Guarantee eligibility
Offer by May 31, 2027
Applies to secondary-school and CEGEP students entering first year in the fall semester.
First-year guarantee, fees, rooms, buildings, and selection
Carleton University Residence: 2027 Guarantee, Fees & Buildings
Carleton's Fall 2027 first-year residence guarantee has a clear admission-offer condition but two official RAP dates. This guide identifies the safe deadline, compares current room and meal plan costs, explains which layouts first-year students can select, and uses published building differences to compare Glengarry, Lennox and Addington, Rideau, and the traditional-house group.
Reviewed August 2, 2026 · 2027–2028 fees are not yet published
Fall 2027 housing update
Carleton residence guarantee, rooms, and 2026–2027 costs
Carleton guarantees a traditional double room to eligible secondary-school and CEGEP students entering first year in Fall 2027 who receive an admission offer by May 31. The student must accept the residence offer and pay the Residence Advance Payment on time. Students who miss the guarantee conditions can still apply, but a room is not assured.
Accept and pay by
June 7, 2027
Use the earlier published date to accept the offer and pay the $700 Residence Advance Payment.
Campus housing
12 residence buildings
Traditional and suite-style buildings connect through Teraanga Commons and the outdoor residence quad.
What room do first-year Carleton students get?
The first-year guarantee is for a traditional double room. First-year students can select from double traditional rooms, double rooms with communal washrooms, or an available double room in a pod. A typical traditional double is furnished for two students with beds, desks, and storage, and the bathroom is shared with the adjoining room.
Single rooms are primarily reserved for returning upper-year students. A first-year student can request a single room as a special accommodation with documentation, but Carleton says it is not guaranteed. Suite-style residences are also reserved for upper-year students.
Which Carleton residence is best for first year?
Carleton does not publish a best-residence ranking, and no building or room type is guaranteed during selection. A useful comparison starts with the room and washroom layouts Carleton actually publishes. The table below describes first-year eligibility and building differences without turning subjective preferences into a ranking.
| Building or group | Published first-year rooms | Published difference | Best match if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glengarry House | Traditional doubles, doubles with communal washrooms, and the double room in a five-person pod | The communal-room option has a sink in the bedroom and staff-maintained washrooms on the floor. In a five-person pod, the first-year double shares a common area with three upper-year singles. | Compare it first if communal washrooms or a pod layout matter more than a standard adjoining washroom. |
| Lennox and Addington House | Traditional doubles with either an adjoining shared washroom or a private washroom | Carleton lists air conditioning plus a TV lounge and study lounge on every floor. The building opened in 2011 and has 10 floors. | Compare it first if air conditioning or the published private-washroom double is a priority. |
| Rideau House | A first-year double paired with an upper-year single around a shared common washroom | Its combined double-and-single layout differs from the standard two-double arrangement, and Carleton publishes a separate 2026–2027 fee for the first-year double. | Compare it first if you prefer the published double-and-single cluster rather than two adjoining doubles. |
| Dundas, Grenville, Lanark, Renfrew, Russell, and Stormont Houses | Standard traditional doubles available to first-year and upper-year students | Two traditional double rooms share the adjoining washroom. Traditional buildings have common TV and study lounges on each floor. | Use this group as the baseline when comparing a standard first-year double against Glengarry, Lennox, or Rideau layouts. |
Frontenac, Leeds, and Prescott are suite-style residences reserved for upper-year students, so a first-year applicant should not build a room plan around those buildings. Accessibility needs should be raised through Carleton's accommodation process rather than inferred from a general building description.
Carleton residence fees for 2026–2027
Carleton's current academic-year fees are per resident for September through April and include the furnished room, utilities, internet, meal plan, residence association fee, and tenant insurance. The values below were reviewed August 2, 2026 and should be rechecked when Carleton publishes the 2027–2028 fee schedule.
| Housing option | Typical availability | Meal plan | 2026–2027 total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional double room | Typical guaranteed first-year room | All Access | $14,010.36 |
| Rideau House double room | First-year and upper-year availability | All Access | $14,634.36 |
| Traditional single room | Primarily upper year; first-year accommodation requests | All Access | $15,830.36 |
| Suite double room | Upper-year suite-style residence | Reduced | $13,745.76 |
All Access includes unlimited entry to Teraanga Commons Dining Hall plus $200 Dining Dollars. Other room and meal-plan combinations cost more or less. The $700 advance payment is the first payment toward the residence balance, not an additional room fee.
How to accept Carleton's first-year residence offer
- 1.Receive and accept your Carleton admission offer, then wait for Carleton360 to show Applicant Acceptance.
- 2.Open the residence offer in the Housing Portal and review the room, meal-plan, payment, cancellation, and accommodation terms.
- 3.Accept the guaranteed residence offer and pay the $700 Residence Advance Payment by the safe June 7, 2027 date.
- 4.Complete the lifestyle and roommate questionnaire. Roommate groups are encouraged but are not mandatory.
