The Impact of Living On-campus to the College Experience
According to TCU students
When people think about college life, one of the first images that comes to mind is living in a dorm, especially during the first year. Walking up and down the hallways, knowing everyone’s name, participating in lobby activities filled with smiling faces, and sharing meals in the communal dining hall all contribute to a quintessential college experience. At TCU, living on campus is a requirement for the first two years, and while some students may initially view this as a restriction, it comes with significant benefits. Craig Allen, Executive Director of Housing & Fraternity/Sorority Life, highlights the positive impact of this requirement: “Students who live with us for two years do better in school. This means many things. Students are retained at a higher rate, are more likely to graduate in four years, they report more involvement in college, they are more satisfied with their college experience, and much more.”
The “college experience,” as described by The Daily UW, is a well-balanced combination of education, social life, and personal growth over the course of four years. Living on campus plays a key role in fulfilling this vision. At TCU, the requirement to live on campus ensures that students start their journey with a strong sense of community. This environment helps them build friendships, excel academically, and feel a sense of belonging. As TCU emphasizes, “No matter what residence hall you call home, you’ll love the close-knit community and sense of belonging at TCU.”
On-campus Housing Options
First-Years Housing Options
- Clark Hall
- Colby Hall
- Foster Hall
-Hill & Walsh Halls
-King & Wright Halls
-Moncrief Hall
-Samuelson & Carter Hall
-Sherley Hall
-Waits Hall
"Movie nights with all of my friends living in Clark Hall during my freshman year. We'd all sit together in one room and hang out while watching a movie, there was always something going on"
Upperclassmen Housing Options
-Hays Hall
-GrandMarc Apartments
-Liberty Loft Apartments
-Tom Brown/ Pete Wright Apartments
-University House Apartments
-Sandage/ McCart Apartments
"I loved being able to get so close with my floor in my sorority house my sophomore year. We still go on cheesecake factory dates every semester!"
TCU houses approximately 5,000 students on campus according to housing.tcu.edu with several varieties to pick from making a place for everyone living in the dorms feel at home.
As princetonreview.com has ranked Texas Christian University number nine for "Best College Dorms"
Student's experience
Why the requirement does not feel like a requirement.
TCU students share their experiences
Highlighting the good and bad that comes with having to live on campus
An unforgettable memory
from Hannah Haugen, TCU Senior
"My first year at TCU I lived in Carter Hall, my favorite memory was around Christmas my roommates and I decorated our dorm tree. This memory sticks out to me because it was one of the first times I realized the community and amazing friends I found here."
Survey Statistics
Perks of on-campus living
Meal Plan
TCU offers four different meal plans, allowing students to choose the option that best fits their dining preferences on campus. With a variety of dining locations available in almost every common building, students can enjoy everything from smoothie bowls and pizza to sandwiches, Chick-fil-A, and more. Living on campus ensures there’s a convenient and satisfying option for everyone.
screenshot from TCU housing website
Events
TCU hosts several committees that organize free events for students throughout the week and on weekends. In addition, each dorm hosts its own activities in the lobbies, especially around holidays and seasonal changes. These events foster a sense of community, allowing students to come together, share new experiences, and build stronger connections with the people they live alongside.
Colby Hall pumpkin decorating event for Halloween
Walking distance to class
The worry of needing a car is not a problem when you live on-campus. As you can walk to any place on-campus in a short time frame and feel safe while doing with the blue light poles on every street. The blue light poles have a button that will contact the TCU PD 24 hours of the day.
The downsides of living on-campus
With every positive there is a negative and while talking to students I was able to hear about why their time living on-campus was not enjoyable. The majority with bad remarks said it was because of a bad roommate.
In a survey I conducted with TCU students who lived on campus, the majority of those who changed rooms did so because of issues with a roommate or being placed in a triple living situation. Sophomore TCU student, Haydn Weakly, was one such student who moved out of her first-year dorm.
Weakly initiated the room change process by submitting a request through her housing portal, knowing that a spot in another dorm would soon open as someone else moved out. About a month after submitting her request, she received an email with an official offer to change rooms.
“The biggest challenge in moving rooms was the short time frame I had to move,” Weakly explained. “I received the email on a Tuesday and had just 48 hours to pack and completely check out of Colby Hall, which made the process a little stressful.”
While moving rooms can be a stressful experience, it highlights the flexibility and support offered by TCU’s housing system to accommodate students' needs. For many, navigating these challenges leads to a better living environment and a more fulfilling on-campus experience, ensuring that students feel at home during their time at TCU.
Summary
The impact of living on-campus plays a key role in the development of friends, memories, and gaining a quality college experience. TCU having living on-campus the first two years of your time at TCU is not a hassle for students but more of an exciting way to live in a close spot with everyone you have just met for more than one year. As TCU grows they are going to continue to have this requirement while also offering even more on-campus housing to Juniors and Seniors as well.
"Living on campus was really important for my college experience both socially and academically. It made getting to class and the library more convenient and allowed me to connect socially with people I wouldn’t have otherwise."
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