Can I loft my bed in Bates House?

Yes -- USC's Lofting Kit Procedure lists Bates House among the buildings where lofts and bed risers are allowed. You must maintain 30 inches of clearance between the top of the mattress and the lowest point of the ceiling including sprinkler heads, the kit must be free-standing and made of non-combustible or fire-treated material, and the university assumes no liability for injury from student-built lofts.

Do I need to bring my own fridge and microwave to Bates House?

No. USC's Bates House room page states the microfridge comes in the room and there is no rental to arrange -- it is listed as a complimentary amenity. That is different from most other USC first-year halls, where you rent one.

Is Bates House air conditioned?

USC does not list AC status on its Bates House pages. Its mold-prevention page does describe housing staff checking fan coil units inside student rooms, which points to rooms being mechanically conditioned. Confirm current HVAC status directly with Residence Life before move-in.

Is there a dining hall in Bates House?

USC Housing's current Bates House page says there are no dining locations within the building, so plan on nearby campus dining. Note that sc.edu's older Gamecock Gateway housing page still references a 'Bates Diner' inside the building -- Housing's own hall page is the more current of the two.

Columbia, SC · SEC Flagship in the Capital City

Bates House Dorm Checklist 2026

University of South Carolina

Double room, community bath one per floor per wing

Verified Aug 18, 2026 · sc.edu

Bates House opened 1969, USC's largest first-year hall.

Bed SizeTwin XL · 80" mattress
Under-BedLoftable, max height 33 in
ACPartial
On-CampusRequired

✓ In the room

Complimentary combo microwave/fridge (microfridge) in every roomcomputer lab and study loungestudy areas on each floor and the main floorStudent Success Center satellite office

✗ Not provided

Standalone mini fridgebeddingshower curtaincleaning supplies

⊘ Prohibited

Standalone mini fridgesspace heaterscandles/incenseloft kits not meeting the 30in ceiling/sprinkler clearancerisers over 8in on an already-lofted bed

DIY loft kits are permitted here, but you must keep at least 30 inches between the top of the mattress and the lowest point of the ceiling including sprinkler heads and light fixtures; USC does not endorse, inspect, or certify student-built kits and assumes no liability for injury.
Air conditioning is not itemized for this building on USC's official pages. USC's mold-prevention page refers to fan coil units in student rooms, so rooms appear to be conditioned, but confirm current HVAC status with Residence Life.

Living in Bates House: what to know before you pack

The room

Bates House rooms are traditional doubles, 11'6" x 15'6" with 121-inch ceilings and 42" x 77" windows that do not open. Each side gets an extra-long twin bed (USC lists the mattress as 80 inches; the frame is 38" wide x 85" long x 36" tall, with a maximum bed height of 33 inches -- USC publishes no minimum height for this hall), plus a desk, a dresser, and one closet per student measuring 25" deep x 44" wide x 108" tall. Because Bates House is on USC's approved lofting list, students can add a DIY loft kit as long as the 30-inch ceiling and sprinkler clearance is maintained. Every room also comes with a complimentary combo microwave/fridge -- USC's own page notes there is no rental to arrange here, which is unusual among USC's first-year halls.

Day to day

Bathrooms are community-style, one per floor in each wing, cleaned daily on weekdays. Kitchens are on floors 2 through 10 of the C-wing. On laundry, USC's own Bates page contradicts itself: the facilities list says first floor of the C-wing while the in-depth section says the basement, so check on arrival -- either way it is complimentary and app-monitored. USC Housing lists no dining location inside the building, so residents walk to nearby campus dining. Bates also houses the Gamecock Gateway and Gamecock Pathways bridge programs alongside general first-year residents, which brings in-building academic support not found in most other halls.

Move-in day

Bates House sits at 1423 Whaley Street and is one of ten halls USC anticipates will have limited Friday, August 14, 2026 slots, in addition to the general Saturday, August 15 day. Families should reserve a 30-minute arrival slot through the Housing Portal in advance; reservation emails go out mid-July and slots can be adjusted through July 31. The building has shuttle and campus bus access nearby, but check current signage for the closest short-term unloading zone since it is a high-traffic first-year building on move-in weekend.

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 Bates 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 Aug 18, 2026

Bates House FAQ

Can I loft my bed in Bates House?: Yes -- USC's Lofting Kit Procedure lists Bates House among the buildings where lofts and bed risers are allowed. You must maintain 30 inches of clearance between the top of the mattress and the lowest point of the ceiling including sprinkler heads, the kit must be free-standing and made of non-combustible or fire-treated material, and the university assumes no liability for injury from student-built lofts.
Do I need to bring my own fridge and microwave to Bates House?: No. USC's Bates House room page states the microfridge comes in the room and there is no rental to arrange -- it is listed as a complimentary amenity. That is different from most other USC first-year halls, where you rent one.
Is Bates House air conditioned?: USC does not list AC status on its Bates House pages. Its mold-prevention page does describe housing staff checking fan coil units inside student rooms, which points to rooms being mechanically conditioned. Confirm current HVAC status directly with Residence Life before move-in.
Is there a dining hall in Bates House?: USC Housing's current Bates House page says there are no dining locations within the building, so plan on nearby campus dining. Note that sc.edu's older Gamecock Gateway housing page still references a 'Bates Diner' inside the building -- Housing's own hall page is the more current of the two.
Is Bates House a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Bates House has Twin XL · 80" mattress beds with Loftable, max height 33 in of under-bed storage, and is only partially air conditioned. University of South Carolina provides Complimentary combo microwave/fridge (microfridge) in every room, computer lab and study lounge, study areas on each floor and the main floor, Student Success Center satellite office in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Bates House stacks up against University of South Carolina's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Bates House Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Bates House: it has Twin XL · 80" mattress beds with Loftable, max height 33 in 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 Complimentary combo microwave/fridge (microfridge) in every room, computer lab and study lounge, study areas on each floor and the main floor, Student Success Center satellite office; you'll need to bring Standalone mini fridge, bedding, shower curtain, cleaning supplies yourself; Standalone mini fridges, space heaters, candles/incense, loft kits not meeting the 30in ceiling/sprinkler clearance, risers over 8in on an already-lofted bed 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 South Carolina’s other halls below.

More University of South Carolina halls

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

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Bates House Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Bates House: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See dorm rooms styled

Everything for your Bates 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

Bates House FAQ

Thinking About Living in Bates House Next Year?

More University of South Carolina halls