Radius Policy | Important Information

Undergraduate and Graduate students have separate housing agreements and are housed in different areas of campus. The radius policy is determined separately for these populations.

First-Year Students

All first-year students who deposit by May 1 are prioritized for on-campus housing, but if demand for on-campus housing exceeds capacity a radius policy will be implemented.

New Graduate Students

All new graduate students who deposit by May 15 are prioritized for on-campus housing, but if demand for on-campus housing exceeds capacity a radius policy will be implemented.

New Transfer Students

All new transfer students can place a housing deposit by May 1 to indicate interest in on-campus housing, but they are not prioritized to live on campus. Spaces will be granted based on cancellations of other undergraduate students. Students with a farther home address from campus will have priority for housing.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the radius policy?
  The increased enrollment at Stony Brook is a testament to our rise in reputation as a world-class academic institution where students from all backgrounds are welcomed and supported throughout their college journey. If enforced, this radius policy indicates that new students with a home address within a certain distance from the university will not be eligible for campus housing. For Fall 2025, this means that new students living within a 30-mile (straight line) distance or less to 100 Circle Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11790, will be able to place a housing deposit, but will not be able to finalize their application until Campus Residences assesses housing availability after the May 1 deposit deadline. The actual radius distance (if any) will be determined then based on housing demand.
• When will Campus Residences determine if there is a need for a radius policy enforcement?
  After the May 1 deposit deadline (May 15 for graduate students) and no later than June 30, Campus Residences will determine whether the radius policy needs to be implemented and to what distance. Students will be notified if this policy will impact them. 
  
• What distance will the radius be?

  The distance will be based on housing demand. Campus Residences can only predict if and how far the radius policy will be implemented after housing deposits are made by May 1 for New First-Year and New Transfer students and by May 15 for New Graduate students.

  

• How will I know if I am impacted?
  Students who are prevented from finalizing their application due to being 30 miles or less from campus will be notified by reside@stonybrook.edu no later than June 30 whether the radius policy impacts them or whether they can proceed with their housing application. Emails are sent to your active email address in SOLAR. This may be your personal email that you applied to Stony Brook University with or your Stony Brook University email. We highly recommend checking both regularly.
• What if I deposited and am impacted by the radius?
  Students who submitted their housing deposit will have it refunded to their student account and be added to a priority waitlist. We will request that Student Financial Services process a deposit credit. Student Financial Services will determine how it gets applied to a student’s account. It can be refunded as credits applied to the student account or may be posted to outstanding balances. Please note that the refund can take up to 5 weeks to appear on students’ accounts.
• Is this radius policy communicated to applicants and admitted students in advance?
  Yes. Students are notified at time of making their housing deposit in SOLAR. It is also stated on the Admitted Students (A Note From Housing) webpage, Campus Residences Terms of Occupancy, and our website.
• Why is there a radius policy?
  The policy exists due to increased demand for on-campus housing from returning residents and newly admitted students. Following our established policy, we prioritize housing for incoming students based on distance to our main campus.
• Are there any exceptions to the radius policy?

  If a radius policy is enforced, additional information will be provided to those impacted with any potential reasons for appeal and the process of submitting one. This process will occur immediately upon notice of being impacted by the radius policy (anticipated June). We will not consider a request to be an exception to the policy until after the policy is implemented and impacted individuals are notified.

• What is the university doing to accommodate housing demand?

  The University is actively working on solutions to accommodate as many students as possible while still maintaining a safe and secure environment. We have increased room occupancy to provide economy rooms with lofted and/or bunked beds creating economy four-person, three-person, and two-person rooms.

  In addition, several campus housing contruction projects are currently underway to address housing demand.

  Additionally, we are implementing incentives and measures to increase earlier cancellations from students who do not need housing so we can house students who intend to live on campus.

  Due to the above options, we are not using temporary tripling or housing at nearby hotels. When there is a large scale emergency these housing options may be implemented.

• If I am notified that the radius policy impacts me, do I need to join the housing waitlist for 2025-2026?

  If you place a deposit and are later notified we cannot house you due to the radius policy being implemented, you do not need to join a waitlist for the current year. You will be placed on a priority waitlist before our general waitlist. This priority waitlist will place students in order from the farthest to the closest distance to campus.

• How will the priority waitlist work?

  Impacted individuals will be notified that they have been placed on the priority waitlist and will need to confirm their interest in campus housing through the Housing portal.  

  If assigned a space, individuals are notified from reside@stonybrook.edu of their assignment. Once assigned a space, any cancellation of agreements is subject to published cancellation fees.

  If you remove yourself from the priority waitlist prior to an assignment, you will not be charged a cancellation fee and will no longer be eligible for priority housing this year or in future years.

• If I am on the priority waitlist, when will I receive my housing assignment?

  We cannot predict if or when someone will receive their assignment. As cancellations come in over the summer, we will make assignments. Some assignments may be made in fall, over winter break, or early spring sememster. 

  If you are given an assignment, we encourage you to keep it as any cancellation of housing will impact your ability to receive housing during your time at Stony Brook University.

• How does the current radius policy situation affect my housing eligibility for 2026-2027?

  We hope to be able to assign all impacted students by the start of Spring  Semester classes. If you do not receive housing this year, you will need to join the on-campus housing waitlist for the following year when it goes live in March. Please keep in mind that applying to the general waitlist does not guarantee housing.

• If I receive on-campus housing, can I pick a roommate or location?

  Assignments will be made administratively to available spaces without a requested roommate. If the online room swap is still available, you may participate in that process for a room swap.

• What off-campus options and resources are there?

   Please visit the Commuter and Off-Campus Living website for more information.