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Two-Year Residency Requirement
Updated Jan. 26, 2026
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
Since residential life is such an important part of the Cal Poly journey, exemptions from this requirement are limited and only granted to students who are:
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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
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Living in Ag Housing or participating in a co-op, internship or study abroad program. These options will be verified by an acceptance letter to the specific Cal Poly approved 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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Financial hardship, eligibility for which is determined solely by the Office of Financial Aid based on a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $15,000 or below.
Due to our specific criteria, all exemption decisions are final — no appeals.
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.
