Department of Housing and Residence Life
1st Year Live-on Requirement
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is committed to providing students with a comprehensive educational experience. USM recognizes the educational and social benefits students receive from residing on campus their first year, as compared to living off campus. Ample research across the United States over the last 30 years has provided compelling evidence that students who live in university-provided housing perform better academically, and enjoy a higher degree of satisfaction with their college experience, than students who live off-campus or commute. In recognition of the value of the living-learning experience associated with on-campus living, the USM Department of Housing and Residence began a freshman residency program effective Fall Semester 2022 for the Hattiesburg campus. This program requires all new first-time full-time freshman students to live on campus their first year at USM. This is also consistent with the other state institutions in Mississippi, who have had first year residency requirements for a number of years.
- If you'd like to view the possible exemptions, access the exemption form, access the
appeal form or view the FAQs about this new policy, please visit the 1st Year Residency landing page within our student housing portal.
- If you do not meet the exemption requirements, please continue to our housing application landing page within the student housing portal. A link for the application is also on the homepage of our website for your convenience.
- Once you've completed your housing application and it's been processed, you'll be able to find all of the information you need within the student housing portal. The Housing and Residence Life public website is set up for prospective students and parents, so instead of having to continuously go to the public website, the housing portal has been created strictly for students who'll be living on campus or already live on campus.