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First Year Students

First Year Students in room

Housing and Residence Life welcomes you to the Pepperdine community! 

Welcome home, Waves! We are so excited for you to begin your new journey here at Pepperdine. To apply for on-campus housing for the 2023-2024 academic year, please follow the process below. 

May 15 - Housing Portal Opens

The Housing Portal goes live on May 15. Students must be accepted to the University, submit the "Intent to Enroll" form, and pay the enrollment deposit (through Wavenet) before access to the portal is granted. If an error message appears, make sure your "Intent to Enroll" deposit has been submitted. After submission, allow 24 to 48 hours before the process is complete.

Once the portal is open, you will complete a housing application for the academic year. Students will have the opportunity to answer lifestyle questions that will help them choose potential roommates. You can use the messaging system to contact other students and select a person to room with until June 16.

For a step-by-step guide on how to apply for housing and create roommate groups, please visit our Create a Roommate Group webpage.

June 16 - Deadline for contracts and roommate selection

The deadline for selecting a roommate and/or creating a roommate group of up to four people is on June 16 at 5 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Students who submit applications after the deadline are still guaranteed housing, but they will not have the option of selecting a roommate nor are they guaranteed notification of their placement by July 3. All placement notifications will be sent prior to check-in day.

July 3 - Placements confirmed via email

Students who submit their contract by the priority deadline will receive an email to their Pepperdine account with their placement and roommate's name on July 3.

Other important deadlines:

  • Requests to be considered for a residency exemption are due no later than June 1 for new students.
  • Requests for housing accommodation through the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) require registering with that office no later than June 1. It is important to note that most accommodations can be met in our campus housing options and this approval is separate from academic accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am looking for information about New Student Orientation (NSO).

Please visit the New Student Orientation (NSO) website for more details and frequently asked questions!

What's my network ID?

Your network ID is used to sign your contract and is the same as your Wavenet username, in all lowercase letters.

Will students be able to select their roommates?

Yes, students will be able to create a roommate group of up to four people.

What if I do not have a roommate picked out?

That's fine! You'll be asked a series of questions about your lifestyle preferences and our software will recommend compatible roommates for you to choose from. You can message other students to ask whether they'd like to room with you. You can also choose not to link up with anyone and we will place you according to your lifestyle preferences.

Can I choose my suite mates or a specific residence hall?

No, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests to be placed in a certain hall. However, students may create roommate groups of up to four people (two pairs of roommates) that will live in the same suite. The deadline to create a roommate group is June 16.

What if I cannot access the portal?

Please send an email to housing@pepperdine.edu with your name, CWID, and a description or screenshot of the error message you have received. We will respond to emails as quickly as possible in the order that they are received. You can also call us at 310-506-7586 during business hours.

How much does housing cost?

Please view the rates for our various living areas.

Do I have to live on campus?

Yes, all new and transfer students are required to live on campus per the University Residency Requirement.

I'm required to live on campus. How can I apply to be exempt from this policy?

Students and families may request an exemption from the first-year/sophomore requirement by completing an exemption request.

How do I select a meal plan?

First-year students are required to purchase the standard meal plan and have the option to upgrade to a larger meal plan. Students will select a meal plan after they are officially placed in housing. New students who do not select a meal plan will be automatically enrolled in Meal Plan E. 

What meal plan options are available?

For all meal plan options, please visit our Meal Plan Rates webpage.

Are suite-style houses air-conditioned? Can I bring an air conditioner?

The suite-style houses are not air-conditioned. Residents are not allowed to install air conditioners of any kind. Portable fans are allowed as long as the window screen remains in the window. Nothing can extend from the window or the building.

What am I allowed to put on the walls of my room?

You may hang items on your walls by using small nails, tacks, or putty only. No screws or bolts are allowed. Do not hang items from your ceiling. TV or surfboard mounts are not allowed. Surfboards may be stored in the common living area. For more information, please visit our Student Policies website.

Can I mount my TV to the wall?

No. TV mounts, large screws, nails, or bolts are not allowed.

We are pleased to offer a list of University-approved services on our HRL On-Campus Vendors page. 

For information regarding asbestos in the residence halls and the measures taken to ensure the safety of our community, please read this notification.