Why is Briscoe more expensive than other IU first-year halls?

Briscoe is in IU Housing's Enhanced rate category, and IU says room rates are based on occupancy and amenities with additional cost for a shared, private, or single-user bathroom. In dollars for 2026-27: $11,620 for the most common Briscoe room and $13,455 for the highest, against $8,275 most common at Standard-tier Forest, McNutt, and Teter. That is roughly $3,300 a year for the bathroom upgrade and the 2011 renovation.

Does every Briscoe room have a private bathroom?

No. Briscoe publishes four layouts: singles with a shared bathroom, doubles with a private bathroom, ADA-accessible doubles with a private bathroom, and two-double suites with a shared living space and bathroom. Only some of those give you a bathroom of your own, so check the assignment before packing. Note also that IU staff clean these bathrooms monthly, not daily — day-to-day cleaning is on the residents, and cleaning supplies are not provided.

What learning community is in Briscoe?

The Civic Leaders Living-Learning Center, a community for incoming first-years of all majors with a passion for civic engagement and leading for the greater good, plus one location of the Honors Residential Community for Hutton Honors College students. Civic Leaders carries a $100-per-semester activity fee ($200 a year) on top of the room rate.

Is Briscoe air conditioned?

Yes. IU's building-by-building climate control listing shows Briscoe is air-conditioned with non-operable windows, and it runs a wider range than most IU halls: cooling can be set from 68°F to 78°F when the outdoor temperature is above 53°F, and heating from 68°F to 76°F when it is below 50°F. Because the windows do not open, a window fan or window AC unit is useless, and personal air conditioners are prohibited unless IU Housing approves one for a documented medical need.

Bloomington, IN · First-Year Housing Required

Briscoe Dorm Checklist 2026

Indiana University Bloomington

Singles with shared bathroom; doubles with private bathroom; doubles with ADA private bathroom; two-double suites with shared living space and bathroom

Verified Aug 18, 2026 · housing.indiana.edu

Briscoe is IU's Enhanced-tier first-year hall.

Bed SizeTwin XL, mattress 20" from floor
Under-BedNot published, varies by room type
ACYes
On-CampusRequired

✓ In the room

Closet or wardrobedeskchairsingle bed with extra-long twin mattresswastebasketwindow coveringsWi-Fitrash and recycling binsfire-retardant blinds/curtains; laundry rooms and bathrooms on each floorlaundry cost included in the room rate (CrimsonCard swipe)

✗ Not provided

Extra-long twin bedding and mattress covertowelsmini fridge/microwave (rentable via Bedloft)flexible lampUL-listed extension cords and LCDI surge protectorscleaning supplieshangersbathroom cleaning between the monthly staff clean

⊘ Prohibited

Burning candles and open flamesincensehalogen lights and lampssalt lampswax warmerselectric open-coil heaters and appliances with exposed burnershot platestoaster ovensair fryerscrockpotsfull-size refrigeratorspersonal air conditioners (unless approved by IU Housing for a medical need)bed risers of any kindpets other than fish/crustaceans in an aquarium of 10 gallons or less (service and emotional-support animals require prior approval)hoverboards and motorized scootersnon-UL-approved or non-12-14-gauge extension cordsportable washers/dryers/dishwashersweaponsdrones

Briscoe prices in IU's Enhanced rate tier: $11,620 for the most common room in 2026-27 and $13,455 at the top, against $8,275 for the most common room at Standard-tier Forest, McNutt, and Teter — a gap of roughly $3,300 a year.
Briscoe's circle drive is closed during centralized check-in on Aug. 18-19, 2026 — proceed from check-in to the Blue Lot at Gate 14, where golf carts run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days to carry belongings to the building.
The Civic Leaders Living-Learning Center carries a $100-per-semester activity fee ($200 a year) on top of the room rate.
Briscoe's windows do not open — a window fan or window AC unit is useless here, and personal air conditioners are prohibited unless IU Housing approves one for a medical need.

Living in Briscoe: what to know before you pack

The room

Briscoe's room mix is more varied than IU's standard quads: singles with a shared bathroom, doubles with a private bathroom, ADA-accessible doubles with a private bathroom, and two-double suites with a shared living space and bathroom. Every room still gets the standard IU furnishing package — closet or wardrobe, desk, chair, a single bed with an extra-long twin mattress sitting 20 inches from the floor, wastebasket, window coverings, and Wi-Fi. Whether that bed can be lofted is not published, and Briscoe is the hall where that matters most, since IU ties loftability to room type and Briscoe has four of them. Requests go through Bedloft, IU's third-party vendor; residents may not reconfigure beds themselves and bed risers of any kind are prohibited. Because the layouts differ so much, pull up the specific virtual tour for your assigned configuration — each has floor plans and a virtual measuring tool — before buying anything sized to the room.

