🎓 University of Wisconsin-Madison Freshman Housing Guide

Freshman year at University of Wisconsin-Madison — which dorms are open, what to look for, and how to pick well.

Picking a dorm as an incoming first-year is the one housing decision where the social side matters as much as the structural side. This guide highlights University of Wisconsin-Madison dorms open to freshmen, plus what to watch for: where the freshman-heavy halls are, which buildings have AC, and how the dorm style (corridor vs. suite vs. apartment) shapes your first-year experience.

💡 Freshman-year dorm tips:

Freshman year is when proximity-based friendships happen — corridor-style halls (everyone shares a long hallway) tend to socialize more than suite-style.
Prefer dorms close to a dining hall on your meal plan — you'll eat there 2-3 times a day.
AC matters most in the first 6 weeks of the fall semester (often 80°F+) and the last 4 weeks of spring. Hall fans only carry you so far.
Quiet floors exist at most schools and are usually opt-in. Worth knowing about if you're a light sleeper — see your housing portal for the toggle.

🏛 Freshman-Only Dorms at University of Wisconsin-Madison

These 1 dorm is reserved exclusively for first-year students.

Dorm	Overall ★	Style	Bath	Reviews	Features
Sellery Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	0	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen 🍽️ Dining

📋 Mixed-Class Dorms Open to Freshmans

54 dorms are open to first-years plus other class years. Sorted by student rating.

Dorm	Overall ★	Style	Bath	Features
Adams Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Alpha Chi Omega (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Alpha Epsilon Pi (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Alpha Phi (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Alpha Xi Delta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Barnard Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Beta Theta Pi (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Bradley Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Chadbourne Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Chamberlin House	—	Corridor	Communal
Cole Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Conover House	—	Corridor	Communal
Dejope Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen 🍽️ Dining
Delta Delta Delta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Delta Gamma (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Delta Tau Delta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Delta Upsilon (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Elizabeth Waters Hall	—	Corridor	Communal
Gamma Phi Beta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Gilman House	—	Corridor	Communal
Humphrey Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC
Jones House	—	Corridor	Communal
Jorns Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC
Kappa Alpha Theta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Kappa Kappa Gamma (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Kappa Sigma (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Kronshage Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC
Kronshage Main	—	Corridor	Communal
Leopold Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Lowell Hall	—	Suite	Private	❄️ AC
Mack House	—	Corridor	Communal
Merit Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Ogg Hall	—	Pod	Communal	❄️ AC
Parks Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC
Phi Delta Theta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Phi Gamma Delta (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Phi Kappa Sigma (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Phillips Hall	—	Suite	Private	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Pi Beta Phi (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Pi Kappa Alpha (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Pi Kappa Phi (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Showerman House	—	Corridor	Communal
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Sigma Pi (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Slichter Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Smith Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Sullivan Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Swenson House	—	Corridor	Communal
Tau Kappa Epsilon (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Tripp Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Turner House	—	Corridor	Communal
Witte Hall	—	Corridor	Communal	❄️ AC 🍳 Kitchen
Zeta Beta Tau (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC
Zeta Tau Alpha (Chapter House)	—	House	Communal	❄️ AC

❓ Freshman Year Housing FAQ

Where do most freshmen live at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshmen are housed across the dorms listed below. Some schools centralize first-years on a specific quad or campus zone; others mix freshmen into all halls. The dorms section on this page reflects current inventory open to first-years — sort by review count to see where current students are reviewing the most.

Should I pick a corridor-style or suite-style dorm as a freshman?

Corridor-style halls (a long hallway with rooms opening off it, shared bathrooms) tend to drive more cross-room socializing — often the best fit for first-years who don't know anyone yet. Suite-style is quieter and more private but you may end up only knowing your suitemates.

Do freshman dorms at University of Wisconsin-Madison have AC?

It varies by building. Use the "❄️ Has AC" amenity filter linked at the bottom of this page to see only AC-equipped dorms at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Can I request a single room as a freshman?

Most colleges discourage singles for first-years (the social benefit of a roommate matters more in year one than in year four). Some schools allow medical singles or honors-program singles. Check your college's housing portal for current first-year single availability.

🔗 Related Guides

📚 Sophomore Guide 🎉 Senior Guide 👪 Parents Guide 🏆 Best Dorms 📋 All Dorms

🔍 Filter by Amenity

Browse University of Wisconsin-Madison dorms filtered by amenity:

❄️ with Air Conditioning 🍳 with Shared Kitchen 🛗 with Elevator ♿ ADA-Accessible 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Friendly 🚿 with Private Bathrooms 🛁 with Semi-Private Bathrooms 🧼 with Communal Bathrooms ♀ All-Female