An Aggie’s Guide to Texas A&M Housing

I want all of my fellow Aggies to love their home, whether it's a campus residence hall or off campus apartment. Here is an honest (sometimes too blunt) guide to help Texas A&M students choose where to live on campus. If you're looking for off-campus options, check out our apartment listings.

I'll cover all of the residence hall options, dining choices, amenities, safety concerns, and costs. Choosing the best place for you to live will help you make the most of your time in Aggieland, so let's start with a few insider tips:

Pick a commute friendly residence. Most students begin by deciding what area of campus they want to live in. Are classes for your academic program or major concentrated in a particular area? Think about any other activities you're involved in and where you want to spend most of your time outside of class. Is there a side of campus that you want to be closer to? 

Find a Roommate with Your Aggie Class Facebook Group. Want to find a roommate? A great way to find your perfect roommate is to introduce yourself in a post on the official Aggie Class facebook group. This is your ideal opportunity to get to know fellow Aggies that will be graduating with you, and navigate your compatibility with a potential roommate.  

Visit the TAMU Campus - Again! Maybe you visited College Station last year when looking at schools or a few years ago for a football game. Now that you are A&M-bound and housing is on your mind, I recommend making another visit. You may be surprised how much easier the process is after you tour the area with your living situation in mind. Plus, there are new developments or renovations to dorms and apartments every year in Aggieland. What you remember seeing last year may not be the same this year!

Consider renting off-campus. Living on campus was the only thing on my mind when I was an incoming freshman because I wanted to be near my classes. But that limited me from considering potentially better (or cheaper) housing off campus. The difference may not be that large when you consider that many apartments are right next to campus. Many others are adjacent to bus stops that pick up students every 5 minutes and deliver them to locations all over campus. The short bus ride may even give you a chance to get in some last-minute studying! 

Be picky! Above all, your college home should feel inviting and comfortable. Think about what you value and apply that to your housing search. For example, if you know you have a lot of clothes, be sure to choose a place with a bigger closet space or spacious rooms. If you are a picky eater and enjoy prepping your meals, be sure you choose a place with a community kitchen or an apartment off-campus with a private kitchen. You are unique so nobody else can tell you what place is best for you. 

Keep cost and expenditures in mind. The best dorms on-campus come with significant costs ranging from $3,000 - $5,000 per semester. Keep reading for a section with details about TAMU residence hall costs. Living on campus may be right for you, but it will be worth spending at least a few minutes comparison shopping with off campus apartments in College Station.

Let’s dive into the on-campus Residence Halls: 

 

The first thing to note about the residence halls is that they are first come first serve. If you accept your admissions later in the semester, your on-campus housing options may be limited. But in general, Aggies can choose from six residence halls: 

Hullabaloo Hall

Hullabaloo Hall is a state of the art facility located on the north side of campus. 

Residents at Hullabaloo Hall get to choose from double and single bedrooms, as well as two people and four-person suites. These include private bathrooms in each room shared by two to four residents and furnished rooms.

On the first floor, students have access to a community learning center where they are offered free tutoring, study rooms, and printers. You'll notice that residence halls provide many amenities like these that nurture academic success.

The first floor also provides an entertainment media room, TV lounge, various gaming, and recreational activities, even a music room featuring a Yamaha Upright piano. This is also where students check their mailboxes and have access to washer and dryers.

Hullabaloo Hall is a short distance from popular dining areas on-campus such as Sbisa, Chick-fil-a, Papa John’s, Smoothie King, The Grill, Mondo Subs, Einstein Bros and Starbucks. And if you don’t want to eat on campus, the hall is located next to Northgate where students can choose from a variety of restaurant options. 

Hullabaloo Hall is the most exclusive hall at Texas A&M. As a result, spots fill up quickly and rates can be pricey. Prices can range from $4,000 to $5,500 per semester, depending on the floor plan. However, that relatively high price gets you coveted amenities, student academic resources, exclusive study lounges, and the convenience of living next to many restaurants and North Campus classes. If you are interested in these dorms, be sure to apply as soon as possible!

Commons Halls

Located on the Southside of campus, the Commons Halls are newly renovated buildings that offer excellent student living at the heart of the Aggie Experience. 

The hall styles at The Commons feature two roommates per room, a shared bathroom, and two suitemates. Each hall is connected by a common area of dining, a community learning center, TV lounges, recreational areas, and a mailbox area. 

The Commons is a popular choice for on-campus Aggies because it has immediate access to dining options, table games, nightly tutoring, various hubs, and study spaces to relax and study before class. 

In addition to the amenities above, The Commons has multiple pianos and music rooms that are ideal for musical students who want to take a study break. 

If you are wondering about the food quality, the dining cafeteria in The Commons offers various selections of dishes, including healthy or allergy specific options like gluten-free bread and muffins for students who may need it. 

