Does Raney House have air conditioning?

Partially. Air conditioning at Raney House is available on some floors but not all, and availability is tied to your specific floor assignment rather than the building as a whole. Until you have your confirmed placement and have verified your floor's status with OSU Residence Life, plan for the possibility of no AC — Columbus in late August is genuinely hot and humid, with temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F during the first week or two of the semester. Pack a tower fan as standard equipment for move-in regardless of what you expect your floor to have; even on air-conditioned floors, a fan helps with circulation and personal comfort preferences.

What is the community like at Raney House?

Raney House has the kind of community that forms quickly because the physical setup makes it almost unavoidable — corridor-style floors with communal bathrooms mean you see the same people multiple times a day from the first week, whether you are actively trying to meet them or not. Most residents find their initial social circle on their floor, and that proximity tends to make the transition to college life easier than it is in larger or more dispersed buildings. The seven-story scale is large enough to keep things lively but small enough that a floor still has its own identity. By the end of the first month, most Raney residents know the majority of their floor well enough to call them by name.

Can I bring my own mini-fridge to Raney House?

No. Ohio State provides a combination fridge, freezer, and microwave unit in every Raney House room as part of the standard furnishings, and personal mini-fridges and personal microwaves are not permitted in any OSU residence hall. This prohibition catches a lot of families off guard — it is the most common item confiscated or turned back on move-in day. The provided combo unit is shared between both roommates, so a brief conversation with your roommate before move-in about how you plan to divide fridge and freezer space is worth having early. Do not buy a mini-fridge over the summer; there is no exception process, and you will not be permitted to keep it in the room.

What should I bring that OSU doesn't provide at Raney House?

Ohio State covers the furniture and the combo fridge-freezer-microwave unit, but everything you need to sleep, wash, and work comfortably is your responsibility to bring. That list includes XL twin bedding (the mattress is 80 by 36 inches — standard twin sheets will not fit) and a pillow, bath towels and a washcloth, a shower caddy and flip-flops for the communal bathrooms, a desk lamp, hangers, and an area rug if you want one for the hard floor. A tower fan also belongs on that list — AC is not guaranteed on every Raney floor, and August in Columbus is reliably hot and humid. Even if your floor has AC, a fan is useful for personal air circulation, so it is never a wasted item.

Is Raney House a good hall to live in?

That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Raney House has XL Twin · 80"×36" beds with Adjustable frame · clearance varies of under-bed storage, and is only partially air conditioned. Ohio State provides Bed frame & XL twin mattress, desk, chair, dresser, combination fridge/freezer/microwave unit, trash & recycling bin, overhead lighting in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Raney House stacks up against Ohio State's other halls above.

Columbus, OH · Largest Freshman Class

Raney House Dorm Checklist 2026

Ohio State

Traditional doubles · community bathrooms

Verified Jun 2, 2026 · housing.osu.edu

7-story traditional corridor-style hall. Classic dorm experience — communal bathrooms, close proximity to North Residential dining and study spaces. AC varies by floor.

Bed SizeXL Twin · 80"×36"
Under-BedAdjustable frame · clearance varies
ACPartial
On-Campus100% on-campus

✓ In the room

Bed frame & XL twin mattressdeskchairdressercombination fridge/freezer/microwave unittrash & recycling binoverhead lighting

✗ Not provided

Beddingpillowtowelsdesk lamphangersshower caddyarea rug

⊘ Prohibited

Candleswax warmersincenseopen-flame itemsspace heaterstoasterstoaster ovensair fryershot platesrice cookersInstant Potspersonal fridgespersonal microwavesself-constructed lofts

OSU provides a combo fridge/freezer/microwave in every room — personal fridges and microwaves are prohibited. You cannot bring your own.
Self-constructed lofts are banned. Institutional lofting requests take at least 1 week to process and are not available in every hall.

Living in Raney House: what to know before you pack

The room

Raney House rooms are traditional doubles in a seven-story corridor-style building, furnished to the Ohio State standard across the North Residential area. Every room comes with a bed frame and XL twin mattress measuring 80 by 36 inches, a desk and chair, a dresser, a combination fridge-freezer-microwave unit, and a trash and recycling bin. The bed frames are height-adjustable, so clearance underneath varies and is worth checking in person before you unpack your under-bed storage bins. Coordinating with your roommate before arrival on who is bringing what prevents the frustrating situation of arriving with two of everything large and none of the small essentials.

