Arcadia University offers warm, welcoming student spaces and residential options designed to support your success. As a residential student, you can expect:
- Accessible staff who advocate for students, respond to concerns, and host exciting activities.
- A safe, clean environment conducive to academic success and personal development.
- A community that celebrates diversity and encourages individuality.
- Social and educational opportunities that will broaden your perspective, strengthen your affinity for Arcadia, and help you find your place.



Guaranteed Housing
Arcadia is a residential campus; students who do not live within 25 miles live on campus for their first two years. Full-time undergraduates who submit their housing deposit by the posted deadline are guaranteed a space.
Distinctive Housing Options
Our range of housing experiences encourage skill development and independence. All rates include cable, utilities, and access to free laundry facilities.
Traditional Residence Halls
For first-year students, our traditional residence halls—Kistler, Dilworth, and Heinz—encourage interaction among residents and emphasize cooperation, compromise, and respect for others. Amenities include:
- Central location to campus resources;
- Laundry facilities, located on the ground floor and free of charge;
- An air-conditioned main lobby (Kistler and Heinz) and vending area with a pool table and flat-screen TV (a foosball table can be found on the second floor Thomas/Dilworth lounge);
- Common bathrooms on all floors.
Although most first-year housing offers you the opportunity to live with one roommate, many students live with two or more. Single rooms are available upon request, and are offered at a higher room rate than other spaces. There is a limited availability for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Rates:
- Single Occupancy: $4900 per resident, per semester
- Standard Double or Triple Occupancy: $4200 per resident, per semester
All of the traditional residence halls are coed by floor, wing, or room. You will be placed in a coed-by-room environment (where male and female rooms are located on the same floor) by request in your housing application.
Grey Towers Castle
Grey Towers Castle is a first-year residence hall that is anything but traditional. Men and women are housed by wing in rooms of 2 to 5 students (occupancy of each room is based on square footage). Common bathrooms are available in each wing. A laundry room is provided, and a microwave is available in the common lounge area. Microwaves are not permitted in student rooms. Please note that given the large size of the Castle rooms, all students in the Castle pay the standard room rate.
Semester room rate per resident:
Standard Double Castle Room* $4,200
Rooms with 4+ Students $4,000
* Standard Castle Rooms accommodate 2-7 students. Occupancy of each room is based upon square footage.
Thomas Hall
Thomas Hall is reserved for upper class students. An extra-large single occupancy room is $4900 per semester, per resident.
Knight Hall
Knight Hall, a suite-style residence hall, houses both first-year and returning students. First-year students are housed in suites with other first-year students only. Space for this community is limited.
Depending on your desired experience, Knight Hall may be ideal housing if you are entering your second or third year of college. It offers the benefit of a smaller, more independent housing experience within close proximity to other residence halls and campus resources. We house 5-8 upper class students per suite. Each suite shares a bathroom, a common area with lounge furniture, and a large closet. Residents are housed in a single, double, or triple occupancy room within the suite. Each floor is equipped with a laundry facility and a large lounge with a kitchen. Knight Hall is air-conditioned, and has elevator access to all floors.
Rates:
- Single Occupancy: $4900 per resident, per semester
Standard Double Occupancy: $4200per resident, per semester
Oak Summit Apartments
Oak Summit is an Arcadia University-owned apartment-style housing complex just a short walk from the center of campus. Two to four students are housed in one, two, or three bedroom apartments with kitchens, private bathrooms, and private laundry facilities. You are eligible to be placed in apartment-style housing if you have had previous residence hall or apartment experience.
Amenities unique to Oak Summit include:
- A fitness center in the main lobby;
- Student parking on site;
- Direct access to Glenside proper and a short 10-minute walk to the Glenside Train Station;
- Dining cafe located in the main lobby.
Rates:
- Aspen (1 BR single): $4900
- Cedar (1 BR double): $4200
- Willow (1 Br triple): $4200
- Single Cherry (2 BR, single standard room): $4900
- Master Cherry (2 BR, single master room): $4200
- Single Spruce (2 BR, single standard room):$4900
- Master Spruce (2 BR, double master room): $4200
- Master Birch (2 BR, triple master room): $4200
- Standard Maple (2 BR, double standard room): $4200
- Master Maple (2 BR, double master bedroom): $4200
- Single Walnut (3 BR, single standard room): $4900
- Master Walnut (3 BR, double master room): $4200
Graduate Housing
Some Oak Summit apartments are available for graduate students to be part of the Arcadia community while focusing on their studies. Graduate apartments range from 1-2 bedrooms and 1-2 bathrooms per space. To apply, contact housing@arcadia.edu or 215-572-4026.
Local Housing
The Campus Life team manages a list of off-campus housing options near Arcadia. Note: The housing options listed are provided as a courtesy. Arcadia University assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided, nor does the University investigate or endorse any housing option listed.
Summer Housing
Summer housing is provided in Oak Summit Apartments on a first-come, first-served basis. The portal opens for summer housing applications in April. Undergraduates must be enrolled in a Fall course. Students must adhere to the University Code of Conduct and housing schedules set by Campus Life. Students may need to vacate housing or move to transitional housing upon request. These dates and processes will be advertised well in advance.
Rates: $2000 per session for single rooms; $1500 per session for doubles or triples
Housing applications may be completed in early spring; however, deposited students can sign on any time to confirm their demographic info. Log into PortalGuard with your MyArcadia login and click the “StarRez Housing Portal” application.
Assignments will be sent via Arcadia email no later than Aug. 1. Students who submit applications after the first week of August will be assigned on an individual basis as space permits.

