Wake Forest has a six-semester residency requirement, subject to housing availability. 

  • Students are expected to fulfill the residency requirement consecutively, barring time away from the University (e.g. Continuous Enrollment Status-CES, withdrawal, etc.)
  • Students living in University housing or studying abroad during the fall or spring semester earn a housing credit as of the last day to drop a full-term class each semester. 
  • Students who are away from the University (e.g. CES, withdrawal) as of the last day to drop a full-term class for the semester do not earn a housing credit for that semester. 
  • Students earn a housing credit if they live on campus for BOTH summer sessions during the same summer. Learn more about the Summer Session on the College’s website. 
  • Transfer students will receive a housing credit for each fall or spring semester completed at full-time status at another institution. Residence Life and Housing will work with the Office of the University Registrar on these evaluations. 

Students may request an exception to the residency requirement by submitting a request via the Housing Portal, should they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Living with a Parent/Guardian at their permanent residence within 50 driving miles of the Reynolda campus
    • Living with a parent or guardian will impact a student's cost of attendance, and students receiving financial aid should follow up with Student Financial Aid to determine the impact on financial aid eligibility.   
  • Living with and having parental responsibilities for a minor child within 50 driving miles of the Reynolda campus
  • Married and living with their spouse within 50 driving miles of the Reynolda campus
  • 24 years of age or older
  • Financially independent, as determined by Student Financial Aid

The University strives to provide on-campus housing for residential students who have fulfilled the residency requirement and desire to continue living on campus, subject to housing availability. 

Students who have been released from the residency requirement may request a return to housing; these requests will be reviewed based on availability.

For more information about Residence Life and Housing, including their processes and policies, please visit their website at housing.wfu.edu.

Off-Campus Housing

Students who have earned four housing credits and wish to be released from the University’s residency requirement early may enter the Off-Campus Lottery. This indicates a desire to live off campus before fulfilling the residency requirement. As Residence Life and Housing finalizes the number of students able to live on campus, they will use a random selection process to release the appropriate number of students.

Students who have earned six housing credits will have the opportunity to declare their housing intent for future academic years as a part of the University's housing selection process. Students who do not declare an intent will be coded as off-campus. 

For more information on the lottery process and other policies related to living off-campus, please visit Residence Life and Housing's Off-Campus Housing page.

Off-Campus Address Registration and Orientation

Students must lease from a registered landlord; a listing of registered landlords can be found in the Housing Portal.

Students approved to live off-campus must register their residential address and complete an online orientation course, thereby declaring their compliance with the University’s off-campus expectations. Additionally, if a student changes residences, they must re-register their address and verify that the new residence is registered. 

City of Winston-Salem ordinances state that no more than four (4) individuals who are not related by blood, adoption, or marriage may live together in a single-family dwelling. Residence Life and Housing will monitor the number of students registered in each single-family dwelling and will, at no time, grant permission to any individual(s) to exceed the city ordinance.