ANSWER
SMU requires most incoming students to live on campus for one year, and its housing options include Residential Commons, Upper-Division Housing, four university apartments next to campus, and fraternity housing.
YOUR NEXT DECISION
Turn the answer into your next step
- Apply through SMU’s Housing Portal.
- Confirm whether the one-year live-on requirement applies to you.
- Compare Residential Commons, Upper-Division Housing, SMU apartments, and fraternity housing.
- Review rates, fees, and housing policies on SMU’s housing pages.
HELP WITH YOUR NEXT STEP
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SMU’s Residence Life and Student Housing runs the on-campus system from Boaz Commons at 3200 Binkley Ave, Dallas, TX 75205, with the entrance off Bishop Avenue. The main choices are Residential Commons, Upper-Division Housing, four SMU-managed apartment buildings, and eight fraternity chapter houses owned and operated by SMU.
- The Residential Commons model is SMU’s main on-campus home base.
- SMU apartments are available for currently enrolled students on 12-month contracts.
- Residence Life and Student Housing is a 24/7/365 operation for current residents.
- The Armstrong and McElvaney area desks provide card access or spare-key services for specific communities.
Who has to live on campus
SMU says most incoming students must live on campus for one year. That makes the first-year housing process more than a nice-to-have; it is part of the standard SMU path for most new students.
- Check the housing policies and procedures before assuming you can opt out.
- If you are an incoming student, verify whether your situation is one of the exceptions.
- Use the housing portal and the student housing page to start the process.
How to get help and where to start
For housing questions, SMU lists the housing office at Boaz Commons, 3200 Binkley Ave, Dallas, TX 75205, and the Housing Portal for applications. The university also directs students to housing@smu.edu and 214-768-2407.
- Use the Housing Portal to apply for housing.
- Review rates and fees on SMU’s housing pages before choosing a community.
- If you already live on campus, area desks can help with access and keys during posted hours.
Sources
- Residence Life and Student Housing ↗
- About SMU Residence Life and Student Housing ↗
- Apartments - Residence Life and Student Housing - SMU ↗
- Explore Campus Living - Residence Life and Student Housing - SMU ↗
- SMU Future Resident - Residence Life and Student Housing - Student Affairs ↗
- SMU Residential Commons - Residence Life and Student Housing ↗
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