• Organize and track the schools that YOU are interested in.
  • Get matched up with schools that fit your personality.
  • Determine your chances at each school CP covers.
  • Calculate your costs at any school.

Campus Housing:

A-

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

Undergrads Living on Campus

73 %

Best Dorms

  • Danforth
  • Hitzeman
  • Hurd
  • Koenig
  • Liggett
  • Myers
  • The Village

Number of Dormitories

25

Worst Dorms

  • Gregg
  • Lien
  • Nemerov

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Yes - Unless you live within 25 miles of campus

College Prowler Take

Each of the dorms clustered on the cozy residential campus known as the South 40 has its own distinctive flavor and atmosphere. These particularities often produce fierce loyalties and rivalries between the students who live there—especially between the residents of the old dorms and new dorms. Proponents of the old dorms hold that the social interaction, sense of floor unity, and genuine gritty college experience they find in their halls cannot be matched by the posh, but sterile new towers nearby. The new dorms have what seem like material benefits, like semi-private bathrooms, elevators, and floor kitchens, but sharing a common bathroom in the old dorms means two kids can strike up a conversation while brushing their teeth. The narrow halls and low lighting of the old dorms give a conspiratorial aura to floor life, a sort of “we’re all in this together” vibe that contrasts starkly with the “we’re all just paying rent here” vibe of the new dorms.

For first-year students in particular, the old dorms (especially Liggett, Umrath, and Rubelmann) foster a terrific atmosphere for meeting people and becoming acclimated to a new environment. The only downside to the old dorms is the lack of amenities. It’s next to impossible to do any kind of cooking in the old buildings, and none of the old freshman dorms have piano practice rooms or pleasant study lounges as the new dorms do. After freshman year, the old dorms still remain a good option, though. The sophomore suites (Hurd, Hitzeman, Myers, Rutledge, Shanedling, and Dauten), which are equipped with balconies, furniture, and a huge common room, must have been designed with college parties in mind.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

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:

jdross says:

Washington University in St. Louis 2016

Business

I live in a modern dorm, and it's...

I live in a modern dorm, and it's amazing. The rooms are gigantic compared to all of my friends. We have individual thermostats, and our bathroom (shared with my roommate and two suitemates) is cleaned twice a week for us. Everybody gets an extended twin bed, a dresser, a desk, a chair, and a closet. And next year they're apparently replacing all the beds with foam (tempur-pedic-esque) mattresses.

Campus Housing: February 22, 2009
Report

Anonymous says:

The new dorms are nice because...

The new dorms are nice because they look like ski lodges, with Lien House and Danforth being the nicest. The other freshmen dorms are old, but more social. In the new dorms, everyone gets a four-person suite and you share a bathroom, but everyone seems to stay to themselves. The doors for each room shut automatically so you can’t just leave them open and let your neighbors pop in and out. The old dorms are much more open and people can wander in and out of your room if you leave the doors open. Plus, there are community bathrooms. It depends on your tastes, but I think you meet more people in the old dorms. Most people move off campus after their sophomore year, but you can stay on if you like. The sophomore suites are old, but they have balconies. There are six people to a suite, two singles, two doubles, one bathroom, and one common room in sophomore suites. The new sophomore suites are like the freshman dorms. They’re really nice, but not as open.

Campus Housing
Report

Anonymous says:

If you’d rather not deal with a...

If you’d rather not deal with a communal bathroom, then choose the new dorms. Danforth and Lien offer suite-style living, meaning that there’s four people to a bathroom. The new dorms also have larger rooms and are nicer because they are newer. However, new dorms are more expensive and do tend to attract the nerdiest of nerds. They’re still cool, though, and my friends who lived there definitely enjoyed themselves. Choose Danforth over Lien, though.

Campus Housing
Report

Anonymous says:

All the dorms are nice; again,...

All the dorms are nice; again, it’s your choice to live in an old or new dorm. The new dorms are obviously the nicest, but the old dorms still have their charm. I actually lived in one of the old dorms my freshman year and loved it because everyone was so social and we all really bonded. As for new dorms, should you so choose, I’d say Lien.

