Is Ridgecrest South only for Honors students?

Ridgecrest South is UA's Honors housing, but the university is explicit that Honors College students aren't required to live in Honors housing — and no student is guaranteed a specific building. In practice the community skews heavily Honors, which shapes the atmosphere: study-forward, a bit quieter, with living rooms that host study groups as often as movie nights. If you're an Honors student who wants that environment, request it early in your housing application; if you're not Honors, plan around one of UA's other first-year communities.

Does Ridgecrest South include a fridge?

Yes — each suite's living-room kitchenette includes a full-size refrigerator (1-bedroom suites get a mini fridge), plus a sink, microwave, and storage cabinets. Don't buy a fridge or microwave for Ridgecrest South; the space and the appliances are already there. For actual cooking, community kitchens on the 2nd and 4th floors have full stoves and ovens. UA's fire rules still govern anything you add: auto-shut-off appliances only, no open flames, and no extension cords — bring a surge-protected power strip.

What's the lockable drawer in Ridgecrest South?

Each resident's two-piece desk includes a storage unit with a lockable drawer — but UA doesn't provide the lock, so bring a small drawer lock or padlock if you want to use it. It's the right place for a passport, medications, spare cash, and anything else you'd rather not leave loose in a suite where suitemates' guests come and go. Between the lockable drawer, your own private bedroom, and a bathroom shared by only two people, Ridgecrest South is one of the more securable setups in freshman housing.

How much under-bed storage does Ridgecrest South have?

As much as you're willing to create — the Twin XL beds adjust up to 50 inches from the floor, which at full height fits tall under-bed drawer sets, luggage, and bins with room to spare, no risers needed. Set the height on move-in day before the room fills up, and use tall storage drawers rather than shallow bins to actually use the clearance you have. A bed rail is available from housing if you sleep high, and a step stool stops the nightly climb from getting old.

Tuscaloosa, AL · Roll Tide · Tuscaloosa

Ridgecrest South Dorm Checklist 2026

University of Alabama

2- and 4-bedroom suites with living room & kitchenette (Honors housing), bathrooms shared by two

Verified Jul 26, 2026 · housing.sl.ua.edu

Honors housing with the same suite formula as Presidential Village — private bedrooms in 2- and 4-bedroom suites, living room and kitchenette with full-size refrigerator, sink, and microwave. Beds adjust to 50 inches; desks include a lockable drawer (bring your own lock). Laundry in each wing, community kitchens with stoves on the 2nd and 4th floors.

Bed SizeTwin XL · 36"×80"
Under-BedAdjustable · to 50"
ACYes
On-CampusOptional

✓ In the room

Bed frame & Twin XL mattressdesk (2-piece)desk chairdressercloset/wardrobelockable desk drawersuite living room with FULL-SIZE refrigerator (mini in 1-bedroom suites)sinkmicrowave & cabinetscafé dining table & chairs

✗ Not provided

Beddingtowelsshower caddyhangersdesk lampdrawer lock (drawer is lockablelock not provided)

⊘ Prohibited

Candlesoil lampsincensehookahshalogen lamps & bulbsgasoline/charcoal/flammablesnatural-cut trees or greenerycooking appliances without auto shut-offextension cords (bring a surge-protected power strip)

Extension cords are prohibited in UA housing and can be removed by staff — bring a surge-protected power strip instead.
Doing sorority recruitment? Early move-in is August 6-7, 2026 — register through your housing application (registering for Primary Recruitment before June 1 avoids a 4-5 day delay in booking early move-in times). Your packing deadline is days earlier than the regular Aug 8 move-in.

Living in Ridgecrest South: what to know before you pack

The room

Ridgecrest South bedrooms are private within 2- and 4-bedroom suites, each furnished with a Twin XL bed (36"×80") on a frame that adjusts up to 50 inches, a two-piece desk whose storage unit includes a lockable drawer (bring your own lock — one isn't provided), a desk chair, and a 3-drawer dresser. The suite's shared living room has a kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator (1-bedroom suites get a mini), a sink, a microwave, and storage cabinets — so leave the fridge and microwave off your list. Bathrooms are shared by two. Raise the bed early: at full height, the under-bed space swallows a semester's worth of storage without any risers. Floors are carpeted.

Day to day

Ridgecrest South is Honors housing, so your neighbors skew Honors College — though Honors students aren't required to live here and assignments aren't guaranteed, the community identity is real: quiet-leaning, study-forward, with common spaces and RA-led programs throughout the building. Each wing has its own laundry room, and community kitchens on the 2nd and 4th floors have full stoves and ovens for real cooking beyond the suite kitchenette. The suite layout gives you a private bedroom plus a living room your suite actually uses — the classic Ridgecrest experience is a study group in the living room with the door open. Rooms are air-conditioned, which is non-negotiable in a Tuscaloosa August.

