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Campus Housing:

B-

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

Undergrads Living on Campus

24 %

Best Dorms

  • Elizabeth Waters Hall
  • Ogg Hall
  • Smith Hall

Number of Dormitories

18

Number of Campus Owned Apartments

1

Worst Dorms

  • Sellery Hall
  • Witte Hall

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

College Prowler Take

UW students have a complete range of options when it comes to on-campus living. When choosing a dorm, location sometimes becomes the largest factor. Students suggest that those looking to stay closer to academic buildings should try Chadbourne or Liz Waters. Both are right on campus and offer extraordinary academic support programs. If students are looking for a little more lax or social atmosphere, the Southeast dorms are the place to be. In terms of pure appearance, students can’t go wrong with the Lakeshore dorms. These cottage-like buildings border Lake Mendota, offering a phenomenal view and country atmosphere.

UW is very accommodating in terms of student housing. There are thirteen public (University) dorms, and about five private dorms. The public dorms are primarily for freshmen and sophomores looking to meet people, and wanting to ease into college life. They all have computer labs, laundry facilities, study rooms, and entertainment lounges. Each also has something unique about it, either in terms of academics or campus involvement. Amenities and pricing do vary, so be sure to fully check out all options before finalizing any living situation. While some of your better days may not be spent in the dorms, the majority defend this housing option.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

I live in Kronshage, which is on...

I live in Kronshage, which is on the Lakeshore side of campus. The rooms are a little bigger, and you can arrange your room more than you can in the Southeast dorms. It is quieter out there, so you can study on the weeknights if you need to. Plus, buses stop right there, so it’s not a big deal to get around campus.

Campus Housing
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buckybadger says:

University of Wisconsin 2016

Undecided

If your idea of fun is partying,...

If your idea of fun is partying, meeting people, etc., live in Sellery or Witte. If you'd rather spend your nights quietly reading books, doing homework, and doing other lame things, live in Lakeshore.

Campus Housing: March 18, 2009
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Anonymous says:

Dorms are always filled with a mix...

Dorms are always filled with a mix of people you will and won’t get along withThe public dorms are the most unpredictable assortment of people, so the people in them can’t really be generalized. I’ve noticed that the PRH dorms are generally more laid back. The Lakeshore dorms are a long way away, and if you want a quiet atmosphere to live in, that would be your choice.

Campus Housing
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Anonymous says:

The dorms are small, crowded,...

The dorms are small, crowded, loud. Although one would never choose to live in them again, as most students move out after freshman year, it is an experience few would be willing to pass up.

Campus Housing
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Anonymous says:

The dorms are all nice. Avoid the...

The dorms are all nice. Avoid the Towers unless you are planning on joining a frat, or unless you are from the East Coast. The Langdon is nice, clean, and has decent food.

Campus Housing
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Facts

What You Get

  • Bed
  • Cable TV
  • Computer labs with DSL
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser and shelving
  • Entertainment rooms
  • Ethernet access
  • Laundry rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Study lounges

Room Types

  • Double
  • Single
  • Suite
  • Triple

Available for Rent

Board games

Kitchen equipment

Sports equipment

Video games and movies

Bed Types

  • Twin or full

Also Available

  • Parking is very limited around residence halls. Bike racks and moped parking available at all dorms.

Cleaning Service

A cleaning company maintains the common areas. Janitors and student employees keep resident hall bathrooms and hallways clean.

Dormitories

Adams Hall
Floors: Four 4-story buildings
Number of Occupants: 275
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Single, double, suite
Kitchen, den, laundry room, game room, study lounges, volleyball courts

Barnard Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 138
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Single, double, suite
Chadbourne cafeteria, lounge, dens, music practice room, laundry room

Bradley Learning Community
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 246
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Bradley Roundtable (a one-credit course that attempts to recreate the classic Greek symposium through dinner and discussion), reserved class selections, cross-college advising office

Chadbourne Residential College
Floors: 10
Number of Occupants: 688
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Various
Room Types: Double, triple
Chadbourne cafeteria, cross-college advising office, computer lab, reserved class selection, kitchen

Cole Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 244
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes, by wing
Room Types: Double
TV/study lounge, kitchen, dens, laundry room, music practice room, game room, resources for Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)

Eagle Heights
Floors: Several 2–3 story buildings; 1044 apartments
Number of Occupants: 1848
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Graduate and professional students, and student families
Room Types: 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments
Storage lockers, laundry room; all apartments come with refrigerator, stove/oven, and garbage disposal

Elizabeth Waters Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 488
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes, by floor
Room Types: Double
Kitchen, TV/study lounges, dens, laundry room, WISE resource room, reserved class selections, exercise room, parlor, music practice room, computer lab, terraces overlooking the lake

Fredrick House
Floors: 4, floors 1–3 are reserved for University visitors
Number of Occupants: 50
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Double
Lakeshore location, conference rooms, option to participate in Alexander Meiklejohn Residential College

Kronshage Hall
Floors: Seven 3-story buildings
Number of Occupants: 616
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Double
Fireplace, study lounges, kitchen, computer lab, in-hall classrooms, laundry rooms, music practice hall

Merit House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 63
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Double, suite
Laundry room, storage, rec lounge

Ogg Hall
Floors: 6
Number of Occupants: 598
Bathrooms: Shared by 8 residents
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
Room Types: Doubles
Game room, fireplace, study lounge/dens, laundry room, music practice room, storage space, in-hall classroom, kitchen, front desk offers movies, sports equipment, and board games for rent, cross-college advising office, first-year interest group (FIG)

Sellery Hall
Floors: Two 9-story buildings
Number of Occupants: 1148
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Double
TV/study lounges, dens, clubhouse, movie/game rentals, kitchen, laundry, backyard, music practice room, residence life office, cross-college advising office, in-hall classroom, reserved course selection

Slichter Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 200
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and upperclassmen
Room Types: Double
Kitchen, music dens, laundry rooms, game room, movie, game, and sports equipment rentals

Smith Hall
Floors: 6
Number of Occupants: 414
Bathrooms: Shared by groups of five residents
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Single, double
Soundproof music room, technology center, in-hall classrooms, cross-college advising office

Sullivan Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 259
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Various
Room Types: Double
Dens, study lounge, music practice room, game room, front desk provides movie, game, and sports equipment rentals

Susan B. Davis House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 30
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Single
Study/rec lounge, kitchen, laundry room

Tripp Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 280
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Single, double
Dens, study lounge, laundry room, billiards, music practice room

Witte Hall
Floors: Two 9-story buildings
Number of Occupants: 1150
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Double
Substance-free option, dens, study lounge, in-hall classroom, kitchen, music practice room, dark room, laundry rooms, storage space, ATM, backyard, cross-college advising office

Campus Owned Apartments

Harvey Street Apartments
Floors: Seven 2-story buildings; 47 apartments
Number of Units: Varies
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Single graduate and professional students
Room Types: 1- and 2-bedroom apartments
All apartments come with refrigerator, stove/oven, garbage disposal, and simple furnishings (couch, tables, chairs, lamps, dresser, desk); heat and electricity are included in rent

Did You Know?

UW dorms all have laundry rooms. Students can send out their laundry but most usually do their own laundry. Dryers are free of charge, whereas the washing machine is generally $2 per load. Students can use money on their WiscCard to pay.

If you have a friend who plans on attending UW, you can room together simply by requesting each other as roommates. Most students prefer having a random roommate for the first year, though, if not for the experience then for the hope of making a new friend. If it doesn’t work out, housing is usually willing to listen to requests for a switch.

Most Recent Contributing Author

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