University of Massachusetts Amherst Freshman Dorms 2026

What to bring to University of Massachusetts Amherstdorms — and what’s already there

Every UMass Amherstfreshman hall includes the same base furnishings. Skip anything already in your room, pack what’s missing, and leave the banned items at home.

⚠ Air conditioning is not campuswide. The UMass residence directory lists "Air Conditioned" as an explicit hall feature only for the six Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community halls (Birch, Elm, Linden, Maple, Oak, Sycamore) and for the North Apartments. Checked hall by hall, no residence in Southwest, Northeast, Central, Orchard Hill, or Sylvan lists air conditioning.

⚠ Every student moving in September 2-4 must have a move-in reservation and bring a printed boarding pass (a second copy per additional vehicle); students who did not reserve were assigned a time rather than turned away. Residents of the Southwest towers, CHCRC, and Sylvan are moved in by professional movers and therefore see only a limited set of arrival times, determined by their assigned floor.

⚠ Possession of a prohibited item (including candles and incense lit or unlit, hoverboards, halogen and octopus lamps, and toasters) violates Residence Hall Policies and the Code of Student Conduct and results in disciplinary action, regardless of whether the item is ever used.

See the full UMass Amherst packing checklist →

Common questions about University of Massachusetts Amherst dorms

What size are the beds in UMass Amherst dorms?

Every residence hall uses the same Twin XL mattress, 80" long by 36" wide, on a single frame whose height adjusts from 5" to 30" off the ground, so beds can be bunked or lofted. Corner rooms in the Southwest towers arrive with beds already set up bunked because that is the most popular arrangement, but UMass states students are free to rearrange their furniture to suit their preferences.

Are UMass Amherst dorms air conditioned?

Mostly no. Air conditioning is listed as an official feature only for the six Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community halls -- Birch, Elm, Linden, Maple, and the two first-year halls Oak and Sycamore -- and for the North Apartments, which are fully air conditioned. No hall in Southwest, Northeast, Central, Orchard Hill, or Sylvan lists air conditioning.

Can I bring a fridge and microwave?

Yes -- a small refrigerator of 3.0 cubic feet or less with a ground adapter plug, and a microwave up to 700 watts and 0.7 cubic feet. Many halls also have shared kitchens on select floors; some, like Mary Lyon, include a stovetop and convection oven.

Is on-campus housing guaranteed for first-year students?

It is both guaranteed and required. First-time, first-year undergraduates in a degree-granting program must live on campus for their first two semesters, and Residential Life guarantees housing to students under that requirement. Exemptions include students under 16 and those commuting from a parent's or guardian's home within 40 miles of campus. The housing preference application runs June 1 at 10am to June 30 at 11:59pm, and new student assignments are released Monday, August 3.

When is fall move-in for new students in 2026?

Assisted move-in runs Wednesday, September 2 through Friday, September 4, 2026, 8am-5pm each day. Unassisted move-in is available evenings after 6pm on those days and September 5-7. An individual early arrival on Monday, August 31 is available for a $120 fee billed to the bursar account. Classes begin Tuesday, September 8, 2026.