I tried searching the forums, and didn’t find much useful information. Other than Alabama-Huntsville, does anyone know of any colleges where single dorm rooms are the norm, rather than the exception? Suite-style or individual? At this point in the search, nothing else matters, so I’m not providing stats or specifics. By the way, this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker but rather an important consideration.
Most schools won’t offer them for freshman, and even if they do, few would guarantee them. Plus, some schools charge extra. If you have a medical reason for a single, many schools will grant them. Some colleges will allow frosh to live off campus — in that case you could rent a room in a house or apartment tgatvis your own. But you likely would have a 12 month lease and have to furnish the room yourself - and maybe have to cook for yourself.
Thanks, but I’m not interested in investigating off-campus housing, and have no medical reason. I’m merely looking for universities where solo dorm rooms are the norm or at least an easily obtained option, not those single rooms scattered here and there for RAs and such. An extra charge doesn’t matter. I know about Alabama-Huntsville and Pitt-Johnstown to a lesser extent. I’m wondering if there are more.
D#2 had suite style rooms that were the norm for freshmen. It was a freshman ‘village’ with 7 buildings, each 3 stories, with 4 units on each landing. Each unit had 4 single rooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchenette (no stove) with a living room. Something like 95% of freshmen lived in the village. There was also a traditional dorm with many choices of rooms -singles, doubles, quads, some with private baths, some with shared baths. For upperclassmen, there were several modern dorms like the freshman village, and other types of housing for singles, like efficiency apartments. Florida Institute of Technology.
D#1 lived in a traditional dorm, where singles were an option, you just paid more for them. They were scattered all over because most students didn’t request singles (cost). The bathrooms were shared. U of Wyoming.
I’d imagine the availability may be determined by the enrollment at the school. If the school is over enrolled, like California UCs, there is very little single housing available.
Can attest. D got single housing in sophomore year (a 4-bedroom on-campus apartment at Cal), but it was a unicorn that they were lucky to get and not was not repeated. Having a single room is sooooo nice, but it’s not a reality for most college freshmen living on campus.
Cornell has a lot of single rooms for freshmen, but they do cost extra. It is not hard to get a single if you are willing to pay.
Last fall, I was sharing the trials of a forced triple to some of my friends with kids at other schools. One of them actually said, “Well, why didn’t she request a single?” Ha, ha ha, ha. For those with kids at schools with ongoing housing shortages, this is a very strange question. No amount of money is going to get a freshman kid into an on-campus single unless said kid needs accommodations.
twoinanddone, this is awesome information, and just the sort of thing I’m looking for. Thanks so much.
Someone told me that most of the freshmen at Millersville University in PA, live in brand new suite style singles. It was a major influence in her sons decision to go there over a slightly better ranked school.
Haverford has singles available for freshmen.
University at Buffalo. The Ellicot complex has single/double rooms. It means that you walk through the doorway from the hallway into a vestibule area with 2 doors. One goes to a single and the other to a double. Shared hallway bathrooms though, for a few rooms to share.
From what I’ve read on reddit, it’s not hard to get those singles as a freshman.
I think University of Central Florida has suites with singles for freshman too. Maybe only honors? I know I remember seeing them though.
I don’t mean to sound rude, but why do you want to live alone?
Now, there’s nothing wrong about living solo. But, if you have problems living with others, then maybe you’ll be better off just living by yourself. For me, I wouldn’t mind living by myself, but it kinda gets lonely for some people.
Remember: It’s not easy to get a room by yourself in college, unless if something happens: Good Luck on your search
^^^^ I don’t think it is our business to pry. People can have a multitude of different reasons for wanting a single and some colleges do offer them.
I believe Mills is all singles (might be wrong on that). Smith has a lot of singles. Both are women’s colleges though. Not sure if that is what you are looking for.
It was great for my kids to have singles. They were able to study in their room when it was too cold to go to a library. They left their door open when they wanted company and had it closed when they wanted privacy. They didn’t have to deal with their roommate coming back late or getting up early, and not have to deal with roommate’s bf sleeping over. Not sure why it is such a great thing to share a room with anyone. There is no time in anyone’s life when someone needs to share a room with someone other than in college.
@happy1 I respect his privacy, but thanks for catching another mistake from me. I believe that it’s more of a rhetorical question IMO…
Most schools charge extra, and if the extra fee isn’t too much then you should get it because it is worth it