Day to day

Raney House offers a textbook traditional dorm experience: a seven-story corridor layout, communal bathrooms, and the kind of constant low-level social activity that defines first-year residential life at Ohio State. The building sits in the North Residential cluster, putting it within easy walking distance of dining, study spaces, and the rest of the community infrastructure. Air conditioning varies by floor at Raney, which means the quality of August move-in and the first few weeks of fall semester differs meaningfully depending on your assignment. The corridor format means you will encounter your floormates constantly, which accelerates the community-building process — for most residents, the people on their Raney floor become their first real friend group at Ohio State.

Move-in day

Raney House move-in takes place in late August in Columbus, where heat and humidity are standard conditions. AC availability varies by floor, so packing a tower fan as a default precaution is the right move regardless of what your assignment turns out to be. A seven-story building with a full corridor of move-in families means elevator access will be competitive during the peak of your assigned window — arriving at the start of your window rather than the middle of it makes a measurable difference. Think of your packing in terms of the first 48 hours: the items you need immediately go in the most accessible part of the car so the room is functional even before every box is unpacked.

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 Raney House.

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 Jun 2, 2026

Raney House FAQ

Does Raney House have air conditioning?: Partially. Air conditioning at Raney House is available on some floors but not all, and availability is tied to your specific floor assignment rather than the building as a whole. Until you have your confirmed placement and have verified your floor's status with OSU Residence Life, plan for the possibility of no AC — Columbus in late August is genuinely hot and humid, with temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F during the first week or two of the semester. Pack a tower fan as standard equipment for move-in regardless of what you expect your floor to have; even on air-conditioned floors, a fan helps with circulation and personal comfort preferences.
What is the community like at Raney House?: Raney House has the kind of community that forms quickly because the physical setup makes it almost unavoidable — corridor-style floors with communal bathrooms mean you see the same people multiple times a day from the first week, whether you are actively trying to meet them or not. Most residents find their initial social circle on their floor, and that proximity tends to make the transition to college life easier than it is in larger or more dispersed buildings. The seven-story scale is large enough to keep things lively but small enough that a floor still has its own identity. By the end of the first month, most Raney residents know the majority of their floor well enough to call them by name.
Can I bring my own mini-fridge to Raney House?: No. Ohio State provides a combination fridge, freezer, and microwave unit in every Raney House room as part of the standard furnishings, and personal mini-fridges and personal microwaves are not permitted in any OSU residence hall. This prohibition catches a lot of families off guard — it is the most common item confiscated or turned back on move-in day. The provided combo unit is shared between both roommates, so a brief conversation with your roommate before move-in about how you plan to divide fridge and freezer space is worth having early. Do not buy a mini-fridge over the summer; there is no exception process, and you will not be permitted to keep it in the room.
What should I bring that OSU doesn't provide at Raney House?: Ohio State covers the furniture and the combo fridge-freezer-microwave unit, but everything you need to sleep, wash, and work comfortably is your responsibility to bring. That list includes XL twin bedding (the mattress is 80 by 36 inches — standard twin sheets will not fit) and a pillow, bath towels and a washcloth, a shower caddy and flip-flops for the communal bathrooms, a desk lamp, hangers, and an area rug if you want one for the hard floor. A tower fan also belongs on that list — AC is not guaranteed on every Raney floor, and August in Columbus is reliably hot and humid. Even if your floor has AC, a fan is useful for personal air circulation, so it is never a wasted item.
Is Raney House a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Raney House has XL Twin · 80"×36" beds with Adjustable frame · clearance varies of under-bed storage, and is only partially air conditioned. Ohio State provides Bed frame & XL twin mattress, desk, chair, dresser, combination fridge/freezer/microwave unit, trash & recycling bin, overhead lighting in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Raney House stacks up against Ohio State's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Raney House Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Raney House: it has XL Twin · 80"×36" beds with Adjustable frame · clearance varies of under-bed clearance, and AC is only partial in this building — some rooms have it, some don't. On top of that, the room comes with Bed frame & XL twin mattress, desk, chair, dresser, combination fridge/freezer/microwave unit, trash & recycling bin, overhead lighting; you'll need to bring Bedding, pillow, towels, desk lamp, hangers, shower caddy, area rug yourself; Candles, wax warmers, incense, open-flame items, space heaters, toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, rice cookers, Instant Pots, personal fridges, personal microwaves, self-constructed lofts 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 Ohio State’s other halls below.

More Ohio State halls

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

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Raney House Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Raney House: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See dorm rooms styled

Everything for your Raney House room

Bedding

Fan — check your assignment

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

Raney House FAQ

Thinking About Living in Raney House Next Year?

More Ohio State halls