Move-in day

Move-in is Saturday, August 8, 2026 for first-years, with sorority recruitment early check-in August 6-7 and program early slots the morning of the 8th — your housing application has your specific window. The suite rules apply here: coordinate shared items with suitemates in advance (the kitchenette already covers fridge, microwave, and sink), bring your own padlock or drawer lock for the lockable desk drawer, and set your bed to full height before boxes cover the floor. Tuscaloosa humidity in August is no joke — early window, fast unload, unpack in the AC.

Room ideas

See The Raised Bed styled

The frame goes up, and the floor underneath comes back as storage.

Styled render — not a photo of Ridgecrest South.

Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup

Sources & verification — last checked Jul 26, 2026

Ridgecrest South FAQ

Is Ridgecrest South only for Honors students?: Ridgecrest South is UA's Honors housing, but the university is explicit that Honors College students aren't required to live in Honors housing — and no student is guaranteed a specific building. In practice the community skews heavily Honors, which shapes the atmosphere: study-forward, a bit quieter, with living rooms that host study groups as often as movie nights. If you're an Honors student who wants that environment, request it early in your housing application; if you're not Honors, plan around one of UA's other first-year communities.
Does Ridgecrest South include a fridge?: Yes — each suite's living-room kitchenette includes a full-size refrigerator (1-bedroom suites get a mini fridge), plus a sink, microwave, and storage cabinets. Don't buy a fridge or microwave for Ridgecrest South; the space and the appliances are already there. For actual cooking, community kitchens on the 2nd and 4th floors have full stoves and ovens. UA's fire rules still govern anything you add: auto-shut-off appliances only, no open flames, and no extension cords — bring a surge-protected power strip.
What's the lockable drawer in Ridgecrest South?: Each resident's two-piece desk includes a storage unit with a lockable drawer — but UA doesn't provide the lock, so bring a small drawer lock or padlock if you want to use it. It's the right place for a passport, medications, spare cash, and anything else you'd rather not leave loose in a suite where suitemates' guests come and go. Between the lockable drawer, your own private bedroom, and a bathroom shared by only two people, Ridgecrest South is one of the more securable setups in freshman housing.
How much under-bed storage does Ridgecrest South have?: As much as you're willing to create — the Twin XL beds adjust up to 50 inches from the floor, which at full height fits tall under-bed drawer sets, luggage, and bins with room to spare, no risers needed. Set the height on move-in day before the room fills up, and use tall storage drawers rather than shallow bins to actually use the clearance you have. A bed rail is available from housing if you sleep high, and a step stool stops the nightly climb from getting old.
Is Ridgecrest South a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Ridgecrest South has Twin XL · 36"×80" beds with Adjustable · to 50" of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. University of Alabama provides Bed frame & Twin XL mattress, desk (2-piece), desk chair, dresser, closet/wardrobe, lockable desk drawer, suite living room with FULL-SIZE refrigerator (mini in 1-bedroom suites), sink, microwave & cabinets, café dining table & chairs in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Ridgecrest South stacks up against University of Alabama's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Ridgecrest South Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Ridgecrest South: it has Twin XL · 36"×80" beds with Adjustable · to 50" of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with Bed frame & Twin XL mattress, desk (2-piece), desk chair, dresser, closet/wardrobe, lockable desk drawer, suite living room with FULL-SIZE refrigerator (mini in 1-bedroom suites), sink, microwave & cabinets, café dining table & chairs; you'll need to bring Bedding, towels, shower caddy, hangers, desk lamp, drawer lock (drawer is lockable, lock not provided) yourself; Candles, oil lamps, incense, hookahs, halogen lamps & bulbs, gasoline/charcoal/flammables, natural-cut trees or greenery, cooking appliances without auto shut-off, extension cords (bring a surge-protected power strip) isn't allowed. The full day-to-day breakdown above covers the room, the building, and move-in day in more depth.

Still weighing this hall against others? Our guide on how to pick a dorm covers what actually matters, or see University of Alabama’s other halls below.

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Ridgecrest South Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Ridgecrest South: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See The Raised Bed styled

Everything for your Ridgecrest South room

Bedding

Fan — optional

Bathroom

Personal Care & Grooming

Self-Care Essentials

Storage & Organization

Closet Space-Savers

Tech & Power

Laundry

Desk & Study

Health & Safety

Comfort & Room

Kitchen & Dining

Misc Essentials

Move-In Day Gear

Ridgecrest South FAQ

Thinking About Living in Ridgecrest South Next Year?

More University of Alabama halls