If you’re studying abroad in the fall, you should pay a deposit via the housing portal to reserve space for the following spring. In the portal, you can search for roommates and identify a housing assignment while abroad. If you do not identify a space, you will be assigned one based on your indicated preferences. If you are abroad during the spring, you will proceed through the online housing selection process with all other students for fall.

Nervous about having a roommate and sharing a bathroom for the first time? Curious about our inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ students? Transferring to Arcadia and already know your housing preference? The Campus Life staff is always willing to talk (and help you determine your ideal housing experience). Contact housing@arcadia.edu

As part of a Living and Learning Community, everyone on your residence hall floor will be enrolled in the same First-Year Seminar (FYS), allowing you to study, build relationships, share interests, and engage in special programming (like field trips) with a diverse group of classmates. From time to time, your FYS professor will hold class in your residence hall lounge or host meals.


Your Support Team
Campus Life coordinators oversee the residential communities, housekeeping concerns, safety and security, student behavior, and more. Coordinators participate in campus-wide emergency on-call rotation, live within the areas they supervise, and are excellent resources for new students. Ask them about time management, roommates, and what to bring.
Resident assistants are upper class students who serve as resources, role models, and mentors for residential students. Your most immediate link, the RA works under the direction of a Campus Life coordinator.
Residence Life FAQs
What size are traditional residence halls, Castle rooms, and beds?
Dilworth, Heinz, and Kistler rooms are approximately 11’x14’. Thomas Hall rooms are approximately 11’x13’. Grey Towers Castle rooms vary in size and are assigned accordingly. The measurements of windows, closets, and space under the beds vary by room.
Mattresses in our residence halls are extra-long (36" x 80") and require twin, extra-long sheets. Residence and Commuter Life has partnered with On Campus Marketing (OCM LLC) to provide students with a convenient, affordable way to purchase bedding items, as well as other campus-living necessities.
What’s included in each residence hall room?
In a traditional residence hall room, you will find:
- Bed frame and mattress (twin, extra-long)
- Desk and desk chair
- Dresser
- Closets
- Internet access – all residence hall rooms have access to the University's high-speed wireless and Ethernet networks. To use Arcadia's network, you must complete an online registration process for each computer and handheld device.
In the hall, you’ll also find:
- Laundry rooms—washers and dryers are free of charge (included in housing rate)
- Common study areas
- Housekeeping service for each common area, common bathroom, and lounge area
- Furnished main lounges with vending machines and flat screen TVs
- Heinz and Kistler also have pool tables, and the Dilworth/Thomas lounge has a foosball table
For kitchens and cooking:
- Common-area microwaves are available throughout the traditional residence halls.
- Knight Hall has one kitchen per floor, located in the lounge. You must provide your own cooking supplies.
- Apartments feature a full-sized kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and oven. Most provide dishwashers. You must provide your own cooking supplies and microwave oven (if desired).
Additional Furniture:
- Knight Hall suites feature loveseats, sofas, and coffee tables in the common area.
- Apartments feature a dining room table, four dining chairs, and a seating area with a sofa, loveseat, end table, and coffee table in the living room.
What are the bathroom facilities like?
The traditional residence halls (Kistler, Dilworth, and Heinz), have community bathrooms, shared by the members of the floor. The housekeeping staff cleans, maintains, and stocks these facilities daily.
In Knight Hall, there is one bathroom in each suite. You are expected to clean and maintain the bathrooms. Housekeeping staff stock the bathrooms with paper products.
In apartment-style housing, units have one or two bathrooms, depending on the occupancy and size of the unit. You are expected to clean, maintain, and stock these bathrooms.
What should I bring with me to campus?
- Sheets–twin, extra-long
- Egg crates or mattress pads
- Pillows
- Towels
- Shower shoes or flip-flops
- Shower caddy
- Alarm clock
- TV
- Iron with an automatic shutoff and ironing board
- Kitchen utensils
- Air fresheners
- White board for door
- Power strip/surge protector
- Trash can
- Fan
- Storage crates
- Laundry supplies
- Decorations
- Poster putty or removable adhesive strips—students are responsible for damage to their walls and furniture at the end of the year.