Day to day

Briscoe sits in IU's Enhanced pricing tier, and the bathrooms are the reason: IU calls them some of the most popular bathroom options on campus, with laundry rooms and bathrooms on every floor. En suite bathrooms are cleaned monthly by IU staff, and private restrooms at Briscoe get a monthly deep clean — meaning day-to-day upkeep is on the residents, unlike communal restrooms elsewhere on campus that are cleaned daily. A Campus Store sits inside the building, along with one of IU's Academic Support Centers. Briscoe houses the Civic Leaders Living-Learning Center, for incoming first-years of any major with an interest in civic engagement, plus one location of the Honors Residential Community for Hutton Honors College students; Civic Leaders carries a $100-per-semester activity fee. The hall is at 1225 N. Fee Ln. in the Northwest neighborhood, steps from the Northwest Recreation Courts and the Sembower Field Complex, and was renovated in 2011.

Move-in day

Briscoe residents move in during Grand Move-In, Aug. 18-19 for fall 2026, and the routine differs from a normal drop-off. Everyone checks in first at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, 1001 E. 17th St. — enter from the Indiana 45/46 Bypass at Gate 11, Purple Lot, and park in the Green or Orange lot. Only the student may check in, with a CrimsonCard set up on their phone, and they collect the unload-and-go parking pass there. From check-in you proceed to the Blue Lot at Gate 14 rather than the building's circle drive, which is closed both days; golf carts run from the Blue Lot between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Aug. 18 and 19 to bring belongings to Briscoe. Because Briscoe's layouts vary so much — private versus shared bath, ADA units, two-double suites — confirm which configuration your student was assigned in the Housing Portal before you arrive so you know which floor and entrance you are heading for. IU asks students to be moved in by the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 19 for the first floor meeting.

A styled dorm desk, furnished and shoppable

Room ideas

See dorm rooms styled

4 looks, every object linked to the exact listing.

Styled render — not a photo of Briscoe.

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 Aug 18, 2026

Briscoe FAQ

Why is Briscoe more expensive than other IU first-year halls?: Briscoe is in IU Housing's Enhanced rate category, and IU says room rates are based on occupancy and amenities with additional cost for a shared, private, or single-user bathroom. In dollars for 2026-27: $11,620 for the most common Briscoe room and $13,455 for the highest, against $8,275 most common at Standard-tier Forest, McNutt, and Teter. That is roughly $3,300 a year for the bathroom upgrade and the 2011 renovation.
Does every Briscoe room have a private bathroom?: No. Briscoe publishes four layouts: singles with a shared bathroom, doubles with a private bathroom, ADA-accessible doubles with a private bathroom, and two-double suites with a shared living space and bathroom. Only some of those give you a bathroom of your own, so check the assignment before packing. Note also that IU staff clean these bathrooms monthly, not daily — day-to-day cleaning is on the residents, and cleaning supplies are not provided.
What learning community is in Briscoe?: The Civic Leaders Living-Learning Center, a community for incoming first-years of all majors with a passion for civic engagement and leading for the greater good, plus one location of the Honors Residential Community for Hutton Honors College students. Civic Leaders carries a $100-per-semester activity fee ($200 a year) on top of the room rate.
Is Briscoe air conditioned?: Yes. IU's building-by-building climate control listing shows Briscoe is air-conditioned with non-operable windows, and it runs a wider range than most IU halls: cooling can be set from 68°F to 78°F when the outdoor temperature is above 53°F, and heating from 68°F to 76°F when it is below 50°F. Because the windows do not open, a window fan or window AC unit is useless, and personal air conditioners are prohibited unless IU Housing approves one for a documented medical need.
Is Briscoe a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Briscoe has Twin XL, mattress 20" from floor beds with Not published, varies by room type of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. Indiana University Bloomington provides Closet or wardrobe, desk, chair, single bed with extra-long twin mattress, wastebasket, window coverings, Wi-Fi, trash and recycling bins, fire-retardant blinds/curtains; laundry rooms and bathrooms on each floor, laundry cost included in the room rate (CrimsonCard swipe) in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Briscoe stacks up against Indiana University Bloomington's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Briscoe Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Briscoe: it has Twin XL, mattress 20" from floor beds with Not published, varies by room type of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with Closet or wardrobe, desk, chair, single bed with extra-long twin mattress, wastebasket, window coverings, Wi-Fi, trash and recycling bins, fire-retardant blinds/curtains; laundry rooms and bathrooms on each floor, laundry cost included in the room rate (CrimsonCard swipe); you'll need to bring Extra-long twin bedding and mattress cover, towels, mini fridge/microwave (rentable via Bedloft), flexible lamp, UL-listed extension cords and LCDI surge protectors, cleaning supplies, hangers, bathroom cleaning between the monthly staff clean yourself; Burning candles and open flames, incense, halogen lights and lamps, salt lamps, wax warmers, electric open-coil heaters and appliances with exposed burners, hot plates, toaster ovens, air fryers, crockpots, full-size refrigerators, personal air conditioners (unless approved by IU Housing for a medical need), bed risers of any kind, pets other than fish/crustaceans in an aquarium of 10 gallons or less (service and emotional-support animals require prior approval), hoverboards and motorized scooters, non-UL-approved or non-12-14-gauge extension cords, portable washers/dryers/dishwashers, weapons, drones 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 Indiana University Bloomington’s other halls below.

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Each hall has its own verified checklist — pick yours for room-specific dimensions and packing lists.

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Briscoe Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Briscoe: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See dorm rooms styled

Everything for your Briscoe 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

Briscoe FAQ

Thinking About Living in Briscoe Next Year?

More Indiana University Bloomington halls