Ball State University requires all incoming students to live in on-campus housing for at least two semesters, unless they meet specific exemption criteria.
The Board of Trustees of Ball State University approved the policy relating to student residency that became effective for students entering the university beginning in the fall 2005 semester. This policy supports a richer college experience by fostering a sense of community.
Living on campus encompasses more than just a room and a bed. Our communities, facilities, and staff challenge students to excel inside and outside of the classroom to fly to new heights!
IMPORTANT - Signing an off-campus lease does not qualify as grounds for an exemption. Students are encouraged to not make any commitments for off-campus housing until they receive a written documentation from our office guaranteeing their exemption.
Review Residency Requirements
A Residency Exemption allows students who meet specific criteria to live off-campus rather than in university housing. We understand that individual circumstances may vary, and this process ensures that students with unique situations can apply for an exception. Exemptions require a formal request and documentation for approval. Documentation does not guarantee approval of Residency Exemption. Once the Residency Exemption committee has completed their review and made a decision, no additional documentation will be accepted.
You may be eligible for an exemption if you meet one of the conditions listed below:
The student is living with a parent or legal guardian in the parent’s or legal guardian’s primary residence within a sixty (60) mile radius of campus. The address of the parent or legal guardian at the time of a student's application for admission to Ball State will be considered the primary residence for the purpose of applying this policy.
1. The student has twenty-four (24) or more credit hours of Ball State University accepted credits achieved after their graduation from high school.
2. The student has lived in University residence halls for two (2) semesters but has not yet achieved twenty-four (24) credit hours.
3. The student is enrolled in fewer than nine (9) credit hours.
Students may request an exemption from this policy for extenuating circumstances for review by the On-Campus Residency Exemption Committee. Students must submit supporting documentation for this exemption.
Examples of recommended documents for extenuating circumstances include:
The student is married or is a custodial parent of a dependent child.
The student is in a fully-online degree program.
The student is a transfer student with twenty-four (24) or more earned credits post high school graduation (dual credit courses do not apply towards the 24 credit hours completed) and/or two (2) or more semesters of on-campus housing at another institution of higher education prior to transferring to Ball State University. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life prior to signing any off- campus lease to determine their eligibility to live off-campus.
The student will be twenty-one (21) years of age prior to the beginning of the term for which they are enrolling.
The student has twenty-four (24) or more credit hours of Ball State University accepted credits achieved after their graduation from high school.
Students looking to receive exemption from the residency requirements must complete a Residency Exemption on the housing portal. You’ll need to provide all relevant documentation based on your situation. Missing or incomplete materials can delay the approval process, so ensure that all necessary documents are provided. This will help avoid any delays in your review and approval. Exemption request needs to be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the first semester of enrollment.
Submitting an exemption request does not guarantee that your request will be approved. Students whose requests are denied will be required to complete a housing contract.
Apply for Residency Exemption
Please note: Students whose housing exemption requests have already been approved and decide to cancel their request in order to complete a housing contract must contact our office to gain access to the housing contract.
Incoming Ball State students who do not have a housing contract on file or an approved Residency Exemption by July 15, 2026 will be charged the lowest room and board rate for the semester(s) of violation.
If a student submits their intention between July 15, 2026, and the day before the contract starts, they will receive a 100% refund of room and board charges (they incurred upon taking no action) once their Residency Exemption request has been submitted and approved.