Modular Halls

There are 11 modular style dorms all stationed on the Northside of campus: 

Appelt, Oveta, Margaret, Clements, Lechner, Underwood, Eppright, McFadden, Clyde Wells, Haas, and Neeley Hall. 

Modular Style Halls are the most spacious dorms on-campus. Residents share a large room with one roommate. Each roommate has a personal vanity space, bathroom/shower area, a built-in full body mirror and a closet. Similarly, off-campus housing would allow you to have your own room, bathroom, kitchen area, and living room area for around the same price.

Living on Northside is great because you are steps away from Texas A&M’s cafeteria Sbisa, Chick-fil-a, Papa John’s, Smoothie King, The Grill, Mondo Subs, Einstein Bros and Starbucks. 

Balcony Halls

Living in a dorm is exciting, but sometimes you need a breath of fresh air. 

Texas A&M University has a select style of Balcony Halls that are rich in tradition and history. The hall options are Keathly, Fowler, Hughes, and Schuhamacher. They have been providing homes for Aggies since 1964 and are still standing strong. 

Balcony Halls are divided into two sweet mates and two roommates in a room. Every room includes desks, chairs, beds, and two built-in cabinets and dressers per person. 

Balcony Halls are located on the Northside of campus near Sbisa, Chick-fil-a, Papa John’s, Smoothie King, The Grill, Mondo Subs, Einstein Bros and Starbucks. And if you enjoy doing your own meal prep, there are community kitchens in Fowler, Keathly and Schuhmacher. 

Some apartment complexes off-campus have balconies with a panoramic sight of Kyle Field, and even Northgate. There is always a memorable view from every angle of College Station.

Corridor Halls

Corridor Halls are traditional college dorms, featuring double rooms and single rooms that open to inside hallways. Davis-Gary, Legett, and Andrew Moses Residence Halls are all of the Corridor style halls located on the Northside of campus near various dining choices. 

What’s more traditional to a college dorm than a community bathroom? The Corridor Halls have community bathrooms and two private showers on each floor.

As a resident of a Corridor Hall, you can still have access to all of the amenities featured in Hullabaloo Hall (study lounges, computer rooms, tutoring services, and music rooms). An apartment usually includes study areas and lounging areas where you can socialize with other residents.

Ramp Halls

Hart and Walton Hall are the two Ramp Halls that happen to be the most historic dorms to thrive on Texas A&M’s campus.

Both were constructed back in 1931, and are located steps away from the heart of campus with all the conveniences of the Memorial Student Center.

Each dorm is a small community featuring double rooms, with limited single rooms. The rooms are suite-style with two rooms connected by one bathroom shared by 2-4 residents. 

The location of these dorms are ideal because they are near North, West, and Southside of campus, so getting to class in time is a breeze. Ramp Halls also neighbor Evans Library, the most popular place to study and get work done on-campus. If however, you prefer a more modern styled living space you can consider off-campus options such as the U-Club Town Homes or The Standard which have been renovated recently. 

Social Perks of Living at TAMU

Residence halls and apartment complexes plan weekly communal events. There is always a chance to relax, eat, and bond with your fellow Ags!

Dorms typically host themed get-togethers such as Halloween Costume Contest, Pinata Parties, Ice Cream Tuesday’s, Thanksgiving Potlucks, Football Sundays and even tailgates during the football season.

Off-campus apartment complexes are also known for having the best-themed mixers, pool parties, and social functions that provide free food from places like Chick-Fil-A and Papa John’s Pizza. 

As an Aggie, you will be so much more than just a student, whether you live on or off campus. 

Safety & Community

The Aggie network and community is tight-knit, and so are the residential departments at A&M. Here is a list of some current initiatives that make the college community a safe living environment where students can thrive.

Card Access

Every residential building has a card reader, and you must be a resident to have access to the building by sliding your card through the card reader. This prevents strangers from entering and causing disruption inside of the dorms. Additionally, apartment complexes have security systems in place and either cards or keys that only allow residents to enter the building.

On-Campus 24-Hour Staff

Every residence hall has a residential advisor (RA) and at least two graduate community directors that are on duty every night of the week. From 5:00 pm-7:00 am, you can call the residential advisors in case of an emergency, if you’ve lost your ID, or experience any mishaps. 

At apartment complexes or townhomes, students can contact the front office depending on their hours of operation during the day. 

Code Maroon

Code Maroon is Texas A&M University’s emergency notification system. This system gives the university the ability to alert health and safety information in an emergency. It will ring notifications of critical emergencies to all students and faculty who have subscribed to Code Maroon texts or alerts. You can subscribe here and it allows you to opt out at any time. 

