Housing Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for housing for the 2024–2025 academic year will be available beginning March 1, 2024. For best consideration, please apply prior to May 15, 2024. Housing offers will go out in June.

The information below provides general frequently asked questions about the housing program.

Apartment & Roommate Information

Applying

How do I apply for housing?

The application for housing for the 2024–2025 academic year is live.

How do you decide who receives a housing offer?
The Office of Housing & Residential Education considers a number of factors when assigning housing. Most important, traditional first-year students are given priority over all other applicants. Upperclass students, transfer students, exchange students and all other applicants will only be considered after all traditional first-year applicants have been housed.

Another important factor is an applicant’s permanent address. If the Office of Residential Life and Housing is unable to offer housing to all first-year applicants, the office will then consider home addresses and local students’ ability to commute to campus. Local students with an ability commute may be placed on the wait list, so that students traveling a greater distance may be offered housing. Historically, nearly all first-year applicants are offered housing each year, but Cooper Union DOES NOT guarantee housing to any applicants.

Does Cooper Union guarantee housing to first-year students?
No, unfortunately, Cooper Union is not able to guarantee housing to any students, including first-year students.

Does Cooper Union require first-year students to live in the Residence Hall?
No, there is not a residency requirement for students, nor is there a housing guarantee for any students. If students wish to commute or secure an off-campus apartment, they are free to do so.

Do early decision students receive priority over other applicants?
Early decision students are considered in the same pool as all other applicants.

When will I find out if I have been offered housing?
For best consideration, please apply for Housing applications prior to May 15, 2024. The first round of housing offers will go out in June. Any student that does not respond by the deadline in their offer letter will have their space released to a student on the waitlist. Waitlist spaces will be offered on a rolling basis, as spaces become available.

What happens if I’m placed on the wait list?
Applicants who are placed on the wait list have two options: They may choose to wait and see if any further spaces become available in the Residence Hall, or they may begin to pursue other housing options. It is important to note that Cooper Union DOES NOT guarantee housing to any students. That being said, it is common for at least a few students initially placed on the wait list to ultimately receive housing. All wait-listed students are encouraged to email the Office of Residential Life (reslife@cooper.edu) to discuss their place on the wait list.

Are there any single bedrooms available?
Yes, the Residence Hall has single bedrooms, but they are incredibly limited. There are approximately ten single bedrooms available. Students should assume they will be placed in a double bedroom, as the vast majority of students will be.

Can I live in the Residence Hall after my first year?
All students are welcome to apply for housing, but upperclass students will not be considered until all first-year applicants have been housed. Students should assume that on-campus housing will not be available after their first year.

What do I do if I require a special housing accommodation?
If you require special accommodations, you are required to note that information on your housing application.

Students with disabilities seeking any accommodations, modifications or auxiliary aids or services regarding any aspect of the full Cooper Union experience—including anything pertaining uniquely to one of the Cooper Union’s distinct schools—should contact the Director of Student Care and Support for assistance. Detailed information about Cooper Union's disability support services can be found here.

The Cooper Union does not make room assignments based on religion. The Cooper Union does, however, attempt to provide reasonable accommodations, based on students' sincerely held religious beliefs. If you have any specific housing needs, based on a sincerely held religious belief, please note that information on the housing application. All requests will be reviewed by the Office of Housing & Residential Education. Please note that all requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and are dependent on housing availability.

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Apartment & Roommate Information

What types of housing are available at Cooper Union?
The Cooper Union Residence Hall offers apartment-style housing. Each apartment is composed of a kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. A apartments have one single bedroom and one double bedroom; B apartments have two double bedrooms; C apartments have one single bedroom and two double bedrooms; and D apartments have two double bedrooms.

How big are the apartments?
Each of the four apartment layouts (A, B, C and D) is unique. Residence Hall floor plans can be found here.

What furniture/fixtures are provided by Cooper Union?
Each apartment comes equipped with the following furniture:

Bedroom – desk, bookshelves, desk chair, standing wardrobe, bed frame and extra-long twin mattress for each resident (all beds in double rooms are bunkbeds)
Kitchen – dining table, chairs (one for each resident), cabinets, refrigerator, sink, stove and microwave
Bathroom – shower, sink, mirror and toilet

What size are the mattresses? Do I need to bring my own linens?
Each student is supplied with a bed frame and an extra-long twin mattress. Students are required to purchase their own bed linens and pillows, as well as any blankets or comforters they may require.

