How many residents live in San Rafael?

575 total, with approximately 50 students per tower floor.

Does San Rafael have an elevator?

The tower has two elevators serving all seven floors. The three-story Ocean and Mountain Clusters are connected by stairs, with no elevator access to the second or third floors.

When is San Rafael's Fall 2026 move-in?

Friday, September 18 or Saturday, September 19, 2026 — San Rafael is listed on both days, and you select your slot through your assignment email.

Is San Rafael Residence Hall a good hall to live in?

That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: San Rafael Residence Hall has Twin XL (39 in x 80 in) beds with Loftable/bunkable, height not published of under-bed storage, and is not air conditioned. UC Santa Barbara provides Bed, desk, chair, dresser, mirror, towel bar, wastebasket, drapes in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how San Rafael Residence Hall stacks up against UC Santa Barbara's other halls above.

Santa Barbara, CA · Beachfront, quarter-system campus with seven residence halls

San Rafael Residence Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

UC Santa Barbara

575 residents: 114 singles and 36 doubles sharing semi-private bathrooms, plus 36 four-person, 12 six-person and 24 eight-person suites, each with its own bathroom and living room

Verified Aug 18, 2026 · housing.ucsb.edu

San Rafael is a co-ed tower housing 575 residents. It offers UCSB's widest range of first-year room types — singles, doubles, and 4-, 6- and 8-person suites — with semi-private and suite-style bathrooms.

Bed SizeTwin XL (39 in x 80 in)
Under-BedLoftable/bunkable, height not published
ACNo
On-CampusGuarantee not published on housing.ucsb.edu — confirm with Campus Housing

✓ In the room

Beddeskchairdressermirrortowel barwastebasketdrapes

✗ Not provided

Bedding and linenspillowstowelsdesk lamptelevisionmini-fridgedishes and kitchen utensils

⊘ Prohibited

Candles/incensehookahsvapeshalogen/torchiere lampshoverboardsweaponswaterbedsdart boardssatellite dishessmoke/fog machinespets (except approved service animals or one aquarium tank of 10 gallons or less)in-room cooking appliancesair conditioning unitsspace heaters

The tower has two elevators serving all seven floors, but the three-story Ocean and Mountain Clusters are connected by stairs with no elevator access to the second or third floors.

Living in San Rafael Residence Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

San Rafael offers more variety than UCSB's beachside halls: 114 singles and 36 doubles that share semi-private bathrooms, plus 36 four-person suites, 12 six-person suites and 24 eight-person suites, each suite carrying its own bathroom and living room. Every space comes with the standard hall furniture set — Twin XL bed, desk, chair, dresser, mirror, towel bar, wastebasket, and drapes. The co-ed design puts roughly 50 students per tower floor with men and women housed in alternating suites. On bed setup, UCSB's residence hall policy Section 2 permits bunk beds and lofts so long as they stay in a position and at a height approved by Housing staff, but no under-bed clearance figure is published for San Rafael — measure once you're in the room. Rooms are not air conditioned; personal AC units are prohibited campus-wide.

Day to day

Suite residents get a bathroom and living room shared with their 4, 6 or 8 suitemates, while the singles and doubles share semi-private bathrooms — either way a step up in privacy from UCSB's community-bathroom halls. Housekeeping and laundry are covered by the all-inclusive nine-month contract, and laundry is free with machine status visible in the Speed Queen app. Published amenities include an elevator, fitness room, pool, volleyball court, piano, and WiFi, and the building adds a community lounge for studying and events plus multiple study lounges and kitchenettes. Carrillo is the closest dining commons. Nearby San Rafael and Manzanita Village share a Faculty-in-Residence who advises residents and creates opportunities for residents to meet other faculty. Also close by are the De Anza Center — offices, study spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms, a kitchenette, the RHA office and the ResNet Center — and the Loma Pelona Center's fitness room.

Move-in day

San Rafael appears on both Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19 in UCSB's Fall 2026 schedule; your specific day and time come from the slots available for your building through the link in your mid-August assignment email, which you select yourself. Check-in for San Rafael (shared with Manzanita Village) takes place at Parking Lot 23, which is also the designated unloading area. Print your move-in unloading voucher — it's valid only 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on your move-in day while actively unloading, and no return trips are allowed. Bring photo ID and a charged phone for the QR-code check-in. The tower's two elevators serve all seven floors, so arriving at the start of your window beats mid-afternoon; residents of the Ocean and Mountain Clusters should plan on stairs, since there's no elevator access to the second or third floors there. After unloading, vehicles must move immediately to long-term parking in Parking Structure 22. Move-in carts are limited and first-come, first-served, so bring your own dolly if you can.

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 San Rafael Residence Hall.

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

San Rafael Residence Hall FAQ

What room types are available in San Rafael?: 114 singles and 36 doubles that share semi-private bathrooms, plus 36 four-person, 12 six-person and 24 eight-person suites, each with its own bathroom and living room.
How many residents live in San Rafael?: 575 total, with approximately 50 students per tower floor.
Does San Rafael have an elevator?: The tower has two elevators serving all seven floors. The three-story Ocean and Mountain Clusters are connected by stairs, with no elevator access to the second or third floors.
When is San Rafael's Fall 2026 move-in?: Friday, September 18 or Saturday, September 19, 2026 — San Rafael is listed on both days, and you select your slot through your assignment email.
Is San Rafael Residence Hall a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: San Rafael Residence Hall has Twin XL (39 in x 80 in) beds with Loftable/bunkable, height not published of under-bed storage, and is not air conditioned. UC Santa Barbara provides Bed, desk, chair, dresser, mirror, towel bar, wastebasket, drapes in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how San Rafael Residence Hall stacks up against UC Santa Barbara's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in San Rafael Residence Hall Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about San Rafael Residence Hall: it has Twin XL (39 in x 80 in) beds with Loftable/bunkable, height not published of under-bed clearance, and there's no AC, so plan around that. On top of that, the room comes with Bed, desk, chair, dresser, mirror, towel bar, wastebasket, drapes; you'll need to bring Bedding and linens, pillows, towels, desk lamp, television, mini-fridge, dishes and kitchen utensils yourself; Candles/incense, hookahs, vapes, halogen/torchiere lamps, hoverboards, weapons, waterbeds, dart boards, satellite dishes, smoke/fog machines, pets (except approved service animals or one aquarium tank of 10 gallons or less), in-room cooking appliances, air conditioning units, space heaters 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 UC Santa Barbara’s other halls below.

More UC Santa Barbara halls

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

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San Rafael Residence Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in San Rafael Residence Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See dorm rooms styled

Everything for your San Rafael Residence Hall room

Fan — pack first

Bedding

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

San Rafael Residence Hall FAQ

Thinking About Living in San Rafael Residence Hall Next Year?

More UC Santa Barbara halls