Campus Housing
Report

Anonymous says:

Dorms at Wash U are awesome! I’ve...

Dorms at Wash U are awesome! I’ve been so pleased thus far. I’d say, as a freshman, go for the old dorms. They’ve got more character, and they’re way more social. I’d say the best dorms to live in as a freshman are Liggett, Koenig, Rubelmann, Umrath, or Lee. Those are all coed dorms (though if you’re interested in living in a same-sex floor, there is one available for females) and they’re comprised of mostly doubles, with a few singles and triples. They’ve also got communal bathrooms. Seriously, the old dorms are not bad or gross at all, and you will, I promise you, meet and chill with your best friends in the bathroom.

Campus Housing
Report

Facts

What You Get

  • Bed
  • Closet or wardrobe
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • Ethernet access
  • Shelf
  • Window coverings

Room Types

  • Doubles
  • Singles
  • Suite-style units with a semi-private bathroom and a common living area
  • Triples/forced triples

Available for Rent

Minifridges and microwaves

Bed Types

  • Bunkable beds
  • Lofts
  • Twin extra-long

Also Available

  • Cable TV in all suites and most rooms.
  • Special-interest housing (in Small Group Housing)
  • Substance-free living option

Cleaning Service

Professional cleaning is available in public areas. Community and semi-private bathrooms are cleaned by staff approximately once a week.

Dormitories

Beaumont Hall
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 150
Bathrooms: Shared with floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Doubles, singles, triples
Laundry room, study room, TV lounge, computer cluster, substance-free building

Danforth Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 196
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Doubles, triples, forced-triples, suites
Laundry room, TV lounge, study lounges, library, multipurpose room, computer cluster

Dardick Hall
Floors: 4
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes, by suite
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: 2- and 3-person suites
First floor is substance-free. Laundry facilities, computers lab, full kitchen on 1st floor, seminar, multipurpose, common, and study rooms.

Dauten Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 90
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly sophomores
Room Types: 15 six-person suites with 2 singles and 2 doubles
Laundry room, computer cluster, study lounge, piano practice rooms, balconies

Eliot Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 156
Bathrooms: Shared between suites, triples have private ones
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples—all suites
Laundry room, computer cluster, study/TV lounges, living rooms, multipurpose room, kitchenette

Forsyth House
Floors: 4, plus health center
Number of Occupants: 169
Bathrooms: Shared by suite, some private
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Doubles suite, doubles, triples
Substance- free floor, study lounges, computer cluster, common room, laundry room, library, some classrooms

Gregg Hall
Floors: 8, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 160
Bathrooms: Shared by suite, some private
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: 4 or 3 single rooms to a suite, doubles
Laundry room, computer lab, study lounge, TV lounge

Hitzeman Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 90
Bathrooms: In-room
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: 15 six-person suites with 2 singles and 2 doubles
Laundry room, computer cluster, study room, balconies, dance studio

Hurd Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 74
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: No freshmen
Room Types: 14 six-person suites with 2 singles and 2 doubles; 2 eight-person suites, all doubles
Laundry room, computer cluster, study lounge, piano practice rooms, balconies

Koenig Hall
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 150
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, and triples, all suites
TV lounge, study lounge, laundry room, computer cluster

Lee Hall
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 150
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples, suites
Laundry room, common spaces, kitchen, multipurpose room, study room, computer cluster

Lien
Floors: 4, plus faculty offices
Number of Occupants: 163
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshman
Room Types: Doubles, triples, all suites
Laundry room, multipurpose room, computer cluster, library, study room, living room

Liggett Hall
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 150
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: 4 single rooms to a stuite or two double rooms to a suite
TV lounge, study lounge, laundry room, computer cluster, relatively new building

Lopata
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 155
Bathrooms: Two half baths to four single rooms
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: 4 larger single rooms to a suite
Basement classrooms, computer cluster, formal room called “the Great Room,” large multipurpose room, one large kitchen, three kitchenettes and lounges on each floor

