HFS Contract Exemptions

First-year students are required to reside on campus at University Park. Students who are eligible for certain exemptions (such as local status or over age 21), selecting on-campus housing will be listed as optional during the admission acceptance process. 

A student may submit an exemption request from the residency requirement if one of these conditions is met:

1. The student is 21 years or older at the time of their initial registration with the University;
2. The student is married and their spouse will be at the University;
3. The student must have served on active duty prior to their admission to the University (training hours do not qualify for veteran status); or
4. The student graduated from a high school in Centre County (this applies to only these high schools: State College, Bellefonte, Grace Prep, Centre County Christian Academy, Penns Valley, Bald Eagle, Philipsburg-Osceola, and Saint Joseph) and will be living with their parent or legal guardian in Centre County in a permanent residence (parent or guardian is a permanent Centre County resident and paying Centre County taxes). An exemption request may only be submitted for the entire academic year; exemptions will not be processed in the fall to release a student for the spring semester.

Unless a student meets one of these conditions, the expectation is for the student to reside on campus for the full HFS Contract period.

EXEMPTION REQUEST PROCESS

The student must submit the Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) prior to the deadline indicated, which is based on the student's semester of admittance. If a student accepts the offer of admission to Penn State after the corresponding deadline, the Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) must be submitted within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. A Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) received after the deadline will not be processed. The student will be obligated financially for room and board charges for the full contract period. Contract Release Requests to move home with the parent or legal guardian for the spring semester will not be honored.

SPONSORED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

First-year sponsored international students who are interested in a housing exemption must submit the Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) as well as two letters of support for living off campus, one letter from his or her parent or guardian, and one from the sponsoring entity. Exemption requests will only be considered once all three items are received. The student interested in a housing exemption should submit a completed Housing Exemption Form by the deadline in the table above. If the student accepts the admission to Penn State after the deadline in the table above, the Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) must be submitted within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. Exemption requests will not be accepted after the deadline and the student will be obligated financially for room and board charges for the full contract period.

FUTURE HFS CONTRACTS

A student who has been exempted from the residency requirement will be ineligible to participate in the Housing Contract Process for the following academic year. However, the student may add his or her name to the Supplemental Housing Waitlist when it opens, as identified on the process timeline. There is no guarantee that a HFS Contract offer will be made to the student.

REQUESTING A HOUSING EXEMPTION

Submit the completed Housing Exemption Form (pdf file) to the Housing Assignment Office. Exemption Requests are reviewed by a University committee, who meets on a regular basis. The Committee will review the request and a representative will respond to the student via email within 7-10* business days with confirmation or denial of request.

*The 7-10 business days is an estimate; during certain times of the year, the response time may be longer due to the volume of requests. The Committee has a set meeting scheduled, and requests to expediate a review will not be honored.