Hanley House

  • Haverfield House

  • Houck House

  • Houston House

  • Lincoln Tower

    Suite-style · Coed

  • Mack Hall

  • Mendoza House

  • Morrill Tower

  • Morrison Tower

  • Neil Building

  • Norton House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Nosker House

  • Park-Stradley Hall

  • Paterson Hall

  • Pennsylvania Place

  • Pomerene House

  • Raney House

  • Scholars East

  • Scholars West

  • Scott House

  • Siebert Hall

  • Smith-Steeb Hall

  • StateHouse Highline

  • StateHouse Lane

  • StateHouse Norwich

  • The Residence on Tenth

  • Torres House

  • Worthington Building

Apartments (1)

Apartment-style housing, usually for upperclass students

  • Point on Lane

    Apartment-style · 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.
Apartments:
Apartment-style housing, often for sophomores and up. Confirm eligibility with the housing office.

Eligibility rules vary and can change. Check with the housing office.

Orientation

Orientation dates haven't been published yet - check back closer to the semester.

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.

Registration

Spring 2027 class registration

The Ohio State University
  • Seniors (and graduate students)
    Seniors, graduate and graduate professional
    October 26 - October 30, 2026
  • Juniors
    Juniors
    November 2 - November 6, 2026
  • Sophomores
    Sophomores
    November 9 - November 16, 2026
  • Freshmen
    Freshmen (Rank 1) and other students
    Your exact time shows in My Buckeye Link.
    November 17 - November 20, 2026
Times vary by class year or student group. Check your own appointment.Official source

Costs

Room & Board

$15,252

Estimated / Year

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with The Ohio State University's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

  • Target0.8 miles
  • CVS Pharmacy1.9 miles
  • Walgreens4.1 miles
  • Walmart6.8 miles
  • Meijer7.3 miles

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

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 The Ohio State University.

Get the checklist

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Dates last checked October 2026.