All first-year students are required to live in University Housing residence halls and to purchase a dining plan. On-campus housing is in high-demand and space is limited, so you should submit your housing contract and pay the nonrefundable $50 contract fee by the priority deadline to ensure you receive housing. Housing assignments may be withheld if the contract fee is not paid. The housing contract priority date for students starting at UWM in the spring is December 1 and May 1 for students starting in fall.
For more information about housing choices, dining plans, policies, the housing deposit, housing exemptions and the process to sign up, visit Housing’s website. To go directly to your housing contract, log into your Housing Portal with your ePanther ID and password. Once admitted, you will be automatically granted online access to a University Housing Contract. Once you submit your University Housing Contract online, you are legally bound by the Contract and Guidebook. You will also be required to follow the Resident Handbook found on our Forms & Publications page. Effective 2025-2026, the $50 contract fee will be due in full at the time of Contract Completion. Payment must be made via debit or credit card through the payment gateway in the Housing Portal. While UWM has a residency policy that essentially states first-year students are required to live on-campus, we understand that you may choose to live with parents/guardians and commute or have other circumstances that require an exemption. If this is the case, you will need to complete the Exemption Request Form and submitting documentation to support your reasoning.