University of WashingtonMove-In Guide
Seattle, Washington
🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1861🔗 www.washington.edu
The University of Washington's Seattle campus is anchored by Denny Hall, its oldest building since 1895, home to the Varsity Bell rung once a year at Homecoming, with new first-year residents housed across halls including Oliver Hall and Spratlen Hall, both recently renamed from their former Willow and Madrona Hall names.
Enrollment
40,754
Total Students
Freshman Class
10,189
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Sep 22-25, 2026
Fall 2026 (completed)
Acceptance Rate
39%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
Your exact move-in day and appointment time come from Housing & Food Services in mid-August 2026, based on when you applied for housing and your registered Advising & Orientation (A&O) date - appointment changes are possible via the StarRez Housing Portal but depend on availability. Bring your Husky Card for access to your residence hall, dining facilities, and amenity spaces. Once unloaded, vehicles must move to available on-campus self-serve parking lots if you wish to stay on campus. Check-in itself takes about 2-3 hours to drop off your items.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.
Move-in day logistics
- Arrival window
- Wait in your vehicle until directed to proceed to your community to move in - a student volunteer helps with loading and unloading.
- Check-in location
- Oliver, Spratlen, and McCarty Hall residents (along with Hansee, McMahon, and Oak Halls) check in at the E01 parking lot.
- Parking
- After you unload, if you wish to stay on campus, move your vehicle to the available on-campus self-serve parking lots.
- What you'll receive
- Your room and mailbox keys, plus a red emergency backpack containing water, food rations, and other supplies - keep it for as long as you live on campus.
- Vehicle restrictions
- You're encouraged to limit yourself to one vehicle while moving in, with a maximum of two guests to keep things smooth.
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 (12)
Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)
Alder Hall
Elm Hall
Hansee Hall
Lander Hall
Show 8 moreShow fewer
Maple Hall
McCarty Hall
Traditional · Coed
McMahon Hall
Oak Hall
Oliver Hall
Traditional · Coed
Poplar Hall
Spratlen Hall
Traditional · Coed
Terry Hall
Apartments (4)
Apartment-style housing, usually for upperclass students
Cedar Apartments
Apartment · Coed
Mercer Court A-C
Apartment · Coed
Nordheim Court
Apartment · Coed
Stevens Court
Apartment · 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
Advising & Orientation (A&O, required)
All new students are required to attend one orientation session.
May 20 - August 20, 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 Pharmacy2.8 miles
- Walgreens3.1 miles
- Target3.6 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 Washington.
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Dates last checked August 2026.