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The official housing move-in date for new first-year and transfer students is Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Returning students can move in any time after Friday, September 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. 

All new and returning international students may move in beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026. 

In some cases, it may be necessary for students to move on campus prior to the official move in dates. The Early Arrival program is only available to students who have a 2026-2027 academic year housing contract and need to return to campus prior to the approved move in dates and no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on September 9, 2026.  Students in Pre-Fall Arrival programs living in fraternity or sorority houses or living off-campus are not eligible to stay in the residence halls or residential colleges past 12:00 p.m. (noon) on September 8, 2026. 

Any student may submit a request for an Early Arrival. No Early Arrival will be approved to move in earlier than 8:00 a.m. on September 9, 2026. A fee is charged for all Early Arrivals except international students arriving on or after September 13, 2026.

Students seeking Early Arrival housing, except new international students registered for International Wildcat Welcome, must apply by completing the online form in the  during the following time periods: 

• Returning Domestic and International Students
  • The form is open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 27 through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 21
• New Students
  • The form is open at 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 10 through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 21

Those who are approved will be charged $50 per night until the start of their academic year housing contract - Tuesday, September 15, 2026 for new students and Friday, September 18, 2026 for returning students. Students who arrive early without prior approval or who submit a request after August 21 will be charged $100 per night. Eligible students can seek a fee waiver via the SES One Form.  The SES One Form for early arrivals will not open until September 1, 2026.

International students arriving on or after September 13, 2026, will not incur early arrival charges. 

Any student who desires Early Arrival housing must apply by completing an online form in the . Requests will be accepted from returning students beginning July 27 at 9:00 a.m. and from new students beginning August 10, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. The deadline to apply for Early Arrival housing is August 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. All early arrival requests must be submitted to Residential Services and be approved before any student can move on campus.Please do not make plans to arrive early unless you have been approved by Residential Services staff. Only Residential Services staff may approval early arrival housing. 

New international students who are registered for International Wildcat Welcome are approved to move in on September 13 and do not need to complete the online early arrival form. 

The earliest time students may move into fall assignments as early arrival is 8:00 a.m. on September 9, 2026. The early arrival date for each student will vary based on the requested move in date submitted through the early arrival form in the Housing Portal.  

Residential students who have completed the 2026 summer session and desire to remain on campus through when academic year housing is available (Tuesday, September 8, 2026) may sign up for Intersession Housing through the Summer Housing Application on the . This program allows current residential students to remain on campus at a rate of $50/night. Students participating in this program may be relocated to a temporary assignment during the intersession period, between August 29 and September 8, 2026.

Food options for residential students participating in the Early Arrival program will be listed on the . The academic year meal plan program is not available during the Early Arrival program. Any food options during the Early Arrival program will be on a cash basis in the retail outlets on campus. Students are strongly encouraged to use when buying food on campus. If you are part of a Special Interest Group, please refer to your program’s leadership about food options. 

New first year and transfer residential students will have their meal plan begin at lunch on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The meal plan program for the remainder of residential students will begin at lunch on Friday, September 18, 2026. 

All international students may move in on September 13, 2026, at no additional cost. 

• New international students who are registered for International Wildcat Welcome do not need to submit the early arrival form if they plan to arrive on September 13. 
  • Be sure to notify and register with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. OISS will provide Residential Services with a list of international students (F-1/J-1 visa holders) who are approved for early arrival. 
• Returning international students must submit an early arrival application (see above).

International students arriving early will need to check in at their Area Desks. 

International students with questions about arriving prior to September 9, 2026, should email us at housing@northwerstern.edu. 

If you meet the criteria to participate in the Early Arrival Program (you have a fall contract, and you were approved by your advisor) and your fall room is available when you arrive, you are permitted to store your items. The cost for storage is the same as if you were staying in your room ($50 per night). Rooms are not available prior to the dates listed for new and returning students. 

We recognize that on occasion some students will arrive before their approved check-in date and time. If a student arrives without any previous approval, staff will attempt to assign them to their fall room if possible. If not, staff will attempt to assign them to a temporary space. The cost to stay on campus is 2x the published early arrival rate. For example if the published rate for early arrival is $50/night, the rate for a student who does not have prior permission would be $100/night ($50/night x 2) for as many nights before the posted regular arrival dates (September 15, 2026, for new students and September 18, 2026, for returning students).