Columbia Residential manages 150 apartment buildings, primarily in the Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, and Manhattanville neighborhoods, spanning from 103rd Street to 125th Street. Additional University housing is available in Riverdale, the Bronx, approximately 20 minutes from campus via shuttle bus.
A variety of housing options are available to students, including dormitory-style suites, shared apartments, and a limited number of studio and one-bedroom units, which are prioritized for couples and families. A small number of larger units are available for students with children.
Apartment Share
Most Columbia Residential students live in two- and three-bedroom apartment shares, which provide students with an affordable and community-oriented living experience. These accommodations are reserved for single students only; spouses, partners, family members, and friends are not permitted to share these units.
Living with roommates can be a rewarding experience, and Columbia Residential encourages students to build positive relationships through mutual respect and cooperation and adherence to the Roommate Rights and Responsibilities.
Key Expectations for Shared Living
- Residents are responsible for communicating directly and respectfully with roommates to address concerns and resolve conflicts.
- Columbia Residential does not mediate roommate disputes but can assist with housing policy violations and safety or wellness concerns.
- Common areas must be shared equitably and remain accessible to all assigned residents.
- Residents are expected to maintain clean, safe, and respectful living spaces.
- Privacy must be respected at all times; entry into a roommate’s private room requires permission.
- Residents must adhere to the Columbia Residential Guest Policy.
- All residents must follow University policies and contribute to a harassment-free living environment.
Students who are not comfortable with these expectations should not select shared housing.
Studio
Studio apartments at Columbia Residential offer private, self-contained living spaces for single students or couples. These units are limited in availability and highly sought after.
Each studio typically consists of a single room with kitchen appliances and a private bathroom. Most studio apartments are unfurnished.
One-Bedroom
One-bedroom apartments provide additional privacy and comfort, featuring a separate bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. These apartments are scarce and highly sought after, with most available unfurnished.
- Smaller one-bedroom apartments are available to single students and couples.
- Large one-bedroom apartments are reserved for couples and students with children, offering more room to accommodate family needs. Eligibility must be verified, and residents are expected to follow the Couple and Family Housing Policies.
Two-Bedroom
Two-bedroom apartments are designed for students with dependent children and provide ample space for family living. With a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom, these apartments are well-suited for families balancing home and academic life.
Availability is limited, and residents must follow the Couple and Family Housing Policies. Floorplans vary, and most units are unfurnished, allowing families to personalize their home.
School Specific
Some housing is offered only to students in specific schools.
A number of buildings are available only to Columbia Law School students.
New Residence Hall at Teachers College is available to students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and in the School of General Studies. For students in the School of General Studies, dormitory rooms and studio apartments are also available at Union Theological Seminary, along with apartments in three buildings in Manhattan Valley.
For more information about Residential buildings, please review Explore Residential Buildings.
Lenfest Hall is located on West 121st Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive. This luxury, high-rise building contains 181 furnished studio/efficiency units and 28 one-bedroom units. Lenfest's amenities include 24-hour security, public study rooms with WIFI, a bamboo garden and a card-operated laundry room. Utilities are included. All units are furnished with space-saving furniture that is able to accommodate a variety of arrangements and functions.
Residents of Lenfest Hall must contact Columbia University Information Technology at (212) 854-1919 for more information on obtaining cable TV service.
The University owns a number of furnished and unfurnished apartments in Lionsgate, a high rise building at 520 West 112th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. Lionsgate has 24-hour security and has studio/efficiency, one bedroom and two-bedroom units available. Some of these units may be available to students with children. Residents should refer to Lionsgate Move In/Move Out Guidelines (PDF).
The Law School owns a number of apartments in Morningside Gardens, a residential cooperative apartment complex with multiple buildings and over 900 units. Private apartments are available for eligible Law students at 501 West 123rd Street and 549 West 123rd Street, and shared apartments are available at 100 La Salle Street.
Columbia Residential has made special arrangements with Teachers College to lease a limited number of efficiency units at their New Residence Hall, located at 517 West 121st Street. These are only available to students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of General Studies.
These units each have a private bathroom. The smaller units, which average 200 square feet, share common kitchens distributed throughout the building and are equipped with a small refrigerator. The larger units average 250 square-feet and have a private kitchenette. All units are furnished with a bed (extra-long twin in the smaller units, full in the larger units), desk, desk chair, table and chair, floor lamp, chest of drawers and closet/wardrobe.
Although categorized as "efficiency units," this housing is not available to couples or families. Subletting is prohibited.
Columbia students residing in the New Residence Hall agree to the rules, policies and regulations contained in The Guide to Campus Living at Teachers College.
Students from the School of General Studies are the only undergraduate residents within the Columbia Residential portfolio. While some units are designated exclusively for GS students, the majority are located within Columbia Residential’s general housing portfolio. In these buildings, GS students may live in shared apartments alongside graduate students from across the University.
Housing is available in both private and shared apartments. Residents are responsible for maintaining their units and fostering respectful, collaborative roommate relationships. While this is an independent living experience the experience, GS Resident Advisors (RA’s) are available to assist as needed.
61-63 West 108th Street and 950 Columbus Avenue
- Leased by Columbia University from a third-party landlord.
- Apartment shares with private bedrooms and shared common areas.
- Limited number of studio apartments in 950 Columbus.
New Residence Hall at Teachers College (517 West 121st Street)
- Managed by Teachers College (TC).
- Residents must abide by the TC Rules, Policies, and Regulations .
- All efficiency units include a private bathroom.
- Residents have access to shared kitchens distributed throughout the building. Smaller Units (200 sq. ft.) have a small refrigerator, and larger units (250 sq. ft.) include a kitchenette.
- All units are furnished.
- Housing is not available to couples or families.
- Subletting is prohibited
Hastings Hall at Union Theological Seminary (3041 Broadway)
- Managed by Union Theological Seminary (UTS)
- Residents must abide by the UTS Rules, Policies, and Regulations.
- Dormitory-style suites and limited studio units
- Furnished and gender-neutral.
- Porter service for common areas.
- Housing is not available to couples or families.
- Subletting is prohibited.
The Arbor (3260 Henry Hudson Parkway)
- Couple and family units, and apartment shares, and limited number of shared bedroom units.
- Most apartments are not exclusive to GS students; however, shared-bedroom units are reserved for GS residents only.
- In-unit washers, dryers, dishwashers, central heating, and air conditioning.
- Located 25 minutes north of Morningside campus with shuttle service available. Please note: the shuttle is not wheelchair accessible.
Key Information and Policies
To help prospective residents prepare for life in university housing, the information below outlines key details about rent, utilities, furnishings, and important policies.
Columbia Residential looks forward to welcoming new residents into its vibrant community. By becoming familiar with the housing options and policies above, students and their families can enjoy a smooth transition into their new home and make the most of their experience at Columbia University.