Sophomore Housing Lottery
Last Updated: March 15, 2023
*The sophomore housing lottery is open to first-year students currently living on campus only. All non-local first-year students with an active two-year license agreement are REQUIRED to participate in the sophomore housing lottery.
Please be aware that the information on this page is subject to change as we continue to monitor demand for on-campus housing.

We hope you were able to attend a Sophomore Housing Lottery Info Session on Jan. 28. In case you missed it or need a refresher, please watch the video below with detailed information about Stage I including license agreement term lengths, roommate groups, meal plans and more.
Stage II
In mid-March, roommate group leaders and students without a roommate group will receive an email with their lottery date and time assignment. When your appointment window opens, you will be able to select from all available room options!
1) Create a Plan
Room selection is based on availability during your lottery date and time. Specific room types and buildings cannot be guaranteed. Become familiar with all sophomore residential community options to ease your selection process.
Lottery dates will take place between April 4-7 and April 10-13. Please note: Lottery dates and times will not be assigned on April 8 or April 9.
Roommate group leaders and students without a roommate group will be able to log in to the Housing Portal and preview available spaces one (1) hour prior to your lottery date and time.
Download our "Building Breakdown" document for additional details regarding units, bedrooms, room types, and availability in each sophomore building.
2) Select your room
If you are a roommate group leader or not in a roommate group, log in to the Housing Portal during your lottery date and time to self-select your room and assign your roommate group (if applicable) to your living space, floor or building. You will have 24 hours to complete your room selection.
If room selection is not completed within 24 hours of your assigned lottery date and time, your access to the Housing Portal will expire and a space will be assigned to you after the lottery process is complete.
Download our "Room Selection Guide" document for helpful tips and key words for selecting your space.
Room Selection: Roommate Group Leaders
Room Selection: Student Without a Roommate Group
During the sophomore housing lottery, current first-year students will select their sophomore housing assignment for the 2023-24 academic year. The sophomore housing lottery is a two-stage process:
During Stage I (Feb. 1- 28), current first-year students will:
- Review license agreement term length (required)
- Search and confirm roommates (optional)
- Opt into a meal plan (optional)
During Stage II (April 4-7 and April 10-13), roommate group leaders and students without a roommate group will select from available rooms on the Housing Portal during their assigned lottery date and time. Lottery dates will take place April 4-7 and again April 10-13. Please note: Lottery dates and times will not be assigned on April 8 or April 9.
Additional details regarding Stage I and Stage II are outlined in the “Housing Lottery Timeline” section of this page.
The sophomore housing lottery process is designed to prioritize larger roommate groups to optimize room allocation. Lottery start times are the only items assigned at random.
As the sophomore housing lottery is based on availability during the assigned lottery date and time, specific room types and buildings cannot be guaranteed until the assignment is confirmed. Students are strongly encouraged to be familiar with all sophomore residential communities (see links below) to best inform their selection from what is available during their designated lottery date and time.
9-Month License
|
||
9 or 11.5-Month
|
||
11.5-Month License
|
Term Lengths
9-month license agreements are for the academic year (August 2023 - May 2024). 11.5-month license agreements are through summer (August 2023 - August 2024).
Viva
Housing is excited to announce that San Diego State intends to purchase and manage Viva starting in fall 2023 to support the Sophomore Success Program. The purchase of Viva is currently in progress, and additional details are forthcoming. Viva will be an 11.5-month community, and approximately 200 spaces will be available at Viva for students to select during the sophomore housing lottery process.
Rates
Sophomore housing rates are based on license agreement term length, room type (single, double, or triple) and tier level (Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3).
*Please be aware that sophomore residential communities are subject to change as we continue to monitor housing demand.
Priority for housing space is given to students in special categories established by the university. This includes Guardian Scholars, students with approved medical accommodation and specific accessibility needs, and student-athletes. Students in these groups will be able to select a space before the sophomore housing lottery opens.
- Guardian Scholars: California State University campuses are required by law to give priority housing to students who are currently or formerly homeless and/or foster youth. As such, priority housing is offered to students in the Guardian Scholars Program, which is committed to serving students who identify as current or former foster youth to ensure housing stability.
- Students with Medical Accommodations: Housing provides reasonable accommodations to assure equal access to students with disabilities. Students seeking housing accommodations on the basis of disability must register for services with the Student Ability Success Center by February 28, 2023 to be eligible for priority housing. Housing accomodations cannot be guaranteed, and are based on availability.
- Division I Student-Athletes: Priority housing is offered to Division I student-athletes so they can successfully participate in summer training and be in close proximity to training facilities.
Housing Lottery Timeline
Explore Sophomore Housing Options
Take a virtual tour, view floor plans and photos, and see amenities available in each sophomore residential community.
Sophomore Housing Lottery Info Sessions
We hope you were able to attend a Sophomore Housing Lottery Info Session on Jan. 28. In case you missed it or need a refresher, please watch the video below with detailed information about Stage I including license agreement term lengths, roommate groups, meal plans and more.
