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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. 

In light of the new Department of Homeland Security rule on arrival ane extension of stay, ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ has updated its move-in guidelines for international undergraduate students who have a Fall 2026 contract and who may wish to adjust their travel and campus arrival plans. For more information about move-in options, see the International Student Arrival section below. 

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 available only to students who have a 2026-27 academic year housing contract and need to arrive on 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 housing fee is charged for all Early Arrivals with a limited exception for returning international undergraduates between September 13 and September 18.

Students seeking Early Arrival housing must apply by completing the online form in the  during the following time periods: 

• Returning 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 housing  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 unless they wish to move in earlier. 

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.

Returning students arriving prior to September 18 can purchase meals for $55 per day. To purchase meals, please complete  no later than August 21 at 11:59 p.m. Academic year meal plans begin September 18.  

New international students arriving prior to September 13 can purchase meals for $55 per day. To purchase meals, please complete  no later than 8/21 at 11:59 p.m. International Wildcat Welcome meal plans begin on September 13. 

New students arriving prior to September 15 can purchase meals for $55 per day. To purchase meals, please complete  no later than August 21 at 11:59 a.m. Wildcat Welcome meal plans begin at lunch on September 15 

Hours of operation and open locations can be found   

If you are part of a sponsored program, please refer ro 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. 

Returning undergraduate students

All returning undergraduate students are permitted to move in to University housing beginning at 8 a.m. September 18. International students who wish to move in earlier should submit an Early Arrival request by 11:59 p.m. August 21. The earliest arrival option is 8 a.m. September 9.

If the request is approved, Early Arrivals will not be charged a housing fee for the nights of September 13 through September 18, though a dining fee of $55 per day will apply if the meal plan is selected. University financial aid may be applied to this cost for eligible students.

For Early Arrivals that begin before September 13, students will be charged $50 per night for housing through September 12, plus an additional $55 daily fee if the optional meal plan is selected. University financial aid cannot be applied to the housing and dining fees on these dates.

First-year and transfer undergraduate students

First-year and transfer international undergraduate students should arrive on campus September. 13 for International Wildcat Welcome. Students who wish to move in to University housing earlier than September 13 should submit an Early Arrival request to Residential Services between 9 a.m. August 10 and 11:59 p.m. August 21. The earliest arrival option is 8 a.m. September. 9. If the request is approved, students will be charged $50 per night for housing through September 12, plus an additional $55 daily fee if the optional meal plan is selected. University financial aid cannot be applied to the housing and dining fees for arrival before September 13.

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

International students with questions about arriving prior to September 9 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).