Housing decision · University of Waterloo
Build a realistic first-year living plan
- 1EligibilityGuarantee and application rules
- 2OptionsBuildings, rooms, communities
- 3Full costResidence, meals, deposits
- 4CommitDeadlines and backup housing
Waterloo Residence Fees & Housing 2026–27
Waterloo, Ontario
Compare University of Waterloo Campus Housing and University College fees, meal-plan costs, and the residence guarantee deposit before you plan Waterloo housing.
Reviewed August 13, 2026 · Information checked against official university sources · How we review guides
University of Waterloo Residence Costs and First-Year Housing
2026–2027 fees and Fall 2027 planning
University of Waterloo residence costs, guarantee, and application
For 2026–2027, eight months in a first-year Campus Housing suite costs $8,668 to $10,984 before food or an optional meal plan. Traditional Campus Housing rooms cost about $15,134 to $19,292 after adding one of the required meal plans. Waterloo's residence guarantee currently covers eligible first-year and transfer students who accept their admission offer, apply on time, and pay the $500 non-refundable housing deposit. Campus Housing holds about 4,400 first-year students across five residences, and four on-campus University Colleges add smaller communities with meals included.
Waterloo has published the 2026–2027 housing schedule, but not the equivalent Fall 2027 guarantee deadline or fee schedule. The June 1 and June 8 dates below are current 2026-cycle facts to help applicants understand the process; they must be replaced with Waterloo's 2027 dates when those are released.
Suite housing, eight months
$8,668–$10,984
First-year UWP and MKV room fees before food. A suite meal plan is optional.
Traditional room plus food
$15,134–$19,292
The range combines current V1, REV, and CMH room fees with the lowest or highest mandatory meal-plan tier.
Current guarantee deposit
$500
Non-refundable and due with the application. The Fall 2027 deadline has not been published.
Waterloo Campus Housing fees for 2026–2027
The official fee schedule separates the room charge from food. The last column below uses Traditional B for traditional rooms and Advantage C for suites so the rows are comparable to Waterloo's published eight-month table. Traditional A or C and other optional suite plans change the final total.
| Residence | Room | Eight-month housing | Meal plan | With reference plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village 1 | Single | $9,200 | Mandatory | $17,240 |
| Village 1 | Interconnecting double | $8,780 | Mandatory | $16,820 |
| Village 1 | Double | $8,254 | Mandatory | $16,294 |
| Ron Eydt Village | Double | $8,254 | Mandatory | $16,294 |
| Claudette Millar Hall | Single | $10,092 | Mandatory | $18,132 |
| Claudette Millar Hall | Semi-private double | $9,616 | Mandatory | $17,656 |
| Mackenzie King Village | Single in a four-bedroom suite | $10,984 | Optional | $17,864 |
| UW Place | Single in a two-bedroom suite | $9,924 | Optional | $16,804 |
| UW Place | Single in a three- or four-bedroom suite | $9,394 | Optional | $16,274 |
| UW Place | Double in a two-bedroom suite | $8,668 | Optional | $15,548 |
Waterloo updates residence fees each February. Room fees include utilities, high-speed internet, maintenance, Don support, Residence IT and front-desk help, and building amenities. Students without a suite meal plan should still budget for groceries and dining: Waterloo's current living-cost estimate allows $4,400 to $9,200 for a meal plan within its $16,950 to $24,480 first-year living-expense range.
Fall 2027
Fall 2027 residence-guarantee dates
Not yet published. In the 2026 cycle, eligible first-year and transfer students had to accept the Waterloo admission offer by its deadline (June 1, 2026 for most students), then complete the New Student Residence Application and pay the non-refundable housing deposit by 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time on June 8, 2026.
Use the 2026 dates as the working pattern only; verify the guarantee page after receiving a Fall 2027 offer.
Waterloo Undergraduate Admissions: First-year and transfer residence guarantee · Verified August 13, 2026
2026–27
New residence building opening in 2027
The 2026–27 fee schedule lists a new residence building opening in 2027 with traditional singles at $10,832, traditional doubles at $10,096, and singles in two-bedroom suites at $11,817 for eight months, with optional meal plans.
Recheck availability, opening timing, and Fall 2027 assignment rules before counting on this building.
Waterloo Campus Housing: Campus Housing 2026–27 residence fee schedule · Verified August 13, 2026
Is first-year residence guaranteed at Waterloo?
Yes, when a student meets the published conditions. For Fall 2026, eligible new first-year and transfer students had to accept their Waterloo admission offer by its deadline—June 1 for most students—then complete the New Student Residence Application and pay the $500 deposit by 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time on June 8.
