University of Massachusetts AmherstMove-In Guide
Amherst, Massachusetts
🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1863🔗 www.umass.edu
UMass Amherst's campus centers on the historic Old Chapel, where JFK reportedly once spoke during his 1952 Senate campaign, with first-year students housed across 23 residence halls in six residential areas, including Thoreau, Emerson, and Mary Lyon Halls.
Enrollment
31,318
Total Students
Freshman Class
6,005
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Sep 2-4, 2026
Fall 2026 (completed)
Acceptance Rate
58%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
Starting August 10, 2026, log into SPIRE under Housing > Move-In Reservation > Key Agmt to make or view your Move-In Reservation and print your boarding pass - students who don't make a reservation will be assigned a time from remaining options. UMass Amherst's residential system is one of the largest in the country, with over 14,000 students across 51 halls, and housing is guaranteed for first-year students. Only one vehicle will be unloaded at the hall - a second car should follow the first through check-in, then go directly to the designated parking lot.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.
Move-in day logistics
- Arrival window
- Assisted Move-In runs 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day - arrive during your scheduled reservation time; forgetting your printed boarding pass adds a minimum of 30 minutes to check-in.
- Check-in location
- Thoreau and Mary Lyon Hall residents go to West Check-In (Southwest/CHCRC residents); Emerson Hall residents also go to West Check-In - don't use GPS, since campus roads are specifically closed and redirected for Move-In.
- Parking
- After showing your photo ID and boarding pass at check-in to receive your room key, follow the driving directions to your hall's designated unload zone, then move your vehicle to the assigned parking lot.
- What you'll receive
- Your room key at check-in, after showing a valid photo ID (UCard, driver's license, state ID, or passport) and your printed boarding pass with its QR code.
- Vehicle restrictions
- Assume you won't have elevator access during move-in - be prepared to carry belongings via the nearest stairwell to your room.
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
First-year halls (22)
Reserved for first-year students
Butterfield Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyCance Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyCrabtree Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyDickinson House
Traditional · Coed
First-year only
Show 18 moreShow fewer
Dwight Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyEmerson Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyGorman Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyHamlin Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyJames Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyKennedy Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyKnowlton Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyLeach Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyMary Lyon Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyMelville Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyMoore Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyOak Hall
First-year onlyPierpont Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlySycamore Hall
First-year onlyThoreau Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyVan Meter Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyWebster Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year onlyWheeler Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year only
Residence halls (25)
Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)
Baker Hall
Traditional · Coed
Birch Hall
Brett Hall
Traditional · Coed
Brooks Hall
Traditional · Coed
Show 21 moreShow fewer
Brown Hall
Suite · Coed
Cashin Hall
Suite · Coed
Chadbourne Hall
Traditional · Coed
Coolidge Hall
Traditional · Coed
Crampton Hall
Traditional · Coed
Elm Hall
Field Hall
Traditional · Coed
Grayson Hall
Traditional · Coed
Greenough Hall
Traditional · Coed
John Adams Hall
Traditional · Coed
John Quincy Adams Hall
Traditional · Coed
Johnson Hall
Traditional · Coed
Lewis Hall
Traditional · Coed
Linden Hall
MacKimmie Hall
Traditional · Coed
Maple Hall
McNamara Hall
Suite · Coed
Patterson Hall
Traditional · Coed
Prince Hall
Traditional · Coed
Thatcher Hall
Traditional · Coed
Washington Hall
Traditional · Coed
Apartments (4)
Apartment-style housing, usually for upperclass students
North Apartment A
Apartment · Coed
North Apartment B
Apartment · Coed
North Apartment C
Apartment · Coed
North Apartment D
Apartment · Coed
Housing Links
Who can live where
- First-year only:
- Reserved for incoming first-year students.
- 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
Ready for the U (required)
All new students are required to attend one orientation session.
June 1 - August 24, 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
$14,500
Estimated / Year
Nearby Essentials
- CVS Pharmacy0.9 miles
- Target2.4 miles
- Walmart2.7 miles
- Walgreens6.7 miles
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 University of Massachusetts Amherst.
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Dates last checked September 2026.