Stage I
Log in to the Housing Portal and complete the following by February 28, 2023.
1) Review your license agreement term length (required)
The default term length for sophomores is nine (9) months for the academic year (August 2023 - May 2024). You may opt into an eleven-and-a-half-month (11.5) term length that extends through summer (August 2023 - August 2024) at Aztec Corner, [email protected] and Viva. If you select an 11.5-month license agreement, you will not be able to switch to a 9-month license agreement and vice versa.
2) Search and mutually confirm your roommates (optional)
If you would like to live with particular roommates, you may join a roommate group! Roommate groups may be two (2) or four (4) people only. If you are in a roommate group, only the roommate group leader will receive a lottery date and time, and that person will select and assign a room for all listed roommates. The roommate group leader is determined by whoever initiates the roommate request.
The sophomore housing lottery process is designed to prioritize larger roommate groups to optimize room allocation. Lottery start times are the only items assigned at random. As such, roommate groups of 4 will receive earlier lottery dates than roommate groups of 2 and students without roommate groups. Bed spaces that are not filled within a unit will be held for students with a later lottery date.
Note that by initiating a roommate group, you will be responsible for assigning yourself and your roommate(s) to a space. Alternatively, by accepting a roommate group invitation, you are agreeing to accept the assigned space completed by the roommate group leader.
3) Select a meal plan (optional)
You may select one of the following meal plan options. Meal plans are optional for sophomore students. Meal plan selections require an academic year commitment and cannot be canceled after July 1, 2023.
2nd Year Plan
- $4,392 total cost per academic year
- 2 meals per week accepted at The Garden Restaurant or University Towers Kitchen (68 meals at $17 each total)
- Plus $77.65 per week in declining dollars
Flex 5
- $5,808 total cost per academic year
- $31.50 allowance per day, Monday thru Friday
Flex 7
- $6,528 total cost per academic year
- $29.40 allowance per day, Monday thru Friday
- $17.50 allowance per day, Saturday & Sunday
Meals Plus
- $7,080 total cost per academic year
- 3 meals per week accepted at The Garden Restaurant or University Towers Kitchen (102 meals at $17 each total)
- Plus $139.75 per week in declining dollars
*Rates are subject to change.
Download our "Sophomore Housing Lottery Timeline" document to see all steps and due dates.
Stage II
In mid-March, roommate group leaders and students without a roommate group will receive an email with their lottery date and time assignment. When your appointment window opens, you will be able to select from all available room options!
1) Create a Plan
Room selection is based on availability during your lottery date and time. Specific room types and buildings cannot be guaranteed. Become familiar with all sophomore residential community options to ease your selection process.
Lottery dates will take place between April 4-7 and April 10-13. Please note: Lottery dates and times will not be assigned on April 8 or April 9.
Roommate group leaders and students without a roommate group will be able to log in to the Housing Portal and preview available spaces one (1) hour prior to your lottery date and time.
Download our "Building Breakdown" document for additional details regarding units, bedrooms, room types, and availability in each sophomore building.
2) Select your room
If you are a roommate group leader or not in a roommate group, log in to the Housing Portal during your lottery date and time to self-select your room and assign your roommate group (if applicable) to your living space, floor or building. You will have 24 hours to complete your room selection.
If room selection is not completed within 24 hours of your assigned lottery date and time, your access to the Housing Portal will expire and a space will be assigned to you after the lottery process is complete.
Download our "Room Selection Guide" document for helpful tips and key words for selecting your space.
Room Selection: Roommate Group Leaders
Room Selection: Student Without a Roommate Group
All sophomore residential communities offer Sophomore QUEST programming that consists of workshops and high-impact learning opportunities designed specifically for second-year students. Sophomore QUEST programming will provide you with opportunities to create plans for degree completion, study abroad, undergraduate research, internships, healthy living, financial and credit management, and other programs that will contribute to your personal and academic success. Watch the video below to learn more about the Sophomore QUEST program!
[email protected] is an off-campus, SDSU-affiliated residential community. Living at [email protected] can fulfill the campus residency requirement. Room selection for [email protected] is unique and can be completed in one of two ways.
Complete the sophomore housing lottery process (outlined above) with the Office of Housing Administration. Space is limited; only seven (7) apartment units or twenty-six (26) total beds are available at [email protected] through the Housing License Agreement. An assignment to [email protected] cannot be guaranteed and is based on availability.
[email protected] is now accepting applications. Apply as soon as possible as space is expected to fill up quickly.
If your application is approved, you may sign a lease directly with [email protected] In order for [email protected] to fulfill the campus residency requirement, you must complete a Contract Release Request within seven (7) days of your signed lease with [email protected] Please submit the Contract Release Request to the Office of Housing Administration by Feb. 10, 2023. Failing to complete the Contract Release Request upon a lease with [email protected] will have costly consequences. If space is full at [email protected] and you are required to live on campus during your sophomore year, you must complete the sophomore housing lottery process (outlined above).