- Hand sanitizer
- Cleaning wipes
- Thermometer
- Face masks (2-3)
What should I leave at home?
- Alcohol (if you are under the age of 21)
- Water beds or other beds
- Air conditioners
- Toaster ovens
- Sun lamps
- Space heaters
- Extension cords
- Pets (other than fish in a tank no larger than 10 gallons)
- Ceiling fans
- Refrigerators larger than 3.2 cubic feet
- Microwave ovens (other than those leased or purchased through an authorized University vendor)
- Halogen lamps without approved covers
- Candles
- Incense
- Grills (George Foreman, charcoal, or gas burning)
- Coffee makers without an automatic shut-off
- Bottled gas appliances
- Any device that has an exposed heating element and does not have automatic shut-off
- Wall and ceiling coverings
Does Arcadia have any partnerships for amenities?
Campus Life partners with two providers of in-room amenities: Campus Specialties Inc. is our combination microwave/refrigerator provider. As most returning student spaces within our housing system (Oak Summit Apartments) provide a full-size refrigerator and freezer, renting a refrigerator or combination unit can be a good option for first-year students. CSI also provides microwave-only options. All units are available for one or both semesters.
Due to insurance policy, only microwaves from CSI are approved for use within the traditional residence halls. No microwaves are permitted in the Castle, including those rented via our contracted provider.
On Campus Marketing (OCM) is the provider of linens, storage, and more. All items are shipped directly to students’ Arcadia addresses. This is a great option for students traveling from a distance.
Given the agreement Arcadia University has with these companies, Campus Life receives a percentage of all purchases that is used for student programming.
Are my personal belongings insured?
Arcadia is not responsible for damage to personal belongings in your residence hall room or apartment. You should make sure that your belongings are covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy or make arrangements for renter’s insurance coverage if necessary.
What if I don’t get along with my roommate(s)? Can I change rooms?
Your first step is to discuss the situation with your resident assistant, who may be able to help you and your roommate resolve your differences. If, after discussion, a room change is appropriate, you must speak to your Campus Life coordinator. Room changes are not possible until after the third week of the semester, and then only as space permits.
Do the residence halls close during vacations?
During Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks, the residence halls are closed. Break exceptions are available on a case-by-case basis. Charges may be associated with these exceptions. Students who travel from a distance are welcome to speak with their Campus Life coordinator to plan for these break periods.
Are the residence halls co-ed?
Residence halls house all genders. Most halls are co-ed by floor or wing. Additionally, Knight Hall suites and Oak Summit apartments offer the option of coed housing by bed, where students of different genders may share the same room. Campus Life Housing will only house you on co-ed-by-room floors or in coed-by-bed suites and apartments by request.
What are the rules and regulations associated with living in residence halls?
All University housing is smoke-free. Residents of the Oak Summit Apartments are permitted to smoke on balconies or patios.
When you complete your housing application, you can review the University Housing Agreement and learn more about University policies. Each resident is required to agree to and abide by this agreement.
What is my mailing address at Arcadia University?
Your address will be:
[Your Name]
Arcadia University
450 South Easton Road
Glenside, Pa. 19038
How does Arcadia house students?
Any student who requires medical accommodations will be given priority. Incoming first-year students and transfers are encouraged to submit important paperwork by May 1.
Roommate preference is priority. If you indicate that you want to live with a particular person, and that person agrees, we will do our very best to house you with that person. Even if a student has a deposit date that makes them eligible for the Castle, if a roommate they select does not have a deposit date that makes them eligible for the Castle, the student will typically be placed with the roommate in another building.
Students who indicate the Castle as a housing preference will be placed based on completed housing application date, as space permits.
Housing assignments for Dilworth, Heinz, Kistler, and Thomas halls and the Knight Hall Enhanced Community are not based on building preference. Instead, housing placements are made based on the type of experience you indicate via the housing application: Do you want to live on a theme or coed floor? With a particular person?