Columbia Residential & Off-Campus Housing

SPS students have the opportunity to apply for housing through Columbia Residential.

The Columbia Residential inventory consists of apartment shares and dormitory-style rooms. There are also a limited number of studio/efficiency, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units prioritized for couples and families. Most housing is located within walking distance of the campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood. Students are also housed in Manhattan Valley, just south of Morningside Heights. Additionally, some students are housed in Riverdale, Bronx, at The Arbor. Shuttle service to and from The Arbor is provided.

Review Columbia Residential's accommodations

SPS Housing Application

Housing applications for Fall 2026 open on March 20, 2026. Full-time, in-person, Master of Science students are eligible to apply for on-campus housing. Housing is available on a first-come, first-reserved basis and is not guaranteed. Housing applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis.

Apply for Columbia Student Housing

SPS students who have been admitted, paid their deposit, have a PID number, and have activated their UNI will be able to log in to the Housing Portal and submit a housing application.

Access the Housing Portal Here

• The PID Number will start with a "C" followed by 9 digits (Cxxxxxxxxx). You can locate your PID Number via contacting your program’s advisor.
• The UNI is a unique identifier assigned to each University student, faculty, researcher, or administrator, consisting of your initials and arbitrary numbers. 

SPS students seeking housing should complete the housing application and will be notified if they have been approved, or if they have been placed in Open Selection. Students approved for housing will participate in self-selection rounds to choose a room or apartment that best fits their needs. Once an offer is made, a $750 reservation deposit is required for students within 24 hours to accept a housing offer, payable by credit or debit card only. This deposit is credited to the Student Financial Services account after move-in and goes toward the first semester's housing charge.

SPS students are encouraged to review Columbia Residential's How to Apply section for more information about creating a housing account and submitting a housing application.

SPS Housing Agreement & Policies

All SPS students residing in Columbia Residential housing are expected to adhere to all Policies and Procedures. For additional information regarding housing, you may contact Columbia Residential directly here.

Vacating Your Unit

If you plan to move out of your housing assignment, you must submit advance notice of your intended move-out date and complete all required checkout steps. To provide notice, log in to the Housing Portal and select the “Moving Out” tab.

Billing & Damages

After a student moves out, the room will be inspected for any damages beyond normal wear and tear. Students will be charged for the cost of repairing damages or replacing any missing appliances or furniture. Click here to learn more about repair or replacement policies.

Any housing related charges will be added to the students Student Financial Services (SFS) account shortly after vacating.