Though [email protected] is affiliated with SDSU, it is considered an off-campus community and is not owned or operated by the university. Leasing directly with [email protected] may have financial aid impacts depending on your financial aid package. [email protected] cannot reassign you to another building if your needs or circumstances change. Please note: Only a lease with the Office of Housing Administration can allow you to apply for a building switch if needed.
Students who joined a fraternity or sorority during the fall 2022 semester can request to live in the chapter facility during their sophomore year, however, both the student and the chapter must meet specific requirements in the fall 2022 semester in order to be eligible for this exemption process.
Students must have a fall 2022 semester and total GPA at or above 2.80 and be in good standing with the university. This means you cannot be on academic probation/disqualification or judicial probation. Clarification: Rounding GPA figures does not occur.
The fraternity or sorority chapter must acquire a minimum of "accredited" status on their Greek Accreditation evaluation for the fall 2022 semester and have a fall 2022 semester average GPA at or above 2.80. Clarification: Rounding GPA figures does not occur.
On or before January 13, 2023: Students (fall 2022, first-year new members) interested in being a resident of their respective fraternity/sorority chapter facility starting fall 2023 during their sophomore year must individually submit their interest to the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life via the FSL Exemption Request Google Form. This form is not the full exemption request. The Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life staff will route (via AdobeSign) the Letter of Intent/Contract Release Request to all individuals that need to initial/sign this document within five business days of receiving the Google Form entry.
By February 1, 2023: The routed Letter of Intent/Contract Release Request (electronic, 3-page document) must be electronically signed by the student, parent/guardian and chapter advisor.
By February 1, 2023: Students and chapters will be notified of eligibility.
By February 1, 2023: Advisors of chapters will submit the final list of names of those they wish to become residents of their chapter facility.
By February 14, 2023: The deadline for names of final eligible students with signed Letter of Intent/Contract Release Request form. Shortly thereafter, OHA will send a confirmation letter for the Greek Exemption to eligible students, releasing them from the second-year portion of their license agreement.
Additional information and resources can be found at the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life or by contacting [email protected].
FAQs
The sophomore housing lottery is based on availability during the assigned lottery date and time. Roommate groups, room types and buildings cannot be guaranteed.
Roommate groups may be two (2) or four (4) people only. However, we are able to make an exception for students wanting to live in Tepeyac and Tacuba. After Stage I, the roommate group leader can email [email protected] to request to combine two roommate groups for an assignment in Tepeyac and Tacuba. We are not able to make this exception for other buildings.
All roommates must select the same term length. If you select an 11.5-month license agreement, you will not be able to switch to a 9-month license agreement and vice versa.
Yes, all sophomore housing spaces are gender inclusive so roommate groups can be co-ed.
Student Leader selections will be made after the lottery process. We recommend completing Stage I and II until selections are made. Be transparent with your roommate group throughout the process. Should you decide to accept the position, you will be removed from your assigned space. The vacant space will be made available to other students.
You may submit a Pre-Occupancy Room Switch Request starting April 17, 2023. We will accommodate your requests based on space availability.
The Office of Housing Administration will receive the names of final eligible students with signed Letter of Intent/Contract Release Request forms. Students will receive a confirmation letter for the Greek Exemption and will not need to go through the housing lottery process.
Housing provides reasonable accommodations to assure equal access to students with disabilities. Students seeking housing accommodations on the basis of disability must register for services with the Student Ability Success Center by February 28, 2023 to be eligible for priority housing. Housing accomodations cannot be guaranteed, and are based on availability.
All apartment-style communities offer full kitchens.
Tepeyac and Tacuba are suite-style communities, which offer a kitchenette within the unit including a refrigerator, sink and microwave. South Campus Plaza does not offer a kitchenette within the unit. Students residing in Tepeyac, Tacuba, and South Campus Plaza have access to a community kitchen.
Please review the Sophomore Housing Rates.
Housing rates vary based on if the student selects a 9-month versus 11.5-month license agreement term length. The tier levels (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3) are based on building amenities. Triple, double and single rate amounts refer to the number of students in the room, not the number of students in the unit. The rate amount is per student.
For example, a student who selects a 9-month term length and is assigned to a double-occupancy room in Aztec Corner would pay the 9-month, Tier 3, double rate.
A space will be assigned to you after the lottery process is complete.
We are not able to change lottery dates and times. Please note that you have 24 hours from your assigned lottery date and time to complete your room selection.
If you are interested in living at Viva, you will need to go through the Sophomore Housing Lottery process to select your sophomore housing. As the sophomore housing lottery is based on availability during the assigned lottery date and time, specific room types and buildings are not guaranteed. Students are encouraged to be familiar with all sophomore residential communities to best inform their selection from what is available during their designated lottery date and time.