Housing

Residency Policy

The State of Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education has established a residency policy mandating that all students with fewer than 30 earned college credits reside in the Residence Halls unless a waiver has been granted by the specific university. At the University of Montana (and Missoula College), new students with less than 30 credit hours completed after high school graduation from another college or university or two semesters accomplished in a residence hall setting are obligated to live in UM residence halls. Please note that AP credits and dual enrollment credits earned during high school do not count towards the 30 earned college credits exemption.

All incoming freshmen (less than 20 years old) automatically have a housing hold placed on their University account until one of the following requirements are completed:

• A housing application is submitted for the Residence Halls.
• A release from the Freshman Residency Requirement has been submitted and approved.

Release from the Residence Halls Contract and exemptions to the Freshman Residency Requirement are not guaranteed for any reason including signing a lease or contract off campus before going through the proper release process or between fall and spring semesters. Students should not sign off-campus leases or contracts before receiving an approved freshmen residency release or contract release and doing so will not be accepted as justification for requesting the release at any point including between fall and spring semesters. 

All releases/exemptions are at the discretion of the Executive Director of UM Housing. Decisions can take up to 2 weeks and will be communicated to the student via their UM email address.  

Students intending to request a release should review the criteria below before starting this request in their myHousingPortal under Forms.

Request for Exemption Criteria

Medical/disability-related condition:

A medical or disability condition that precludes you from living in the residence halls. This will require evaluation by the Office for Disability Equity. You may be required to provide medical documentation that supports your request to the Office for Disability Equity.

• The student must contact the Office for Disability Equity. The Office for Disability Equity can be contacted at 406-243-2243 or ode@umontana.edu.
• Must provide a letter from ODE that explains briefly the basis of the request to the UM Housing Office.

Less than 7 credits:

• First-year students enrolled in seven (7) or more credits are required to reside in the residence halls.
• While students must maintain at least 12 credits to remain eligible to live in the residence halls, a reduced course load does not automatically cancel your housing contract.
• Students enrolled in seven (7) through eleven (11) credits remain subject to the live-on requirement but must submit a minimum credit exemption request that includes a clear explanation of the student’s academic enrollment plan and reason for being part time.

Financial hardship:

Such as death, accident or severe illness of primary family wage earner, recent substantial change in the family or student’s financial status beyond the control of the student, or unusual circumstances well supported by documentation.

• Must provide a Housing Financial Hardship Worksheet and documentation of recent financial change.
• If traditional freshman, must also provide a letter of support from a parent/legal guardian.

Living with family member:

Living with an immediate family member (parent, grandparent, sibling, or legal guardian) at their principal, established local residence within a commutable radius.

• Must provide a letter from parent/legal guardian. Letter should contain the name, relationship to the student and address of the immediate family member with whom the student will be living.

Completed one full academic year (post high school) at a college or university while living in a residence hall:

An academic year is calculated as 2 semesters or 3 quarters.

• Must provide college or university name and dates of attendance. UM Housing staff will follow up to confirm information provided.

Completed one year in military training:

• Must provide documentation of military training/service.

Unusual circumstances:

Circumstances have arisen that are not within the scope of the above-listed criteria that make living in the halls a hardship.

• If traditional freshman, must also include a letter of support from parent/legal guardian.
• Refer to medical/disability-related condition criteria if your request is based on a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Documentation

If you need the Financial Hardship Worksheets they can be found here:

• 2025-2026 Financial Hardship Worksheet