University Housing

YSU owns and operates four residence halls and one small apartment building. The YSU Housing & Residence Life team believes that living on campus in one of our four residence halls provides students with a fuller college experience. Whether you are an out-of-town or a local student, you will find a residential campus community that fosters academic success and personal growth.  

What sets our halls apart is the supportive network our staffing structure provides students to flourish independently during their transition to college life. Our team of full-time live-in professional staff, Graduate Assistants, and Resident Assistants work together to provide guidance for our communities to develop around the values of diversity and inclusion, wellness, and academics. Staff have regular conversations with residents regarding their overall goals for the semester, consistently help residents navigate campus and academic culture and plan a variety of events to help residents feel safe and included in the residential and YSU community.

The halls provide a more structured living environment, with procedures and regulations addressing community issues including noise, safety, guests, and security. Buildings feature security cameras in public areas, 24-hour staffed desks, and locking exterior doors that require specific access cards for all residents. On-campus living is a good place to get to know many students in a short period of time. Sharing bathrooms, lounge space, and corridors with a group means you can't help but make friends quickly. Being on campus also means that classes, the library, the student center, and the wellness center are never very far away.

One perk of living in University Housing is that students can partake in an extension of the Penguin Tuition Promise, through which they “lock in” a housing rate their first year. This rate, which includes the cost of room and board (rent, utilities, internet, and meals), will stay constant for up to four years. More information about our rates, contract, amenities, and meal plans can be found on our website. https://ysu.edu/housing-and-residence-life/contractrates

Once a student has been accepted to YSU, they can submit a housing application*. The application costs $35.00 and includes the cost of a background check. As part of the application, students can self-select their building, room, and roommate.

*Note: Students must also pay a $250 housing prepayment at the conclusion of the application.  This prepayment will be added as a credit to a student’s bill at the beginning of fall semester. Please note, a $250 housing prepayment is not required as part of the summer application process.  

About our halls

  • Kilcawley House, located on University Plaza, is a traditional residence hall conveniently connected to the student union.
  • Lyden House and Cafaro House, located on Madison Avenue, are both traditional residence halls and located in close proximity to the dining hall.
  • Wick House located on Wick Avenue, is a small historic home that was converted into a residence hall. This community houses a smaller upper-class community.
  • Weller House also located on Wick Avenue, is a small building with 16 efficiency apartments that is typically used for graduate and family housing.

UNIVERSITY COURTYARD APARTMENTS

In 2011, YSU took on ownership of the University Courtyard Apartments. The apartments are run by a contracted company called RISE management, who oversee all operations of the building including billing, contracts, communication with students, and more. These two apartment buildings are located in the Wick Oval area, just minutes away from the center of campus and adjacent to Bliss Hall. The buildings include two and four bedroom units, and each apartment is equipped with an upgraded appliance package that includes a stainless steel full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher. The rent is all-inclusive, which means the residents pay one amount for everything including all utilities, Wi-Fi, high-speed internet access and basic cable TV, and charges are applied to the student’s University bill, so all financial aid can be applied directly towards rent costs.

CHRISTMAN DINING COMMONS

Christman Dining Commons, commonly referred to as “Christman,” is located adjacent to both Lyden House and Cafaro House. Seating 300 people at a time, the staff can serve up to 600 people per meal period. Most days, Christman hosts three traditional meal times (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), while on some nights they also feature a “late-night” option.

Christman offers a wide variety of menu options to campus residents, from self-serve cold foods, beverages, and snack selections to staff-served grille specialties and hot entrees. Students can build their own stir-fry daily, while those with food allergies or dietary restrictions can work directly with the chef on meals that meet their needs.

Students living in Kilcawley, Lyden, Cafaro, and Wick Houses are all required to have a meal plan, which is included in their room and board charges. Each meal plan consists of three types of funds: meal swipes for use at Christman, Flex Dollars for use at any other campus dining location, and Pete’s Points to be used at any other campus dining location, as well as some off-campus dining locations with whom we partner.

Commuter students, those living in nearby apartments, staff, and faculty are also welcome to purchase meal plans, visit Christman Dining Common, or visit any of the other many campus dining options. Daily meal rates, menu options, and more can be found on our website.
 


University Housing Partners

In addition to the University Courtyards Apartments, YSU has strong relationships with the managers of other local apartment buildings that primarily serve YSU students. If you are interested in other housing options than those listed above, you can find more information about some of these options on our website.