Moving Off Campus

All first-year/freshman, sophomore, and junior students are required to live on campus and carry a meal plan at Loyola University New Orleans. The three year residency requirement is posted in the University Bulletin, on the university website, and in the Student Code of Conduct. 

Appeals for exemption from the residency requirement should be submitted in writing to the Office of Residential Life via the Housing Exemption Request form. Subject to review and approval, a student may be granted exemption from Loyola’s residency requirement if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Student lives with parent(s) or legal guardian in the New Orleans metropolitan area, defined as a physical address within commutable distance (approx. 25 miles) of Loyola’s campus (Refer to Loyola's Commuter Policy below for details).
• Student has previously completed three (3) years of full-time college enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education; OR student has attained Senior standing (90 earned credit hours) at Loyola University New Orleans. Credits transferred in from AP credits or dual enrollment credits during high school will not count toward your credit hour total for the residency requirement.  
• Student turns 22 years of age on or before the first day of classes for the fall term of the academic year.
• Student is an honorably discharged veteran.
• Student is or becomes legally married (proof of legal marriage required); OR student is or becomes the biological parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.
• Student participates in student teaching, academic internship, or a special University program that requires the student to be away from the New Orleans metropolitan area for the semester or major portion thereof.
• Student graduates or matriculation is formally terminated at Loyola University New Orleans.

Submission of a housing exemption request does not imply nor guarantee that the request will be granted; students should assume that their request has not been granted until written confirmation is received from the Office of Residential Life.

The following zip codes represent the acceptable and approved commutable distance for first-year, sophomore, and junior students at Loyola:

• Ama - 70031
• Arabi - 70032
• Chalmette - 70043
• Destrehan - 70047
• Gretna - 70053, 70056
• Harvey - 70058-70059
• Kenner - 70062, 70065
• Luling - 70070
• Marrero - 70072
• Meraux - 70075
• Metairie - 70001-70003, 70005-70006
• New Orleans - 70012-70119, 70121-70131, 70139, 70143, 70146, 70163, 70170
• Saint Rose - 70087
• Violet - 70092
• Westwego - 70094

Students who wish to request a housing exemption and who meet the criteria for commuter status must submit a housing exemption request form with appropriate documentation by the stated deadline. Student will be notified in writing of the outcome of their request by the Director of Residential Life.

All requests for exemption from the University's housing requirement must be submitted by the requesting student, and should include:

1. Completed Housing Exemption Application in the Housing Director through Single Sign on
2. Appropriate supplementary information and/or documentation, as outlined below

Submission of a completed Housing Exemption Request should not, on its own, be considered an approval. Residential Life will contact each student within 14 business days in writing to confirm the outcome of the exemption request. Students whose exemption requests are incomplete or denied will be required to submit a Residence Hall Contract and will be assigned housing.

Deadlines to Submit an Exemption

It is in the student's interest to submit the exemption request early. The deadlines to submit housing exemption requests are:

• Spring 2025 (New/First-Year Students): December 1
• Fall 2025 (Returning Students): March 12
• Fall 2024 (New/First-Year Students): May 1

Required Documentation

Exemptions to the University housing requirement will be considered for a limited number of reasons, each of which requires a specific set of documentation. Please note that it is the submitting student's, not the university's, responsibility to submit any and all required documentation for their exemption. Failure to provide supporting documentation in a timely manner may result in delays in a students exemption being reviewed and/or the student's exemption being denied.

1. Student lives with parent(s) or legal guardian in the New Orleans metropolitan area, defined as a physical address within commutable distance (approx. 25 miles) of Loyola’s campus. Refer to Loyola's commuter policy for a listing of zip codes that qualify as commutable distance.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED: 
     • Parent/guardian must submit a statement in writing attesting that the student will reside at the permanent address with parent/guardian for three years, or until student otherwise meets requirements for off-campus housing.
     • A copy of identification naming the student and listing a permanent address within the commutable distance (such as a state ID, driver’s license, or other forms of identification accepted by Loyola University).
     • A copy of identification naming the parent or guardian listed in the student’s academic record and listing a permanent address within the commutable distance (such as a state ID, driver’s license, or other forms of identification accepted by Loyola University).
     • Proof of parent/guardian occupancy at permanent residence (ie, a lease or purchase agreement listing parent's and student's names and address).
2. Student has completed three (3) years of previous, full-time college enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education; OR student has attained Senior status (90earned credit-hours) at Loyola University New Orleans
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Copy of transcript(s) that show the student has completed three (3) years of previous, full-time college enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education  (unofficial transcripts accepted).
3. Student turns 22 years of age on or before the first day of classes for the fall term of the given academic year.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • ​​​​​​​A copy of identification naming the student and displaying the student's date of birth (such as a state ID, driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, or other forms of identification accepted by Loyola University).
4. Student is an honorably discharged veteran.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Proof of discharge status such as a DD 214, DD 256, or DD 257
5. Student is or becomes legally married, or student is or becomes biological parent or legal guardian of a dependent child.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED: 
     • Legal documentation of marriage or parent or guardianship, including but not limited to: 
       • Marriage Certificate
       • Birth Certificate of dependent child naming the student as a parent
       • Legal Guardianship papers naming the student as the guardian of a dependent child
       • Adoption papers naming the student as the parent of a dependent child
6. Student participates in student teaching, academic internship, or a special University program that requires the student to be away from the New Orleans metropolitan area for the semester or major portion thereof.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Proof of acceptance to program or statement from sponsoring faculty/Registrar confirming participation in program.
7. Student graduates or withdraws from the University.
   • DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
     • Copy of completed petition for graduation during the established commencement term.
     • Copy of completed official withdrawal form, including the signature of a Residential Life staff member.

