Residence Life Advantage

Winthrop students are required to live on campus for their first two years. Residential students at Winthrop University tend to have higher grades, are more involved on campus, are more likely to make significant connections with their peers, faculty and staff, and graduate with a four-year degree! Residential living is an essential component of the Winthrop experience that focuses on creating community, building resiliency, and providing a safe environment for students. Residential students have the opportunity to live with people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, which plays an educational role both in and out of the classroom.

There are many benefits to living on campus, however exceptions can be made for students who are married, post-traditional, veterans, or for those who still live with their parents or guardians within a 50 mile radius of the university. Exemption forms may be found on the Residence Life website.

Winthrop University has five residence halls. There are a variety of halls to fit any lifestyle. Descriptions may be found by visiting www.winthrop.edu/reslife and clicking on Residence Halls. While the style of living in the residence halls varies, all have air conditioning, free WiFi, Eagle Cinema On Demand (Winthrop’s free movie streaming site), free laundry and kitchen facilities.

Winthrop University offers a variety of dining options available to students. More information may be found by visiting www.winthrop.edu/dining.

Sure, you can have visitors; but they are required to follow the residence hall guest policy, which is available on our website under Housing Forms and Information. All guests must be signed in at the hall office and escorted at all times by their host. Hosts are responsible for the behavior of their guests.

The residence hall doors are locked 24/7. Students are free to come and go from their residence hall when they choose. Student Office Hosts provide information and services to residents. All residence halls have outside door card access for after hours entrances. Winthrop University also has police officers commissioned by the State of South Carolina who patrol the campus 24 hours a day.

Please see the Things to Bring and Things not to Bring lists above for items that are permitted and items that are not permitted. Also, check your Residence Hall contract.

Meeting your roommate is one of the most anticipated events for college students. Your roommate can be someone you know or a person you have never met before. If you know someone you want to room with, you can form a roommate group using instructions provided in the Eaglesnest application process. If you do not have a roommate preference, someone will be selected for you based on the information you provide on your Eaglesnest Housing Application.

If you are requesting a roommate, you should make sure that your Eaglesnest Housing Application, Residence Hall Contract, and Roommate Group are submitted to the Office of Residence Life before the deadline (as indicated in the instructions). While we will do our best to match you with your desired roommate, we cannot make guarantees. More information about living with a roommate will be provided with your housing assignment.

Winthrop does not have any all-freshman halls. The majority of new students are assigned to Margaret Nance, Lee Wicker and Thomson Halls. These residence halls provide the best opportunity for new students to meet and interact with each other, which makes the transition to college easier. We make every effort to assign freshmen together in rooms as long as we have empty rooms. When empty rooms are no longer available, freshmen are assigned with returning students. The earlier you pay your $300 Enrollment Deposit and submit your Eaglesnest Housing Application and contract, the better your chances of being assigned with a freshman roommate.

Each person who completes an Eaglesnest Housing Application is placed in priority order by the date their Enrollment Deposit is received.* Please be aware that all returning students have already signed up for a space and often particular halls have few spaces for new students. While there is plenty of room available for anyone who is interested in living on campus, your room assignment may not necessarily be in the residence hall you requested as your first choice.

*Housing assignments are made without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status.

Room changes are made on a space-available basis after the first week of classes and must be approved by the Office of Residence Life.

Yes! It’s important that you read your residence hall contract/lease thoroughly before you sign or digitally sign it. Please pay special attention to the sections detailing your responsibilities, the refund and exemption deadlines and penalties. The contract you sign is for the entire academic year, and there are substantial financial penalties if you request a contract release. Also please note that the residence hall and dining service contract does not cover break periods when classes are not in session.
View the Residence Hall Contract (PDF - 227 KB).

Residence halls close during break periods. However, students with valid reasons can apply for Break Housing.

Break Housing is available by special permission for Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break and Spring Break. Break Housing is not available during semester break. Food service is not available during break periods.