Housing Cancellations
2025-26 Housing Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation Fees Prior to Check-In
- Cancellation Fees After Check-In
- Impact on Financial Aid & Future Housing Guarantee
- Appeals of Cancellation Fees
The Housing License Agreement period covers from when a student signs the Agreement through when the residence halls close at the conclusion of their assignment period. To request a release from the financial obligation of the Agreement, a student must submit the Housing Cancellation Form. Failure to occupy an assigned space does not constitute cancellation of the Housing License Agreement and all financial obligations remain.
A cancellation is not effective until all such applicable conditions below are satisfied:
- The College has received and processed the submitted Housing Cancellation Form
- If currently living in campus housing for the cancelled period, the student must:
- Fully vacate College housing along with their belongings
- Submit a check-out envelope at their residence hall front desk and return all keys issued by the College
- Complete the Confirm Check Out form on the Housing Portal
Students may be eligible for refunds on a term or prorated basis (after adjustment for any previously issued financial aid awards) and/or may be liable for a cancellation fee as outlined in the Fee Schedules below. Students who take a leave of absence or transfer to another school are still responsible for cancellation fees.
Students who are required to move out of College housing for reasons of academic or disciplinary dismissal will not be eligible for a refund and will remain liable for housing charges.
Students who cancel during occupancy must vacate within 48 hours* of submitting the Housing Cancellation form and/or taking a leave of absence from the College; otherwise, additional cancellation fees and/or disciplinary action may apply.
*Students submitting the cancellation form in the Fall to cancel for the Spring will need to move out before the residence halls close for Winter Break (9am, Friday, December 19, 2025).
Fee Schedule: Cancellation Prior to Check-In
Students who participated in the 2025 Room Selection process
This includes students who are on the Guaranteed List to be assigned a room over the summer.
Cancellation Effective Date Moving Off-Campus Leave of Absence, Withdrawals, & Approved Fall Study Leave* Through May 1, 2025 No Cancellation Fee No Cancellation Fee May 2 - May 15, 2025 $200 $200 May 16 - May 29, 2025 $400 $400 May 30 - June 12, 2025 $600 $600 June 13 - June 26, 2025 $800 $800 June 27 - July 10, 2025
$1000 $1000 July 11 - July 24, 2025 $1200 $1200 July 25 - July 31, 2025 $1500 $1500 August 1 - August 7, 2025 50% of semester room rate $1500 August 8, 2025 until Check-In 100% of semester room rate $1500 After Check-In Please see "Cancellation After Check-In" section below * Students accepted into an approved Study Abroad program (or to the Spelman Exchange) for the Fall after May 1, 2025, may avoid a cancellation fee by both cancelling housing and forwarding a dated copy of their acceptance form to housing@barnard.edu within 5 business days of their acceptance date.
Fall 2025 Applicants
This includes new enrolling First Year, Transfer & Visiting students, students returning from a leave of absence, and continuing students who were not eligible for the 2025 Room Selection process.
- Students who apply without a guarantee (Transfers, students returning from leave, etc.) will not be subject to cancellation fees unless they are emailed a guarantee of assignment to campus housing (which may not include a specific room assignment at the time of guarantee).
Students on the Guaranteed List for assignment over the summer should refer instead to the cancellation fee schedule above for students who participated in the Room Selection process.
Cancellation Effective Date
(if provided a guarantee of housing)Cancellation for Any Reason Through June 12, 2025 No Cancellation Fee June 13 - June 26, 2025 $200 June 27 - July 10, 2025 $400 July 11 - July 24, 2025 $600 July 25 - July 31, 2025 $800 August 1 - August 7, 2025 $1000 August 8 - August 14, 2025 $1200 August 15, 2025 until Check-In $1500 After Check-In Please see "Cancellation After Check-In" section below
Spring 2026 Applicants
i.e. students applying for campus housing starting in Spring 2026 (i.e. not continuing from the Fall semester)
Cancellation Effective Date Cancellation for Any Reason Through December 25, 2025 No Cancellation Fee December 26 - January 1, 2026 $200 January 2 - January 8, 2026 $400 January 9, 2026 until Check-In $600 After Check-In Please see "Cancellation After Check-In" section below
Fee Schedule: Cancellation After Check-In
Applies after checking in, taking possession of College-issued room keys, and/or moving any belongings into campus housing.
Cancellation Fees applied during the Fall 2025 Semester
Cancellation Effective Date Moving Off-Campus Leave of Absence & Withdrawals Before 60% point in Fall Semester No refund of Fall room charge Prorated daily rent charge + $1500 cancellation fee After 60% point in Fall Semester No refund of Fall room charge + $1500 cancellation fee for Spring No refund of Fall room charge + $1500 cancellation fee for Spring
Cancellation Fees applied when cancelling for the Spring 2026 Semester
Applies to students in campus housing for Fall 2025 who cancel for Spring 2026. Students who cancel will need to move out before the residence halls close for Winter Break at 9am on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Cancellation Effective Date Moving Off-Campus Leave of Absence & Withdrawals Mid-Year Graduation or Approved Spring Study Leave* Through December 1, 2025 $1500 $1200 No cancellation fee December 2 - December 8, 2025 50% of Spring room charge $1200 $1200 December 9, 2025 - end of Fall semester No refund of Spring housing charge $1500 $1500 * Students accepted into an approved Study Abroad program (or the Spelman Exchange) for the Spring after December 1, 2025, may avoid a cancellation fee by both canceling housing and forwarding a dated copy of their acceptance form to housing@barnard.edu within 5 business days of their acceptance date.
Cancellation Fees applied during the Spring 2026 Semester
Applies both to students continuing from Fall housing and students who moved in for the Spring.
Cancellation Effective Date Moving Off-Campus Leave of Absence & Withdrawals Before 60% point in Spring Semester No refund of Spring room charge Prorated daily rent charge + $1500 cancellation fee After 60% point in Spring Semester No refund of Spring room charge No refund of Spring room charge
Impact on Financial Aid & Housing Guarantee
Financial Aid
Students who receive aid and move off-campus will be repackaged as "Non-residential / Commuter" students, which may result in a change to their financial aid package. Students are encouraged to discuss with the Financial Aid office how their package could be affected before cancelling their application or room assignment.
Housing Guarantee
Students who started at the College as First Year students who cancel housing* will no longer be eligible to participate in the Room Selection process to have a guarantee of housing; however, they may submit a housing application to be on the non-Guaranteed Wait List.
* Students who cancel to take part in an approved Study Abroad program (or the Spelman Exchange) will remain eligible for the Room Selection process as long as they were previously eligible, complete their program without taking a leave of absence, and apply for & move back into campus housing for the following semester.
Appeals of Cancellation Fees
How to appeal the cancellation fee
Students with extenuating circumstances may submit appeals requesting a waiver or reduction of cancellation charges by submitting a detailed written statement to housing@barnard.edu (for review by the Director of Housing).
Students should include why they cancelled housing, the timing of the cancellation, and why they are requesting a waiver or reduction of the cancellation charge.
All requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and waivers / reductions of cancellation fees are not guaranteed.
Note: appeals will only be considered after a student has submitted the housing cancellation form.