The guarantee is for an on-campus residence space, not a specific building or room. It includes Campus Housing, Renison, St. Jerome's, and United College. Conrad Grebel is on campus but requires a separate direct application. Missing the guarantee deadline moves the student to vacancy and waitlist processes where an offer is not guaranteed.
Waterloo has not yet published Fall 2027 residence-guarantee dates. Do not assume June 1 or June 8 will repeat; check the official guarantee page after receiving an offer.
Waterloo dorms: traditional vs. suite-style residence
Traditional-style dorms
Village 1 (1,381 beds), Ron Eydt Village (960), and Claudette Millar Hall (539) provide a furnished single, double, interconnecting, or semi-private room with shared floor facilities and access to an on-site eatery. Meal plans are mandatory. Waterloo currently says 64% of its first-year Campus Housing students live in traditional-style buildings, and 43% live in shared double rooms.
Suite-style residence
UW Place (1,650 beds) and Mackenzie King Village (320) use apartment-style layouts with bedrooms plus a shared kitchen, living area, and bathroom. Meal plans are optional because students can cook. Only Claudette Millar Hall and Mackenzie King Village have air conditioning, so compare the room fee plus groceries, kitchen setup, number of suitemates, and distance—not just the headline residence price.
Waterloo University College residence costs
Waterloo students in any program can also live at an on-campus University College. These are smaller communities with all-you-care-to-eat meal plans included in the published price. The current guarantee process includes Renison, St. Jerome's, and United; Conrad Grebel uses its own application.
| Residence | Room | 2026–2027 total | Application route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renison University College | Double / single | $15,700 / $17,300 | Included in Waterloo's current guarantee |
| St. Jerome's University | Double / single | $17,380 / $18,970 | Included in Waterloo's current guarantee |
| United College | Double | $15,740 | Included in Waterloo's current guarantee |
| Conrad Grebel University College | Double | $16,130 | Separate direct application |
Waterloo residence preferences and roommates
The first application ranks Campus Housing and the participating University Colleges. Students assigned to Campus Housing complete a second step in mid-June to rank traditional or suite style and room type; Waterloo says it does not collect preferences for a specific Campus Housing building. A new undergraduate can request one roommate when both students request each other, use the same application period, and report the same gender identity.
Preferences and a roommate request are not placement guarantees. Waterloo says it cannot change an assignment after the offer is issued. Students who need disability-, medical-, or creed-based housing support should use the official accommodation process by the published deadline—11:55 p.m. Eastern Time on June 8 in the 2026 cycle—rather than relying on a room preference.
Waterloo residence meal plans
Traditional A, B, and C currently cost $4,600, $4,020, and $3,440 per four-month term. One is mandatory in V1, REV, and CMH. Suite-style and off-campus students can choose among five optional Advantage plans (A–E) currently ranging from $2,220 to $4,600 per term. Every plan includes $100 in Flex Dollars and a $120 administrative fee, so compare the plan funds and how often the student expects to cook before choosing by sticker price.
Waterloo residence move-in 2026
Fall 2026 Campus Housing move-in runs Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6. Students book a 30-minute key-pickup and unloading slot through the Housing Hub portal once booking opens on August 5, and Village 1 residents can drop belongings early on August 20 or 22. These dates do not establish the Fall 2027 schedule; use the building assignment and Waterloo email for the next cycle's instructions.
Waterloo off-campus housing
Residence is optional. Waterloo's official off-campus site provides a regional housing map plus guidance on searching, renter rights, leases, safety, maintenance, and fraud. Start early, verify the landlord and unit, calculate utilities and commuting, and do not treat a private listing as university-approved without confirmation.
Budget residence with tuition and financial aid
A room quote is only one part of the first-year budget. Add tuition, compulsory fees, books, travel, personal expenses, insurance, groceries where applicable, and costs between residence contracts or co-op terms. Use the Waterloo scholarships and financial aid guide with the current OSAP guide before deciding what is affordable.
Official University of Waterloo residence sources
- Residence overview, capacity, and University College costs
- First-year and transfer residence guarantee
- Campus Housing 2026–27 residence fee schedule
- First-year application, assignment, and roommate process
- Residence styles, capacity, and comparison
- Fall 2026 move-in guide
- Official Waterloo off-campus housing resources
- 2026–2027 traditional residence meal plans
- 2026–2027 suite-style residence meal plans
Reviewed August 13, 2026 · Housing inventory, prices, contracts, and dates can change; verify on the official pages before acting
Housing and Location Questions
| Campus Setting | Regional university city with a defined campus community |
|---|---|
| Residence | Check residence guarantee rules, first-year room styles, meal plans, deposit deadlines, and off-campus housing pressure. |
| City Fit | Students should compare transit, weather, cost of living, safety, and community feel in Waterloo. |
| Commuting | If living off campus, map commute time to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities before committing. |
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison, but official university pages remain the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 13, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology