Roommates

Ready for a roommate?

Living with roommates is an essential part of your time at IU—most students living on campus will have a roommate. About 50 percent of all new residents choose to go with a random roommate assignment instead of living with someone they know. Having roommates can be a great and enriching experience, but it can also be challenging.

We're ready to provide you with the support services you need. On this page, we've included information on how to find a roommate, how to plan for success, and some general tips on how to make the most of your time living on campus with your roommate.

  • If you choose to live with someone you know, you'll be able to request a roommate when you fill out your housing application on One.IU. We recommend reaching out to that person and confirming that you would like to live together since roommate requests must be mutual.
  • Make sure that you have your requested roommate's full name and IU username before starting the housing application.
  • The roommate selection page for incoming first-year students is found at the end of the application since it is not required.
  • Note we recommend roommates make the same housing preference selections to avoid any issues with the assignment process.

This roommate options allows you to apply to housing spaces without regard to gender. It is focused on creating an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment where students can live together regardless of sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression.

All students are eligible to participate in gender-inclusive housing, but you must opt in to the program. All our residence halls are mixed-gender living environments. On your housing application you will need to select, “Yes, I am interested in participating in gender-inclusive housing.” You will then receive an email with information about roommate matching.

IU Housing offers the Spectrum Thematic Community, an inclusive community designed to create a comfortable and supportive environment for all students of all gender and sexual identities. Community members have the opportunity to:

  • Connect with campus faculty, staff, and academic programs
  • Go to community events, such as the Bloomington PRIDE Film Festival, Quarryland Men's Chorus concerts, etc.
  • Attend campus events and activities, such as film screenings, guest lectures, Kinsey art exhibits, etc.
Explore our thematic communities

Your resident assistant (RA) will help you and your roommate(s) develop a roommate agreement that will set the norms you agree to live by. Be ready to be honest about your views on guests, housekeeping, personal property, privacy, and quiet time.

Similarly, peace and harmony on a floor happen when respect and cooperation are shared by all group members. Your RA will work with your floor members to help you set your community standards. Everyone will help decide how your community will deal with things like cleanliness, noise, safety, and vandalism.

Living in a residence hall is an experience every student should go through. It prepares you for the ‘real world’ while surrounding you with others going through similar experiences to your own.

Jordan G.