When do I find out who my roommates are?
Roommate contact information is shared in July. Since some applicants may decline their housing offer, roommate assignments do sometimes change. If any changes occur, roommates will be provided with updated information ASAP.

How are roommates assigned? Can I request specific roommates?
Roommates are assigned based on the answers provided in the housing application. Traits such as study habits, interests, major, sleep schedule and guest preferences are all considered. Though the Office Residential Life does not guarantee that specific roommate requests will be honored, if a specific roommate is requested, the office will strongly consider that request when completing assignments. Specific roommate requests can be made on the housing application.

What if I do not get along with my roommate, or I am otherwise unhappy with my room assignment?
Residential Life staff is present to help navigate difficult roommate situations. Typically, the first step is to hold a meeting between roommates and their RA. If problems persist, a meeting will be scheduled with a professional staff member from the Office of Residential Life. It is important to note that the entire Residence Hall is filled each year. There are not any extra apartments held for possible roommate conflicts, so students must be willing to engage in meaningful dialogue and must be open to cooperation and compromise.

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Billing & Payments

How much does housing cost?
For the 2024–2025 Academic Year, the single-bedroom rate is $16,445 and the double-bedroom rate is $15,090. If you have any questions regarding scholarships, grants, etc. as they may apply to housing costs, you should contact the Office of Financial Aid.

How do I pay the housing deposit and bills?

Students will be able to pay the housing deposit, via credit card, using an online portal. When housing offers are made, the link to the online portal will be shared. Students also have the option to pay the deposit and housing bills by mailing a check to The Cooper Union, P.O. Box 22422, New York, NY 10087-2422. All questions about billing should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts at bursar@cooper.edu.

When are housing bills issued?
The first housing bill will be mailed by early July, with a due date of August 1st. Cooper offers a four-month semesterly payment plan, with payments due August 1, September 1, October 1 and November 1 for the Fall semester and January 1, February 1, March 1 and April 1 for the Spring semester. Bill payments can be paid by electronic check via Student Self-Service or by mail through the Office of Student Accounts. Mailed checks should be addressed to The Cooper Union, P.O. Box 22422, New York, NY 10087-2422.

Students will receive instructions for using their Student Self Service account during Orientation and should regularly monitor their account to ensure that payments are made according to the agreed-upon payment schedule. If you wish to learn about Student Self-Service before Orientation, instructions can be found here. All questions about billing should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts at bursar@cooper.edu.

What is the housing deposit?
Each resident is required to make a $500 housing deposit payment to finalize their acceptance of the housing offer. Please do not make any housing deposit payments prior to receiving a housing offer. The housing deposit will be credited toward the fall semester housing fee balance. Please refer to individual housing offers for questions regarding the the refund and cancellation schedule.

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Move In & Move Out

What are the move-in and move-out dates?
Official move-in and move-out dates will be included on the Student Housing Affiliation Occupancy Agreement. Before signing the agreement, all students should carefully read the entire document.

Can I move in early? Can I move out late?
No, the published move-in and move-out dates are firm. Cooper Union runs a summer residence program and there is a limited amount of time to prepare the building for residents, before and after the summer program. It is vital that all residents respect the stated move-in and move-out dates.

Can I send packages to the Residence Hall before the move-in date?
No, we are not able to accept packages before the stated move-in date. The Residence Hall does not have the space required to hold packages for residents that have yet to arrive. If you need to mail items to yourself, please schedule the delivery to arrive on or after the move-in date. All items received prior to move-in day will be returned to the sender.

Can I stay in the Residence Hall during Winter Recess?
During the Winter Recess, the Residence Hall is closed to all residents. Winter Recess is the only scheduled time during the Housing Agreement Period that residents are required to vacate the building. Though residents themselves are required to vacate during the Winter Recess, residents are free to leave their personal belongings in their apartment. Winter Recess details are included on the cover page of the Student Housing Affiliation Occupancy Agreement.

Can I leave personal belongings in my apartment during breaks?
Yes. For the duration of the Housing Agreement period, all personal belongings may be left in the Residence Hall. Please note that while personal belongings may remain in the Residence Hall for the entire Housing Agreement period, all residents are required to vacate the Residence Hall during the Winter Recess.

What items should I bring to the Residence Hall?
Residence Hall apartments come equipped with basic furniture. Residents are required to provide most non-furniture items. To avoid redundant purchases, roommates should communicate before move-in day and coordinate purchases. Items that residents need to supply are listed below, broken down by room:
Bedroom – bed linens, pillows, blanket/comforter, clothes hangers
Kitchen – silverware, pots and pans, plates, bowls, cups, cleaning supplies
Bathroom – shower curtain, toilet paper, toiletries, cleaning supplies

What items are not allowed in the Residence Hall?
There are a number of items that are not permitted in the Residence Hall. Below is a list of some prohibited items. If these items are found in an apartment, they will be confiscated and the owner will face disciplinary action.

Candles and incense	Halogen lamps
Extension cords	Charcoal / propane grills
Non-university furniture	Hot plates with exposed coils
Personal microwaves / refrigerators	Space heaters
Weapons, ammunition and fireworks	Alcohol (unless you are over 21 years of age)
Illegally-obtained signs	Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia
Pets (unless properly cleared as a service animal or ESA)	Empty alcohol containers serving a decorative purpose
Most appliances with exposed heating elements	Decorative string / holiday lights

The Office Residential Life strongly encourages residents to purchase heat-producing appliances (e.g. iron, curling iron, etc.) that have an automatic shut-off feature.

Certain art supplies are not permitted in the Residence Hall. The list of prohibited art supplies includes fixatives, spray paint, rubber cement, encaustic paint, oil paint, paint thinners, turpentine, turpenoid, hot plates, polymer clays and chemical printmaking / photography materials. Art students will receive a locker in the Foundation Building, where these materials can be stored. Residents should not purchase these items until they receive their locker assignment.

Additionally, we discourage residents from bringing bicycles, large screen televisions or large stereos, since there is not adequate space in the apartments. We also advise students to not bring drafting tables or drawing boards until after they have lived in the space for a few weeks.

Am I allowed to bring my own furniture? Can I “store” University furniture that I do not want?
No. Residents are not permitted to bring outside furniture. Apartments come furnished with all of the necessary furniture. Additional furniture would create clutter and cramped spaces and, possibly, fire safety issues. Further, all University-issued furniture must remain in the appropriate apartment. Residents are not permitted to remove University-issued furniture from their space.

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Amenities

Does the Residence Hall have wifi?
Yes, the entire Residence Hall is covered by Cooper Union wifi. Students are prohibited from bringing their own routers. If you have any trouble accessing the wifi or your Cooper Union email accounts, please visit https://cooper.edu/about/information-technology/helpdesk-and-support for assistance.

Does the Residence Hall have cable television?
The Residence Hall is cable-ready, but cable television is not included in the cost of housing. If a student wishes to have cable television, they must contact Spectrum to set up an account and schedule the installation. There is cable television available in the Menschel Room student lounge.

Is there a housekeeping service?
No. While there is an in-house maintenance staff that cleans all public areas, and is available for repairs, students are responsible for cleaning their apartments. The Residential Life staff completes regular health and safety inspections to ensure that all apartments are being kept in an acceptable condition.

Does the Residence Hall have a laundry room? What is the cost of the machines?
Yes, the Residence Hall has an in-house laundry room. The fourth floor contains a laundry room that is equipped with four washing machines and four dyers. Wash cycles last approximately 30 minutes and cost $1.50. Dry cycles last approximately 45 minutes and also cost $1.50.

Does the Residence Hall have heat and/or air conditioning?
Yes, the Residence Hall is equipped with a heat and air conditioning system. During the appropriate season, heat or air conditioning is available. Heat and air conditioning controls are available in each apartment. Roommates will need to communicate and work together to agree upon an acceptable apartment temperature.

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General Information

How do I contact the Office of Residential Life?
The Cooper Union Office of Residential Life can be reached at reslife@cooper.edu or 212-353-4099.

How many students live in the Residence Hall?
The Residence Hall is composed of 37 apartments and approximately 170 beds. The building is staffed by 8 Resident Assistants, leaving approximately 162 beds for first-year students.

Does Cooper Union have a meal plan?
No, Cooper Union does not have a meal plan or on-campus cafeteria. There is a café, located on the fourth floor of 41 Cooper Square, but it is not a full cafeteria. Students are required to prepare their own food. Each apartment comes equipped with a stove and microwave for food preparation.

Where are the closest grocery stores?
There are multiple grocery stores, bodegas and small markets within walking distance of the Residence Hall. Trader Joe's, Westside Market and two Whole Foods Markets are all located within 5-10 blocks of the building.

What is the Residence Hall mailing address?
The Residence Hall is located at 29 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10003. Residents must include their name and apartment number in their address. For example, if Jane Doe lived in apartment 2A, her address would be as follows:

     Jane Doe
     29 3rd Avenue Apt. 2A
     New York, NY 10003

How does mail work in the Residence Hall? Am I able to receive letters and packages?
The Office of Residential Life sorts the mail on a daily basis. The Residence Hall lobby is equipped with a mailbox for each apartment and letters are sorted into these mailboxes. Packages, and other mail too large to fit in the mailboxes, may be retrieved from the Residence Hall security desk. Residents are required to provide a valid form of ID to sign for packages.

Am I allowed to have guests?
Yes, residents are allowed both daytime and overnight guests. There are rules that outline the number of guests residents are allowed to have at one time, and for a given seven-day period, but the Office of Housing & Residential Education does believe residents are adults and should be able to host guests. To read the full Guest Policy, please refer to the Guide to Residential Living.

What do I do if I have an emergency?
In the event of an emergency, residents should contact the Residence Hall security guard. Security can be reached by visiting the lobby security desk, or by calling 212-353-4050. There is a security guard stationed in the Residence Hall lobby at all times and that guard has contact information for both exterior emergency services, as well as the 24/7 Residence Hall emergency response team. For a medical emergency that requires immediate professional attention, residents should first call 911 and then contact the security desk.

How do I report a maintenance issue?
The Residence Hall is staffed by an in-house maintenance crew that quickly responds to all maintenance requests. Maintenance requests should be submitted via email to the maintenance supervisor (macevedo@ug2.com) and copied to reslife@cooper.edu, and should include the apartment number and a clear description of the issue. If students have a maintenance emergency, they should contact the security desk or housing staff immediately.

Are there any Cooper Union staff members that live in the Residence Hall?
Yes, the Residence Hall has both live-in student staff and professional staff. A number of student staff members, i.e. Resident Assistants, live and work in the Residence Hall. These RAs are upperclass students that are present to help residents and to create a safe and enjoyable residential community. The Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students and Student Life Coordinators also live and work in the Residence Hall. All of these staff members are part of a 24/7 emergency response team.

How do I dispose of trash and recyclables?
There is a trash room located on each floor of the Residence Hall. Each trash room contains a large standing bin for glass, metal and plastic recycling; shelves for paper and cardboard recycling; and a trash chute for waste.

What happens if I lose my key or lock myself out of my apartment?
Students' Cooper Union ID cards function as the apartment door keys. Building Security maintains lockout keys that can be borrowed temporarily if a student is locked out.

Where can I learn more about residential policies and procedures?
For in-depth information on all residential policies and procedures, please see the Guide to Residential Living.

Should I purchase renter’s insurance?
All residents should check with a parent or legal guardian to see what coverage they have, if any, as an on-campus housing student. If no coverage exists, students should consider purchasing renter’s insurance. Cooper Union’s insurance only covers damage to Cooper Union property.

Where is the Residence Hall located in relation to Cooper Union’s academic buildings?
The Residence Hall is located within two blocks of both academic buildings, 41 Cooper Square and the Foundation Building. The Residence Hall’s address is 29 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10003.

Does the Residence Hall have a curfew?
No. All residents have the ability to enter and exit the Residence Hall 24 hours a day.

How do I find an off-campus apartment?
Every spring semester, the Office Residential Life leads programs focused on securing an apartment in New York City. There is a program aimed at guardians, as well as programs aimed at current students. These programs discuss topics such as apartment searching, lease signing, guarantors and much more. Outside of these yearly programs, any students or guardians with questions about off-campus housing are encouraged to contact the Office of Residential Life at 212-353-4099.

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