- 5.Use the mid-June selection process to choose from the buildings and rooms available at your assigned time.
Off-campus student housing near Carleton
Carleton does not provide, inspect, approve, or affiliate with off-campus properties. It partners with Places4Students for rental, roommate, and sublet listings, but students must independently verify every landlord, listing, and agreement. Carleton specifically warns students about rental scams.
Before paying, compare the full monthly cost, utilities, furnishings, lease length, transit time to campus, winter commute, tenant insurance, roommate liability, and subletting rules. Inspect the property when possible, keep agreements in writing, and review the lease before signing.
Official Carleton housing sources
- Fall 2027 first-year residence guarantee
- Fall 2027 master admissions and residence calendar
- 2026–2027 residence fees and meal plans
- Carleton's 12 residence buildings
- Room types, layouts, and availability
- Lennox and Addington room types and amenities
- Housing Portal application steps
- Off-campus housing and rental-scam guidance
Reviewed August 2, 2026 against Carleton Undergraduate Admissions and Housing and Residence Life. Confirm the live Housing Portal inventory and offer terms before paying.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers based on Carleton's current undergraduate admissions, housing, room-layout, fee, and building pages.
Does Carleton University guarantee residence for first-year students in 2027?
Yes, for eligible students. Carleton guarantees a traditional double room to secondary-school and CEGEP students entering first year in Fall 2027 who receive an admission offer by May 31, 2027. Carleton's dedicated residence page says to accept the residence offer and pay the $700 Residence Advance Payment by June 7, while its master admissions calendar says June 8. Treat June 7, 2027 as the safe action deadline and verify the date in the offer and Housing Portal.
How much is Carleton University residence for 2026–2027?
Carleton's current September-to-April fee for a traditional double room with the All Access meal plan is $14,010.36 per resident. A Rideau House double with All Access is $14,634.36, a traditional single with All Access is $15,830.36, and an upper-year suite double with the Reduced plan is $13,745.76. Fees include the furnished room, utilities, internet, meal plan, residence association fee, and tenant insurance. Recheck the official schedule when 2027–2028 rates are published.
How do I apply for Carleton University residence?
Accept the Carleton admission offer and wait for Carleton360 to show Applicant Acceptance. Then use the Housing Portal to review and accept the residence offer, pay the applicable Residence Advance Payment, complete the lifestyle and roommate questionnaire, and follow the room-selection instructions. Carleton warns that the account update can take three or four days, so do not wait until the deadline.
What room do first-year Carleton students get?
The first-year guarantee is for a traditional double room. First-year students can select from available double traditional rooms, double rooms with communal washrooms, or double rooms in a pod. Single rooms are primarily reserved for upper-year students; a documented first-year accommodation request does not guarantee a single. Suite-style residences are reserved for upper-year students.
How many residence buildings does Carleton University have?
Carleton currently lists 12 residence buildings with traditional and suite-style options connected through Teraanga Commons and the outdoor residence quad. First-year students generally live in traditional-style housing, while suite-style residences are reserved for upper-year students.
Are meal plans included in Carleton residence fees?
The published 2026–2027 residence totals include the applicable meal plan. A traditional double with the All Access plan includes unlimited entry to Teraanga Commons Dining Hall and $200 Dining Dollars for the academic year. Meal-plan choices and costs depend on the room and building; Carleton currently says meal plans are required in every building except Leeds House.
Can I choose my Carleton residence room or roommate?
Carleton's residence questionnaire asks about interests and habits for roommate matching. Students can form a roommate group, but it is optional. The university currently says first-year students select an available building and room in mid-June, and gender-inclusive options are available. A preferred roommate, building, or room type remains subject to inventory.
Does Carleton University provide off-campus housing?
No. Carleton does not provide, inspect, approve, or affiliate with off-campus properties. It partners with Places4Students for listings, roommates, and sublets, but students must independently verify the landlord, listing, property, and lease and should watch for rental scams. Compare utilities, furnishings, lease length, transit, insurance, and subletting rules before paying.
What is the best residence at Carleton University for first-year students?
Carleton does not designate one first-year residence as best, and room inventory changes during selection. Compare published layouts instead: Glengarry has communal-washroom doubles and a first-year double in a five-person pod; Lennox and Addington lists air conditioning and traditional doubles with either an adjoining or private washroom; Rideau pairs a first-year double with an upper-year single around a shared common washroom; and several other traditional houses use the standard two-double, adjoining-washroom layout. Choose based on washroom arrangement, accessibility, available inventory, community, and cost rather than an unsupported ranking.
What rooms are available in Glengarry House at Carleton?
Carleton lists a double room with communal washrooms for first-year students, standard traditional doubles, and a five-person pod containing one first-year-eligible double plus three upper-year singles. The three-person and four-person Glengarry pods are listed for upper-year students. Availability is not guaranteed, so verify the live room-selection inventory at your assigned time.