Appeals

If you believe you have an extenuating circumstance for which you would like to request a housing exemption, but that is not otherwise addressed by the housing exemption policy, you may submit an appeal in writing to the Director of Residential Life.

Your appeal must include all of the following:

1. An explanation of the rationale for your request
2. Clear and thorough documentation to support your request
3. A personal statement discussing how you believe commuter status would benefit you in your academic and co-curricular pursuits at Loyola.

Appeals will be considered by a review board, and a determination communicated in writing. Appeals should be submitted by the established deadlines, and should not be considered granted until official written notification is received from the Director of Residential Life.

Appeals may be mailed to:

Office of Residential Life
6363 St. Charles Ave.
Campus Box 126
New Orleans, LA 70118

Or emailed to: reslife@loyno.edu

Please make sure you have read and understand the specific Terms & Conditions in your housing contract before you submit it. These terms are important and the housing contract, included in your housing applications, is a legally binding document.

Below is an overview of Loyola's housing cancellation policies but should not be considered an alternative or replacement to the Terms & Conditions of the housing contract. 

Fall Semester Refund Schedule

• Cancel by May 1 - $200 cancellation fee (Returning Students with an assignment)*
• Cancel by 2nd week of classes - 60% credit
• Cancel by 5th week of classes - 50% credit
• Cancel after 5th week of classes - 0% credit

*Any student receiving an assignment after May 1, will have 72 hours after initial assignment email is sent to cancel their housing without penalty. After the 72 hour period is complete, the normal penalty schedule resumes beginning with 60% credit and so forth.

Spring Semester Refund Schedule

• Cancel by November 13 - $200 cancellation fee (New Spring Applicants Only)
• Cancel by 2nd week of classes - 60% credit (Jan 29)
• Cancel by 5th week of classes - 50% credit 
• Cancel after 5th week of classes - 0% credit

All housing contracts are for the full academic year (Fall and Spring). If you choose to terminate that contract before the academic year ends, you will be responsible for financial penalties as listed in in the above schedule. Residential Life does not provide Fall-only housing options. Students enrolling only for the Spring term may apply for housing as available, in which case the housing agreement will only apply to the Spring term.

New Students

New students (newly admitted first-year, transfer, exchange, and intensive English students as well as returning re-admit students) are required to submit a housing deposit prior to receiving a room assignment. This deposit is non-refundable under any circumstance and will post as a credit toward the student's university account.

• New students who withdraw or decline their admission prior to move-in will not be penalized, even if a room assignment has already been provided.
• Once moved in, the student is subject to regular cancellation penalties per the cancellation schedule outlined in the housing contract.

Returning Students

Returning students are not required to submit a housing deposit. All housing costs will be placed directly on the student's university account. Returning students have the option to choose housing early through the annual Room Selection process. Students who are otherwise eligible to move off-campus may cancel their housing without penalty until the established cancellation deadline (currently May 1). All cancellations must be received in writing at the Office of Residential Life to be considered valid. Cancellations received after the deadline are subject to the cancellation schedule outlined in the housing contract.

Returning students who apply for housing late will be provided a housing assignment as quickly as possible and will always be notified via email once the assignment is set. Students received an assignment after the initial cancellation deadline will be provided 72 hours from the time of notification to decline the assignment without penalty. After 72 hours the standard cancellation policy takes effect. Requests must be received in writing to reslife@loyno.edu.

Graduation and Special Academic Programs

Students will never be penalized for cancelling housing due to graduation or participation in special academic programs like study abroad.  

When completing the cancellation application in your Residence account:

• Graduating seniors should select the "graduating" option and upload a copy of the graduation application email. 
• Study Abroad participants should select the "study abroad" option and upload a copy of their acceptance letter.

Please review our off-campus housing page for a list of resources to help you budget and prepare for your new living arrangement. 

For help finding rentals and roommates, explore Loyola's off-campus housing website