Myers Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 90
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: 14 six-person suites with 2 singles and 2 doubles; 2 eight-person suites, both doubles
Laundry room, computer cluster, balconies, music practice rooms

Nemerov Hall
Floors: 4 floors
Number of Occupants: 137
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: Suites, doubles
Recreation area, TV lounge, study lounges, laundry room, computer cluster, project rooms

Park Hall
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 80
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: 4 single person rooms to a suite; 2 double person rooms to a suite
Recreation area, TV lounge, study lounge, laundry room, computer cluster

Rubelmann Hall (Ruby)
Floors: 3, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 150
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Traditional singles, doubles, and triples
TV lounge, study lounges, laundry room, ping-pong tables

Rutledge Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 90
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: Six- and eight-person suites
Laundry room, computer cluster, study lounge, piano practice rooms, photography studio

Shanedling Hall
Floors: 4 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 90
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: Six- and eight-person suites
Laundry room, computer cluster, study lounge, piano practice rooms

Umrath Hall
Floors: 3 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 150
Bathrooms: Shared by Floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: All freshmen
Room Types: Traditional singles, doubles, and triples
TV lounge, study lounge, laundry room, ping-pong tables

Village House
Floors: 4; no housing on bottom floor
Number of Occupants: 147
Bathrooms: Shared by a suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: Large single suites
Common area with fireplace, four dining rooms, basement classrooms, lounges and kitchenettes on each floor

Wheeler Hall
Floors: 4, plus basement
Number of Occupants: 151
Bathrooms: Shared by suite, some private
Coed: Yes
Residents: All upperclassmen
Room Types: 4 single-person rooms make up a suite; 2 doubles make up a suite
Laundry room, project rooms, TV lounge, study lounges, computer cluster

Campus Owned Apartments

Greenway Place
Floors: 4
Bathrooms: Shared by apartment
Coed: Yes, by apartment
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, 3-person townhouses, 3-person units, 2-person units
University billing, central air conditioning, wall-to-wall carpet, fully furnished, kitchen, off-street parking

Milbrook Apartments
Floors: 4
Bathrooms: Shared by apartment
Coed: Yes, by apartment
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles and doubles in 3- to 8-person units
University billing, computer lab, pool open during the summer, fully furnished, kitchen

Rosedale Court
Floors: 3
Bathrooms: Shared by apartment
Coed: Yes, by apartment
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles in 1- and 2-person units
University billing, central air conditioning, wall-to-wall carpet, fully furnished, street parking, some units have sunrooms

University Drive
Floors: 2
Bathrooms: Shared by apartment
Coed: Yes, by apartment
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles in 2-, 3-, and 4-person units
University billing, fully furnished, basement storage, street parking

Village East Apartments
Floors: 4
Bathrooms: Shared by apartment
Coed: Yes, by apartment
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles in 3- to 4-person units
University billing, fully furnished, kitchen, four common rooms with flat-panel televisions

Did You Know?

Every year, the South 40 hosts the Residential College Olympics, a fierce sporting extravaganza in which dorms square off in football, soccer, ping-pong, ultimate Frisbee, chess, a 5K run, pool, and other sporting events for the honor of being named “Best Residential College.”

Old vs. New
Wash U’s main residential campus, the South 40, is divided between traditional housing complexes with shared bathrooms and few amenitiesas known as the “old dorms”, as well as several recently constructed, more luxurious facilities known as the “new dorms.” There is a popular rivalry on campus as to which dorms are superior.

Old Dorms:
Beaumont
Dauten
Hitzeman
Hurd
Lee
Liggett
Myers
Rubelmann
Rutledge
Shanedling
Umrath

New Dorms:
Danforth
Eliot
Forsyth
Gregg
Koenig
Lien
Nemerov
Wheeler

Wash U dorms are arranged in residential colleges—a grouping of two or more halls which combine as one community to promote personal growth for students. However, as you’ll see, each individual hall is very different from the next.

Write for Us!

College Prowler Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more >