College housing
Can I break my dorm contract to move off campus?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Usually only with an approved release, and often with a fee. Most housing contracts cover the full academic year, and schools typically allow cancellation for reasons like withdrawing, graduating early, studying abroad or serious hardship. Moving off campus for a cheaper or nicer place is rarely an approved reason. Read your contract's cancellation terms first.
A housing contract is separate from any off-campus lease, and signing one doesn't cancel the other. If you sign a lease and your release request is denied, you could owe both.
- Find the cancellation or release section of your housing contract and note the deadlines and fees.
- Talk to the housing office before signing anything off campus, and ask what they would approve.
- If you have a medical, financial or family reason, bring documentation.
- Get the release in writing, then sign the off-campus lease.
Mid-year releases can be easier when there's a waitlist for dorm rooms, because the school can fill your space. Ask whether finding a student to take your spot would help your request. Many schools also set a deadline before the fall term after which cancelling costs more, so if you're even thinking about moving off campus, ask early.
Want the whole picture? Read Off-Campus Housing for Students: A Semester-by-Semester Timeline.