Housing requirements

Full-time students

• All full-time students at the main campus with fewer than 60 semester hours completed must live on campus.
• Full-time students at the traditional campus receiving institutional scholarships/aid totaling 75 percent or more of their tuition including Presidential Scholars, Athletics Scholarships, or students receiving Tuition Exchange (TE) must live on campus until they have completed 75 credit hours regardless of their parents’ or legal guardians’ address until they meet another exemption.
• Transfer students who receive institutional scholarships/aid totaling 75 percent or more of their tuition and have achieved 60+ credit hours, but who do not meet any other exception, may request an exemption through the appeals process.  

Nontraditional, part-time/graduate students

Nontraditional students, part-time students and graduate students at the traditional campus are not required to live on campus, but may submit a request to live on campus to the Director of Residential Life. Housing for nontraditional, part-time and graduate students is dependent upon availability.

Exemptions to the campus housing requirement:

Full-time students at the main campus are exempt from the housing requirement if they meet one of the following exemptions: 

• Students who are married and/or living with a legal dependent. A certificate of marriage or legal document showing dependence (i.e. tax return) must be submitted in order for the exception to be granted. Columbia College does not offer married/family housing. 

• Students receiving less than 75 percent of their tuition from institutional scholarships/aid and who are living at home with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) within a 25-mile radius of the main campus in Columbia, Missouri, where such address has been established as the sole, legal and permanent residence of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Students listed as living at home with parents/legal guardians and later found living in off-campus housing not with parents/legal guardians will be assigned a room and meal plan on campus and charged accordingly.

• Students age 22 or older by September 1 for fall housing contracts or January 1 for new spring housing contracts.
• Military veterans and active duty service members as defined by federal guidelines.

• Students receiving the EEG who are living at home with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) within a 25-mile radius of the main campus in Columbia.

Living on campus is a significant aspect of the Columbia College educational experience. Recent studies reveal that students who start their college career by living on campus are more likely to:

• Still be in school after two years
• Personally know and spend time outside of class with faculty members
• Graduate in four years
• Receive more academic and emotional support from other students
• Get involved in student organizations

Studies also indicate that students who make the choice to live on campus are more likely to:

• Have a higher grade point average
• Use campus resources (library, labs, faculty and staff)
• Take more credit hours
• Express greater satisfaction with the undergraduate educational experience

Because of the greater likelihood of student academic and personal success, the housing requirement is strictly enforced. Columbia College is committed to its students and seeing them persevere and succeed.

Requests to live off campus

Any student requiring an exception who does not meet one of the established housing exemptions above must submit their off-campus appeal online through the Housing Portal Secure link, login required. or a formal letter of appeal outlining his/her reasoning to the Director of Residential Life. Students should understand, however, that few exceptions are made given that the evidence suggests that on-campus living is a significant aspect of student academic and personal success. Also, please pay attention to the deadline for submitting appeals.

If you choose not to complete the appeal online please mail your letters to:

Director of Residential Life
Columbia College
1001 Rogers Street
Columbia, MO 65216

If you have any questions about the appeals process, e-mail ResLife@CCIS.edu.

When submitting your appeal you will need to provide the following information: 

• Student's name and permanent address
• Documented and supported reasons that require off-campus exemption
• Semester(s) requesting to live off campus

The director will review all appeals and render a decision. Once a decision has been made, the student will be notified. If the appeal is denied, the student's final option is to appeal to the Dean for Student Affairs.