Incoming Students

Our experience is that more students apply for housing than our vacancies can accommodate. Our wait list is not first-come, first-served, but is categorized as International, Out-of-State, or Local, and is prioritized in that order.

In order to ensure that as many applicants as possible receive housing, each applicant receiving an offer will be given one week to respond to that offer before being moved to the bottom of the waitlist.

Typically, we confirm upcoming vacancies in May/June for the Fall semester, and in November/December for the Spring semester.  We will let you know as soon as possible after that time if we can offer you a room or apartment.  In the meantime, please do pursue off-campus (non-Biola) options so that multiple opportunities are available.

Please contact us if you have not heard from us within 6-8 weeks before the first day of the semester for which you are applying!

Families live in apartments located about a 10-minute walk from campus.

Unmarried graduate students live in single- or double-occupancy suite-style rooms on campus, or in off-campus houses adjacent to campus.

Family apartments are provided with a refrigerator and stove/oven but are otherwise unfurnished.

Graduate suite-style residence hall rooms are fully furnished with a standard twin bed/mattress, 3-drawer dresser, desk, desk chair, 2-shelf bookcase and closet space. Graduate houses are also provided with a couch, love seat, coffee table, dinette set, refrigerator, stove/oven and microwave.

Graduate Housing Contracts and Family Housing Leases are for the entire academic year and are legally binding documents. Residents who wish to move out before the end of their Contract/Lease will still be liable for the housing fees/rent until the end date of the Contract/Lease or until the Grad Housing Office is able to fill the space with a new resident, whichever comes first.

If you will be graduating at the end of a Fall semester, let us know before signing your Housing Contract or Family Housing Lease. In that case, we will adjust the end date of your Contract/Lease to the end of the Fall rather than Spring semester.

Residents who no longer qualify for housing (withdraw from or dismissed from Biola or no longer full time) are in violation of their Contract/Lease Agreement. Family Housing residents in violation are to vacate within 30 days. Grads in violation are to vacate within 48 hours.

Contact us for a sample Housing Contract or Lease Agreement.

Grad housing fees and Family Housing rent are due on the 1st calendar date of each month. After the 3rd day of the month a $25 late fee is also due. A $25 service fee will be added for any returned check.

Payments may be made in person by check or cash (exact amount). ACH payments are also accepted; see these instructions for setting up your account and making ACH payments. We may also be able to charge your student account if you have a credit balance available.

The Grad & Family Housing office will match roommates for double-occupancy suite-style rooms and double-occupancy house bedrooms using the lifestyle questions on the housing application and taking their ages and academic programs into account. However, if you would like to room with another grad student on our waitlist please let us know as soon as possible so we can find out if they agree.

If your roommate moves out, you are not responsible to fill the vacancy. However, you should be prepared to receive a new roommate at any time, since the Grad & Family Housing office will be working to find a replacement. Again, if you know another grad student who would like to room with you let us know as soon as possible.

Each apartment in Family Housing is assigned at least one parking space in a carport or garage. Depending on the complex, there may be extra carport spaces available for rent.

Grad off-campus houses have garage and driveway parking. Some of them also have parking available on the street. Be aware of streets that are posted for permit-only parking; Biola cannot issue street parking permits.

Grad students living on campus may use adjacent parking lots or parking structures. A campus parking permit is required.

Pets are not allowed in Grad & Family Housing. Students applying for a service animal or emotional support animal must obtain approval from The Learning Center before bringing an animal to any housing facility.

Please contact the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) if you need special housing accommodation.

Residents may request to be moved to another room or building, or to another apartment type or complex. Approval is not guaranteed and depends on demand from incoming students and apartment refurbishment schedules. Please give the Grad & Family Housing office as much notice as possible that you wish to make a change; this may increase the likelihood of us being able to grant your request.

Renter’s insurance is not required, but it is highly recommended. Biola University is not liable for damage to or theft of personal property, so it is best to be prepared for the unexpected.