Summer Start

Students walking from McAlister

New Student Requirements

Do I have to live on campus and purchase a meal plan?

First-Year & Bridge Requirement

All first year and Bridge students are required to live on-campus. This policy is intended to support your college transition and help to ensure your engagement and success during your first year. Only students who live at home with their parent or guardian in one of the three counties surrounding Clemson University (Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee) are exempt from this requirement.

First-Year students are required to purchase an Unlimited meal plan for the Academic Year.

Is housing guaranteed for me?

Housing is guaranteed and required for first year and Bridge to Clemson students. On-campus housing is prioritized for new-to campus students to support their transition to campus during that critical first year. Continuing students are offered housing as available.

What if I miss the deadline?

First-Year Late Applicants

Don’t worry! Housing is guaranteed for all first-year students. While late applicants will not be able to select roommates or participate in Priority Room Selection, we will offer rolling room selection later in the summer so you can still select your space.


Sign Academic Year Contract

  • Select a Term – Academic Year 2024-25 will begin in August 2024.
  • Pay the $150 one-time non-refundable contract fee – only assessed on first housing contract & must be paid with credit card.
  • Review, sign, and print/save contract & addendum – legally binding upon acceptance.
  • Select Your Dining Plan – First-Year students must select an unlimited plan
  • Consider Your Community Choices – Living-Learning Community or No LLC housing

What are my Academic Year housing options and rates?

Summer Start Community Housing allows you to choose one space and roommate within the Summer Start area in Calhoun Courts to stay in for both the Summer and Academic Year terms. Summer Start students can only room with other Summer Start students. This means you won’t be changing roommates or moving out at the end of the summer. Your roommate for Summer and Academic must be in the Summer Start program as well.

A Living-Learning Community (LLC) allows you to pick your community rather than a building. We offer a wide selection of LLCs focused on a variety of topics, including Major, Identity, and Involvement-centered. Check out our LLC page for a full list of available communities.

General First-Year Housing allows you to select from any available non-LLC space in a First-Year residential community.

What are my Academic Year dining options and rates?

When will I move in and out?

  • 2024 Move-In will occur August 14-17
  • Housing will close for Winter Break Dec 14
  • Housing will reopen January 5
  • 2024 Move-Out will occur May 3

Students who will need to remain on campus through Winter Break will need to select an apartment space in Calhoun Courts during room selection.

Residents will not be required to move out for Winter Break, but will not have access to their space during this period. Apartment residents may submit a Winter Break late stay request if there are extenuating circumstances.

Sign Summer Contract

  • Select a Term – Select the correct term for your summer session.
  • Review, sign, and print/save contract & addendum – legally binding upon acceptance.
  • Select Your Dining Plan – First-Year students must select an unlimited plan
  • Receive Assignment – You will receive an email once you are assigned to a space
  • Pay Summer Bill – Charges will appear on your Summer student bill in April after the assignment is finalized.

What are my Summer housing options and rates?

Summer Start housing will be in Calhoun Courts or Smith Hall.

Summer Start Community Housing allows you to choose one space and roommate within the Summer Start area in Calhoun Courts to stay in for both the Summer and Academic Year terms. Summer Start students can only room with other Summer Start students. This means you won’t be changing roommates or moving out at the end of the summer. Your roommate for Summer and Academic must be in the Summer Start program as well.

Non-Summer Start Community Housing means you will be assigned to a Summer Start space (in Smith Hall). For the Academic Year during room selection, you will select your roommate and any available space or Living-Learning Community. All students selecting this option will be required to move out at the end of the Summer and will return during the regular move-in dates.

Rental rates will be calculated on a daily basis. Students will be charged the per diem rate listed below for the room type and number of days indicated by the Move In and Move Out date specified on your contract.

  • Residence Hall Room: $28*
  • Apartment: $28*

What are my Summer dining options and rates?

The Dish at McAlister Hall will be open for the Summer. Hours of operation and additional locations will be posted at a later date. *Summer Dining Rates are proposed pending Board of Trustee approval.

  • Summer 20*
    • Block 20 Meals
    • 100 Paw Points
    • Cost: $358
  • Summer 40*
    • Block 40 Meals
    • 200 Paw Points
    • Cost: $676
  • Unlimited Summer II*
    • Recommended for Summer Start
    • No Paw Points
    • Cost: $766

When will I move in and out?




Summer Start/STEM Start Session Dates 2024

SessionTermCheck-inCheck-out
Summer IIJune 27 – Aug. 5June 23Aug. 6
Clemson Summer Start Dates

All Summer/STEM Start residents who do not sign up for Summer Start/STEM Start Community Housing will be required to move out at the end of the Summer session. Summer Start/STEM Start Community residents will be able to remain in their space through the Academic Year.

New Student Contract Open February 14 (at 8:30 AM ET) – May 15 (at 12:00 PM Noon ET)

Summer-Start/STEM Start Contract Open March 1 (at 8:30 AM ET) – May 15 (at 12:00 PM Noon ET)

Create Academic-Year Roommate Group

  • Create your profile in the Clemson Home Portal
  • Create your roommate group prior to the deadline.
    • Select a roommate
    • Two is the maximum group size

What if I don’t know who I want my roommate to be?

Don’t worry! The Clemson Home Portal has a roommate matching option, so you will be able to create a profile, answer the lifestyle questions, and search for other students who may be a good fit as a roommate.

How Can I Search For a Roommate?

Whether you are trying to create a group with someone you already know or needing to use our roommate matching tools, you’ll simply need to visit the Roommate Groups section of the Clemson Home Portal and use one of the search options.

Search by details allows you to search by specific details such as name, keyword, state, Clemson username, and age.

Suggest roommates gives you a percent match based on your profile responses.

Search by Lifestyle Question allows you to filter profiles by specific responses to profile questions.

What if I want a random roommate?

All students will select their own space, so you will still want to form a roommate group prior to the deadline. The Roommate Matching process in the Portal will provide suggestions for potential roommates and you can connect directly from there.

How will I get my Summer Roommate?

If you select to live in Community Housing, your Academic Year roommate will be your Summer roommate as well. Remember, this means your Academic Year roommate will need to be in the program and will need to select Community Housing as well.

If you do not select to live in Community Housing over the summer, your summer roommate will be assigned to you by our assignment staff. If you have a specific roommate request, they will create a summer roommate group in the portal.

New Student Roommate Groups Open Feb. 14 (at 8:30 AM ET) – May 15 (at 12:00 PM Noon ET)

Select Your 2024-25 Academic Year Space

You will be emailed a specific timeslot during which you will select a space for you and your roommate(s) (if applicable).

  • May 20 – Time slot notifications sent in early evening to First-Year student Clemson email accounts
  • May 22 – Room Selection for Honors & RISE
  • May 23 – Room Selection for all other First-Year Living-Learning Communities
  • May 29-31 – Room Selection for First-Year students who did not select a community on the Community Choice page
  • All students will need to log in to the Portal to select their own move-in appointments after being assigned to a space.

How will I know when I can select my housing

First-Year Timeslots

You will receive an email with a timeslot. You will need to compare your timeslot with the other members of your roommate group. The roommate with the earliest time will need to select for the whole group.

How does priority work?

First-Year Priority

Priority is based on your University application date as well as your community choice. Students who select a Living-Learning Community in the Community Choice section will only be able to choose spaces designated for their LLC. These students will receive timeslots on LLC days, based on their application date.

How will I select my Summer housing?

If you selected Community Housing, your Academic Year space will also be your Summer space.

If you do not select Community Housing, you will do a room selection for your Summer space on June 6.