Residency Requirement

• Transferred 27 or more accepted semester hours of post-secondary education PRIOR to the first day of academic year classes. This does not include credit hours earned while attending high school.
• Married or Civil Union. Documentation of marriage/union required.
• A student with children. Childbirth certificate required.
• Lived in University-approved housing for two or more semesters (excluding summer) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or another institution. Documentation of living at another institution required.
• Lived in University-approved housing for the entire spring semester at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Complete the online Residency Exemption Form* through the housing portal.

1. Log into your MyRed.
2. Under “Important Links,” click the blue “Housing” button.
3. Click “Residency Exemption” in the red bar across the top of the page.
4. Click “Apply” next to the academic year you’re applying for an exemption.
5. Complete all necessary pages and submit the required documentation. Requests will not be reviewed if proper documentation is not submitted.

If you’re only interested in attending the university if you qualify for an exemption from the on-campus residency requirement and you’re not a fully admitted student, email housing.contracts@unl.edu to request a paper Residency Exemption form.

*Allow four to six weeks for a final response/decision. If you’re not approved, you must complete a University Housing contract through the housing portal.

If you have a University Housing contract and are then approved for an exemption or other compliance option, there will be cancellation fees associated with the cancellation of the contract.

Financial Aid award budgets will be adjusted to reflect that the student will be commuting if approved through the exemption process.

1. Reside in a University Housing residence hall.
2. Reside in University-approved Greek housing. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life approves houses.
   • Incoming students who plan to reside in a university-approved fraternity or sorority need to complete the online Residency Exemption Form through the housing portal via MyRed.
   • Fraternity and Sorority houses are not part of University Housing. If you cancel your University Housing contract to reside in a fraternity/sorority house, you’ll be held to the 30-day cancellation notice policy.
   • To obtain information about fraternity or sorority living units contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
3. Commute from the home of my parent/guardian or close relative. Close relatives only include a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling. The residence should be within a 30-mile radius of the UNL campus. The parent/guardian or close relative must be an adult, 19 years of age or older, and residing in the residence full-time with the student. A photo of the parent/guardian/close relative’s valid driver’s license or state ID (the address must match where they will reside) is required as proof.
4. Commute from home as an emancipated minor. Documentation to verify legal emancipated status required.

Complete a University Housing contract through the housing portal to reside in University Housing.

OR

Complete the Residency Exemption Form through the housing portal on MyRed. If you’re not approved, you must complete a University Housing contract through the housing portal. Please allow four to six weeks for a final response.

Students who don’t comply may be referred to the conduct office and assessed up to $100 in administrative fees.

• Allow four to six weeks for a final response/decision.