Frequently Asked Questions
The Office of Residence Life and Housing Administration is committed to helping you succeed and navigate CNU as you establish a home away from home!
New students will be prompted to log in to the Admitted Student System to complete the housing module. After reviewing the housing module, new students will apply for on-campus housing through the Housing Portal. On-campus housing is guaranteed for first-, second-, and third-year students.
Students who meet certain criteria may request to be exempt from the University’s Housing Guarantee during their first, second, and third years at CNU. Exemptions from the residency guarantee are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Transfer students are not required to live on campus, but may choose to live on campus based on the availability of vacant spaces.
Students who have left the university or live off campus and wish to return to on-campus housing can apply for housing, but priority will be given to incoming students and students currently living on campus.
The room and board rates are set in late Spring by the Board of Visitors. Room rates vary depending on the assigned residence hall. Board rates will also vary depending on the dining plan you select or are assigned.
Beginning Fall 2025, all first-year students are required to purchase the Unlimited meal plan for their first semester living on campus.
New first-year students can view room assignments via CNU Live in July for the fall semester and December/January for the spring semester.
Transfer students will learn their housing assignment on a rolling basis, depending on when the housing contract is submitted.
New incoming first-year students will be assigned a room in either Potomac River Hall North, Santoro Hall, or York River Hall.
While transfer students are not required to live on campus, they are encouraged to live on campus. Transfer students classified as upper-level students may live in James River Hall, Rappahannock River Hall, CNU Apartments, or CNU Village, depending on availability.
Transfer students classified as second-year students (and under the age of 21) may be placed in Warwick River Hall, James River Hall, or Potomac River Hall South, depending on availability.
You may request a specific roommate, and we will do our best to honor those requests.
Roommates and suitemates will discuss and sign a roommate agreement with guidance from their assigned resident assistant. The document discusses lifestyle habits and how to successfully live and learn together in a shared space.
During the spring semester of your first year on campus, you will have the opportunity to participate in housing selection. During housing selection, you will form your own roommate groups and select your housing and dining for the following academic year.
In order to loft your bed, you must complete a bed loft request form on the Housing Portal. Maintenance will install lofts after move-in. There are a limited number of loft kits available, and requests are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a $150.00 charge per loft kit. Starting Spring 2027, the cost of loft kits will be $200.00 per kit. Students may not use their own lofting kits.
First-year residence halls are suite-style units featuring primarily two-person bedrooms with an attached bathroom that is connected to another double room. Some first-year students are housed in suites that also include a common room that is shared by four students.
First-, second-, and third-year students are expected to live on campus and therefore guaranteed housing. Fourth-year students are not guaranteed housing and are not expected to live on campus, but can request on-campus housing during the housing selection process.
Students who transfer into CNU are not required to live on campus and may be assigned housing during their time at CNU based on space availability.
Students living on campus or participating in a study abroad program during the spring semester will have access to participate in housing selection. Selection starts in February, and there are multiple phases from contract signing and forming roommate groups to selecting rooms and dining plans. Information on room selection is available on the Housing Portal.
Yes, summer housing options are available for CNU students taking classes, in research programs, or approved internships. Learn more about Summer Housing at Christopher Newport University.
Summer housing options are also available for outside groups through Conference and Event Services.
Amenities will vary across campus, depending on their assigned residence hall, if the student is assigned a suite or an apartment. Generally, the following are provided:
- Access to laundry room, or in-unit laundry
- Wireless high-speed internet
- Desk
- Bed
- Desk Chair
- Twin XL bedframe and mattress
- Wardrobe with built-in dressers, or a wardrobe and dresser, or a built-in closet with additional dressers
Your campus mailing address will be as follows:
Your Name
1000 University Place
Student Union
Mailbox No.
Newport News, Virginia 23606
Students’ legal names must be used on all mail and packages to ensure timely delivery.
You will be assigned a mailbox number prior to your arrival on campus and will keep the same mailbox as long as you live on campus. You can pick up your mailbox key at the student mailroom on the second floor of the David Student Union.
Typically, fall semester room changes can be made after the first two or three weeks of classes until the end of October. Spring semester room changes can be made after the first two or three weeks of classes until the end of February. Room change requests may be subject to a $50.00 room change fee assessed to the student’s account.
Submit a completed dining plan agreement form to reslife@cnu.edu from your University email address, or in person at the Office of Residence Life and Housing Administration. The deadline to change your dining plan is by 9 a.m. Friday of the first week of classes each semester.
Reasonable housing accommodations are available for students who have formally registered their disability with the University. Students will work with staff in Accessibility and Care Team Support for housing accommodations.
Residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms/apartments and suite/private bathrooms. Housekeeping maintains the public areas within a residence hall, such as hallways, stairwells, lounges, public restrooms, and laundry rooms.
All personal trash must be tied up in trash bags and put in public indoor trash rooms or taken directly to an outside dumpster.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits to supplement the purchase of food. Eligibility for SNAP is based on financial and nonfinancial criteria, and students may be eligible if they meet certain criteria.
A student who is enrolled at least half-time at Christopher Newport and is actively participating in the Federal Work Study Program during the regular school year may be eligible to apply for SNAP benefits.
Eligible students can use SNAP benefits to buy food through an EBT card (which can be used like a debit card at qualifying retailers). SNAP can be used to buy food at supermarkets, local grocery stores, corner stores, farmer’s markets, and online.
Check your eligibility and apply:
- Online at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/
- By phone at 1-855-635-4370
- In person at the local department of social services (Newport News Department of Human Services, 6060 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA 23605)
In-person and virtual tours are available through the Office of Admission. Tours are also available during Setting Sail and Admission events!
New incoming first-year students are assigned with consideration of any mutually requested roommates and/or a few matching questions. Continuing students form roommate groups during housing selection each spring and select their preferred housing units.
When you receive your housing assignment through your CNU email, you will receive the name of your roommate and their contact information.