Apartment Selection Process
South Campus Commons and The Courtyards Apartment Selection process for the 2026–2027 lease term begins Wednesday, October 8, 2025, with the launch of the leasing application in the Housing Portal.
To be eligible to participate in the apartment selection process, students must submit their leasing application by Monday, January 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Eligibility and Priority
To participate in the apartment selection process for South Campus Commons and The Courtyards, undergraduate students must be registered full-time at the University of Maryland, College Park and in good academic, administrative, and student conduct standing.
Apartment Selection Priority Order
Apartment Selection priority for Commons and Courtyards is based on two factors: whether a student currently lives in a residence hall, and the number of semesters they will have been enrolled at the University—or any other college or university—by the start of the lease term. Students living in residence halls have higher priority than those in off-campus housing, including fraternity and sorority housing.
The chart below outlines the priority order in which students will select apartments for this year’s selection process.
| Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection Priority Order | Student Population Description | Number of Semesters in College |
|---|---|---|
| First Priority Group | Residence Hall Rising Juniors | 3-4 |
| Second Priority Group | Residence Hall Rising Seniors | 5-6 |
| Third Priority Group | Residence Hall Rising Sophomores | 1-2 |
| Fourth Priority Group | Residence Hall Rising Fifth-Year Seniors | 7 or more |
| Fifth Priority Group | Off-Campus Students (including Fraternity and Sorority housing) | Any number |
| Sixth Priority Group | Students who do not submit their leasing application by the deadline | Any number |
Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application
Students interested in living in South Campus Commons (Commons) or The Courtyards (Courtyards) only need to submit one leasing application to be considered for either site.
Submitting a leasing application is required to participate in the apartment selection process, but it is non-binding and does not guarantee a lease offer in Commons or Courtyards. However, it is the first step in the apartment selection process and must be completed to move forward.
If you currently live in a residence hall or plan to apply for Room Selection, submitting this leasing application will not affect your residence hall status or eligibility to participate in Room Selection (if applicable).
Please note: Once you sign a lease for Commons or Courtyards, you become legally and financially responsible for that apartment and will no longer be eligible to participate in the residence hall Room Selection process.
Process Overview
Step 1
Complete the Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application
To be considered for housing in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards, a student must submit a Leasing Application through their Housing Portal. Students are encouraged to attend a virtual or in-person information session to learn about the apartment selection process.
Step 2
Eligibility and Selection Priority Notification
Students who submit their leasing applications by the deadline will be notified of their eligibility and selection priority for this year’s apartment selection in their Housing Portal after the application period closes.
Step 3
Find a Roommate and Form a Group
Students can attend the Commons/Courtyards Roommate Mixer to meet potential roommates and form a group of 2 to 4 people, depending on the apartment type they are interested in. They will also be invited to a virtual webinar to learn how to create a group and select an apartment in their Housing Portal.
Step 4
Participate in Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection Day
During a student’s selection appointment time, either they or their Group Leader will log into their Housing Portal to choose an available apartment in Commons or Courtyards. The selection portal will remain open until all eligible students or groups have made a selection or until the portal officially closes.
Key Dates
Prospective students are students that are interested in living in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards for the 2026-2027 lease term.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. | 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application, Gender Inclusive Leasing Application, and Student Pull-In Request Form open |
| Monday, January 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. | 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application and Student Pull-In Form close |
| Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. | 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Gender Inclusive Leasing Application close |
| Monday, January 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. | Deadline to submit 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Housing Accommodations request to Commons/Courtyards Housing Staff |
| Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | Students that applied for 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Gender Inclusive Leasing informed of their application status |
| Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | Students that applied for 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Student Pull-In Form informed of their request status |
| Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection Priority Group available to view in student’s Housing Portal |
| Monday, February 09, 2026 | Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection Appointment Time available to view in student’s Housing Portal |
| Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | South Campus Commons and The Courtyards Roommate Mixer |
| Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | Commons/Courtyards Group Formation and Apartment Selection Virtual Webinar (registration link) |
| Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. | Commons/Courtyards Group Formation Module open in student’s Housing Portal |
| Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection - First and Second Priority Groups |
| Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection - Third, Fourth, and Fifth Priority Groups |
| Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. | Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection - Late |
| Monday, February 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) | Deadline for students to sign their 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Apartment Lease |
| Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | Deadline for students to submit their $300 lease reservation payment for their 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Apartment Lease |
The apartment selection process for South Campus Commons and The Courtyards can be unfamiliar, especially for first-time participants. We encourage students to attend an information session, where staff from Resident Life and Commons/Courtyards Housing Office will provide an overview of both communities and walk students through the apartment selection process. These sessions are designed to help students feel informed and confident throughout the process.
To foster active participation and engagement, please note that the virtual sessions will not be recorded. Each information session is expected to run for approximately one hour.
