Tips for moving in

When to move

New students move in between 8:30 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 and can check in at Admissions in Smith Curtis (students traveling more than 300 miles to campus may check in between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026). Greek students will be on hand to help you unload and carry things to your room.

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors move in between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 21 or 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, August 22. Both of these times for returners to move in will take place in the Residential Education Office in Centennial Hall.

Before you move in

Your fall semester bill is due by August 4. To move into your housing assignment, your student account must be paid in full or have an approved payment plan in place, regardless of when you move onto campus. If you're moving in outside of our normal business hours, your account must be settled by the end of the previous business day. This gives our Business Office time to confirm everything is in order before you arrive. If we don't have that confirmation, we won't be able to move you into your housing assignment. We want your move-in day to be one less thing to worry about, so please take care of this before August 4.

What to expect

• Furnishings vary somewhat by facility, but all residences will have a desk, desk chair, and twin bed frame.
• Microchill mini-fridge/microwave combo units are available for rent through College Products.

You may

• Hang or mount light-weight items like posters and photos. Please use only 3M removable posting tabs or hooks and make sure you know how to remove them properly to avoid damage charges.
• Only ONE mini-fridge (5 cubic feet or smaller) or Microchill unit per traditional-style residence hall room. The only Microchill units (mini-fridge/microwave combo) allowed in the halls are those rented from College Products. NWU’s Heim/White Suites, Townhouse Village, or on-campus apartments are already equipped with refrigerators. Students in those facilities may not bring additional mini-fridges.

Bring these items

• Extra-long sheets and blankets (deep pocket twin sheets work too)
• Pillow(s)
• Desk lamp (no halogen lamps)
• Basic cleaning supplies including disinfecting spray and/or wipes
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry bag and supplies
• Three-prong power strip with circuit breaker
• Alarm clock
• Wastebasket
• Shower caddy
• Book bag
• Desk supplies
• Personal care items

Consider bringing these items

• Free-standing bulletin board
• Carpet (if your room isn’t carpeted) or a rug
• Bicycle and u-lock
• Plastic organizer
• Bowls, cups, utensils
• Rubber flip flops for shower
• Personal laptop/accessories
• Television
• Posters or room decorations
• Small fan
• Mini fridge (5 cubic feet or smaller, only) if living in traditional-style halls
• Mattress pad or eggshell foam pad
• Small, stick vacuum
• Ice scraper and jumper cables (if bringing a car)

Don't bring these items

Most items on the do-not-pack list relate to campus safety and fire risk concerns. Others connect to university residential education policies.

• Pets (Approved ESAs and fish in tanks < 10 gallons are allowed) 
• Firearms, fireworks, weapons, paintball guns and equipment
• Air fryers
• Hot plates
• String lights (neither battery operated or plug in) 
• Hanging light decorations of any kind
• Candles
• Extension cords (grounded three-prong surge protectors are allowed)
• George Foreman type grills 
• Microwaves 
• Toasters and toaster ovens
• Wireless internet routers 
• Lofts not provided by NWU
• Sound systems and subwoofers
• Personal AC and space heaters
• Halogen lamps