Emergency Phones

You can find “blue light” phones scattered across campus. These phones are very distinguished 12-foot poles with a bright blue light at the top. If you are on campus and feel unsafe, or threatened in any way, you can click the emergency button on this phone pole or dial 911 to immediately notify the university police of your location. This is available for both residents and off-campus students, but a critical resource to know. 

Security Patrols

In addition to staff living in the buildings, the University Police Department has over 100 certified police and security officers employed to work on-campus. They are paid by Texas A&M’s Residence Life to patrol areas outside the residence halls and university apartments every day. 

  

Dining Options on Campus 

There are a few options when it comes to eating as a student at A&M. You can dine on campus simply by swiping your Aggie ID card. The benefits of dining on-campus are that you do not need to carry cash, there are vegan and vegetarian options, you don’t have to buy groceries or wash dishes, and you can save on parking space! You need to purchase either Dining Dollars or Meal Trades to eat on-campus. 

Dining Dollars 

• Eat anywhere on-campus 
• Leftover Dining Dollars at the end of the fall semester will roll over to the spring semester
• Dining Dollars do not roll over to the Summer semester
• You can add Dining Dollars to an existing meal plan in increments of $25
• Summer Dining Dollars will not roll over to the Fall semester.

Meal Trades

• Limited to four swipes per day
• Accepted at the MSC Food Court, Underground Food Court (Excluding Smoothie King), Ag Cafe, Rev’s American Grill, Panda Express, Chick-N-Grill, and Southside Market
• Cannot be used to purchase from Aggie Express, Smoothie King, or Starbucks
• Some dining areas do not accept Meal Trades at certain times of the day

Every student is faced with the option of purchasing Dining Dollars, Meal Trades, or a combination of both. Here is what I realized - some dining restaurants don’t accept Meal Trades at certain times of the day, but they do accept Dining Dollars. Unless you plan to eat at Sbisa dining hall every day, I recommend purchasing Dining Dollars, or a combination of both, so that you have flexible dining options on the go. Places where you can use Dining Dollars and NOT Meal Trades are any Aggie Express establishments (Snack/convenience stores located all over campus), Starbucks, and any dining options located in the Memorial Student Center. 

Here is a virtual e-book made by Aggie Dining that explains dining dollars and meal trades in detail. 

TAMU's Transportation Services 

There are many ways you can get to class whether you're walking, biking, driving or taking a bus. Texas A&M’s large campus is expansive from North Campus to South and West Campus - be sure to always keep how you get to classes in mind. Purchase a parking pass if you realize you may need one! You can learn more through the Transportation Services department. 

Check out this Aggie Map to get a real scope of A&M’s huge campus! 

I also highly recommend that prospective students and visitors download the Texas A&M mobile app. For transportation purposes, the app allows students to view bus numbers, bus stops, and exact arrival times. In addition to bus information, the app includes a Texas A&M Campus map, an academic calendar, dining locations, course information, Aggie news, events, a directory search, useful phone numbers and more. 

Texas A&M Housing Costs

Housing costs vary depending on how many roommates you choose to live with and where you chose to live, so it's difficult to fairly compare costs. Here is our best effort to break the housing costs down to uncover the true cost of living on and off-campus.

Students who are considering mid-priced housing options can look into Neeley Hall. Built in 1980, Neeley provides one room two people living space, with a bathroom you share with your four prospective roommates. Neely was recently renovated in 2017 and will run you around $684 a month. 

If you are looking to save a little more, Keathley Hall is also a great on-campus option. Keathley features a four-story building with balconies, built in 1964. Keathley features a one bedroom room for two roommates with bunk bed options. The room includes one sink for two people to share as well a bathroom shared among four people. The building is very industrial, but the courtyard has a historical character type of feel. The Keathley dorms will run you about $466 a month making it one of the most economical choices for on-campus living. 

Off-campus properties can save your money, and provide more luxury at times if you've considered living a short distance away from your classes. If you're planning to live with roommates, off-campus apartments and housing average costs can range from $350 to $700 at most. It usually depends on the number of rooms that are in a unit and how many people are paying rent. So if you are open to living with more than one or two roommates, your cost is going to be cheaper.

If you are looking at considering one bedroom apartments, you can expect a price range from about $600 to $1300 depending on the location, floor-plan, and amenities. And, if you are ready to take on the responsibility of renting a more spacious and private apartment or town-home all to yourself, you can expect anywhere from $900 to $1700. 

   

Focusing on your comfort and your needs is the best things you can do for yourself when choosing your home at Texas A&M University. We've considered on and off-campus housing choices, dining options, and cost breakdowns to make it easier for you to make an informed decision. It can be less time consuming to find the perfect home for you if you have the right tools.  For more College Station housing options visit HowdyHomes!