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Two-Year Residency Requirement
Updated Feb. 23, 2026
Cal Poly is extending its existing two-year housing requirement to students in all colleges, beginning with first-year students admitted for the 2026–27 academic year. This requirement strengthens students’ connection to campus life, encourages collaboration, and enhances the Learn by Doing experience.
All students are notified of Cal Poly’s two-year housing requirement at the time of admission. Prospective students and supporters considering Cal Poly, please factor campus housing into your planning, including the cost of attendance.
Students and supporters are strongly advised to not purchase off-campus housing or sign a lease for the second year without an approved exemption. Do not assume exemption requests will be approved. Approvals are limited to specific criteria and based on housing occupancy.
Required Groups Defined
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First-year students who arrived in 2025 and are part of the two-year housing program — College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences, College of Architecture & Environmental Design, College of Engineering, Student-Athletes, Cal Poly Scholars or TRIO Achievers — will live on campus a second year in 2026-27. All other students are not required to live on campus.
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All first-year students arriving in 2026 will live on campus their first year at Cal Poly and will have the opportunity to live on campus their second year in 2027-28.
Exemption Criteria
While residential life is an important part of the Cal Poly journey, exemptions from the housing requirement are considered for students who meet specific criteria.
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Current or active military veterans
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Married, domestically partnered and/or have legally dependent children
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Of independent status: In order to be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes (and therefore exempt from reporting parental income and assets), a student must be able to answer “yes” to one of the dependency questions on the FAFSA.
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Living in Ag Housing or participating in a co-op, internship or study abroad program. Students who qualify for this exemption will live in Ag Housing at Cal Poly or will participate in a co-op, internship or study abroad program. Internships and study abroad must be Cal Poly approved academic internships in which students live outside of the local area and receive academic credit. Proof of the internship or study abroad program and academic credit is required.
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Have documented medical and disability circumstances as noted by the Disability Resource Center (DRC)
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Living locally with your parent or legal guardian at their primary residence within San Luis Obispo County, Santa Maria, Orcutt, or Guadalupe at the time of admission to Cal Poly. The address listed on your CSU application will be used to determine eligibility for this option and cannot be updated. Second or additional local homes owned by the parent or legal guardian do not qualify under this criterion.
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For financial hardship considerations, Housing reviews exemption requests for students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 15,000 or less, as determined from the financial aid application. Requests that do not meet the stated SAI threshold are not eligible for consideration and will not be approved. Because the SAI threshold is a defined eligibility requirement, financial hardship exemption decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Applying this threshold consistently helps maintain equity and ensures all students are evaluated using the same criteria. The Financial Aid Office’s role is limited to confirming financial aid information and does not include approving or denying housing exemptions.
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Living in a fraternity or sorority house. Second-year students who are approved to live in an official chapter house. Confirmation from Fraternity and Sorority Life is required. Exemption requests for this criteria must be received no later than March 31.
Due to our specific criteria, all exemption decisions are final — no appeals. If you are required to live on campus your second year, do not sign an off-campus lease or make other arrangements without an approved exemption.
Signing Up
Once students are admitted to Cal Poly and the Housing application opens, they can sign up for their space in the Housing Portal on MyCalPoly. Exemptions requests are also made through the Housing Portal.