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. | Virtual (10/9 registration link) |
| Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | 1111 Prince Frederick Hall |
| Monday, October 20, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. | 0224 Edward St. John |
| Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Oakland Hall Multipurpose Room |
| Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. | 0224 Edward St. John + Virtual (11/3 registration link) |
| Monday, November 17, 2025 | 4:00 p.m | Virtual (11/17 registration link) |
| Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | 0224 Edward St. John + Virtual (12/2 registration link) |
| Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Leonardtown Community Multipurpose Room |
Students are invited to tour apartments at South Campus Commons and The Courtyards. This is a great chance to step inside a furnished apartment, speak with staff, and get a feel of the residential community.
Advance registration is not required to attend a tour.
The address for South Campus Commons Building 5 is 6903 Preinkert Dr, College Park, MD 20740, and the address for The Courtyards Clubhouse is 8000 Boteler Lane, College Park, MD 20742.
| Date | Time | Check-In Location |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | South Campus Commons Building 5 & The Courtyards Clubhouse |
| Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | South Campus Commons Building 5 & The Courtyards Clubhouse |
| Sunday, November 16, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | South Campus Commons Building 5 & The Courtyards Clubhouse |
| Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | South Campus Commons Building 5 & The Courtyards Clubhouse |
| Monday, February 16, 2026 | 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. | South Campus Commons Building 5 & The Courtyards Clubhouse |
Other Housing Considerations
Students that are requesting housing accommodations for the first-time in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards for the 2026-2027 lease term are to submit their request to the Commons/Courtyards Housing Office by Monday, January 12, 2025. You can access the request form using the link below.
Please note that accommodation requests are reviewed in the order they are received. Commons/Courtyards Housing Office will communicate directly with each student regarding the status of their request. Submitting your request by the deadline ensures that any approved accommodations can be arranged before apartment selection begins.
Requests submitted after the deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed in time for apartment selection. However, Commons/Courtyards Housing Office will continue to assist students through the reassignment process as availability and apartment inventory permit.
If you have any questions about the housing accommodations process, please contact Olivia Murphy at omurphy@cocm.com.
Students may apply for Gender Inclusive Leasing in South Campus Commons (Commons) or The Courtyards (Courtyards) if they wish to live in an apartment with others regardless of sex, gender, or gender identity. This housing option allows students to create a shared living arrangement that aligns with their personal preferences and comfort levels. Bedroom and bathroom designations within the apartment are determined collaboratively by the students involved.
To be considered for Gender Inclusive Leasing in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards for the 2026–2027 lease year, students must meet the following criteria:
- Submit a 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application as an individual by the established deadline
- Form a group of two or four students, as applicants must be able to fully occupy a 2-bedroom/2-bathroom or 4-bedroom/2-bathroom apartment
- Either:
- Be classified in the first or second Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection priority group, which includes current residence hall students who will be rising juniors or seniors at the time of application, or
- Currently live in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards and be eligible to renew their lease for the 2026-2027 lease term
- Submit a 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Gender Inclusive Leasing Application as a group by the established deadline. The form is located in one’s Housing Portal.
Please note: Submitting a Gender Inclusive Leasing application does not guarantee approval and placement as this housing option. Availability depends on the number of applications received, the number of current gender inclusive residents renewing their leases, and the number of apartments designated for this leasing option.
For Current Residents:
Students currently living in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards who intend to renew their lease for the 2026–2027 lease term and wish to convert their apartment from single-gender to gender-inclusive must meet all eligibility criteria outlined above.
During the individual lease renewal process, these students should select “Special Leasing Meeting” to notify Commons/Courtyards Housing Staff of their intent to pursue gender inclusive leasing for the upcoming term.
After the Gender Inclusive Leasing Application submission process has concluded, Resident Life will contact applicants to inform them of their application status and provide next steps in the leasing process.
For questions or additional information about gender inclusive leasing, please contact Tiffany Harris at tharri15@umd.edu.
Students currently living in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards who intend to renew their lease for the 2026–2027 lease term and remain in the same apartment have the option to participate in the pull-in process. In this process, a current resident (the puller) invites another eligible prospective student (the pullee) to fill a vacancy in their apartment for the upcoming lease term.
To be eligible as a pullee, a student must:
- Submit a 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application as an individual by the established deadline
- Submit a 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Pull-In Form as an individual by the established deadline. The form is located in one’s Housing Portal.
- Be classified in the first or second Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection priority group, which includes current residence hall students who will be rising juniors or seniors at the time of application
During the lease renewal process, the puller must select “Renew for Same Bed” and provide the pullee’s full name, University ID number, University email address, and preferred bedroom assignment in their submission form.
After the Pull-In Request Form has been reviewed, Resident Life will contact the pullee to confirm the status of their request and provide guidance on the next steps in the leasing process.
Important: This process is only available for students renewing their lease in the same apartment. If a student wishes to transfer to a different apartment, they must participate in the group formation process and Commons/Courtyards Apartment Transfer Selection Day instead.
If you have questions or need additional information about the student pull-in process, please reach out to Resident Life’s University Housing Partnerships Office at pppleasing@umd.edu.