Housing for International Students

Welcome to YSU!

Congratulations on your admission- we look forward to welcoming you to campus soon.  The Housing & Residence Life team works closely with our partners in the International Programs Office to provide welcoming housing options for Youngstown State University’s international student community.

What you need to know about living on campus

Like most international students, you may have never had the opportunity to travel to the US, let alone visit and tour YSU’s campus prior to your arrival here for the start of your college program.  It is hard to find safe, affordable and quality housing- especially when you are new to the area!  We also know that a safe and well-maintained living environment is crucial to your academic success and wellbeing. Residence hall life provides international students with everything needed for a successful and enjoyable enhanced college experience!

As such, the University strongly encourages Fall-arriving students to live on campus, while Spring-arriving students are REQUIRED to live on campus (unless they meet one of the exemption criteria explained in more detail below).  

The University supports international students living on campus through scholarship.  Each incoming international student is eligible to receive a $1,000 housing scholarship per semester, totaling $2,000 total for the academic year for students beginning during the fall semester. This scholarship will be applied toward the cost of room and board each semester.  

Are you a J-1 exchange student or English Language Institute participant?  Students in these groups are REQUIRED to live in university housing at all times, regardless of their term of entry.  Unfortunately, English Language Institute participants are not eligible for the international student housing scholarships.

  • Want to learn more?  Attend a Virtual Housing Information Session!

    We’d love you to connect with us at one of our virtual sessions to learn more about living on campus and connect in real time with staff members from the Housing team with any questions you may have!  Please attend one of the following virtual housing sessions for international admitted students:

  • Coming in the Spring and ready to take action?

    Head over to housingapp.ysu.edu to complete your Spring-only housing application, via the Penguin Portal.  If you are not automatically logged in, please click the Login link in the red bar and enter your YSU email and password in pop-up screen. (Make sure you have pop-ups enabled in your browser). To apply for housing, please click the application tab in the red bar above. You will then need to select the term for which you are applying.  Please select the Spring Only housing contract.  There is a $35, one-time application fee required to access the application; you will need to pay this with a credit/debit card.  You should then complete all pages of the online contract and then complete the final signature page that asks you to check the boxes, indicating that you agree to/accept the terms of the Housing contract.

    International students can arrive, at no charge, starting January 2nd.  There will be no exceptions to this date.  In order to be eligible to check-in, students must have completed the Spring move-in criteria.

    For questions about housing options or the housing application process, please contact the Housing & Residence Life team at housing@ysu.edu.

  • Your Early Arrival Meal Plan

    Your Pre-Arrival Meal Plan

    As part of your early arrival, you’ll receive an early arrival international meal plan!

    The plan will consist of $75 Pete’s Points + $25 Flex Dollars that will serve as your dining currency until the residential meal plan begins on Sunday, January 5th. This plan will be preloaded to your Y-Card and upon your arrival, you’ll receive information on where, when and how you can use this plan to meet your dining needs.

    This plan will be available to all incoming undergraduate international students and will be charged to your student account.  Any unused points will remain available for your use during the Spring semester, in addition to your residential meal plan.

  • Pete's Points

    A Pete’s Points plan is a prepaid account allowing you to dine or snack on campus and at several locations near campus without using cash. While all residential students receive a full meal plan, a Pete’s Points meal plan would be a great option for winter break or if you simply want to add more Pete’s Points than the residential meal plans provide.
    Your YSU ID is your form of payment.  $1 of Pete’s Points = $1 of cash. Just swipe your card and go! OR use your virtual YSU ID, accessed through the YSU App for hands-free purchasing!  It just takes a few minutes to purchase Pete’s Points! Purchase them using your charge card on the YSU App. Go to the Y-Card tile, and from there go to “Reload ID Card Balance.” Points can be added at any time and as many times as you wish throughout the semester.

    Pete's Points can be used at all campus dining locations and Pete's Treats and More in Kilcawley Center, and a number of off campus restaurants including Hot Head Burritos, YSU McDonalds, Pressed Coffee Bar and Eatery, YSU Subway, Barnes & Noble Café, and many other locations near campus.

    Pete’s Points (on the Pete’s Points Plan only), never expire.

  • Dining Locations and Hours of Operation:

    See the Dining on campus | locations & hours webpage for the hours of all on-campus dining services.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

  • Frequently Asked Questions for International Students

    What should I do for break housing?

    • YSU does provide housing over break periods for students who live in the residence halls.  If you are a student with an Academic Year contract (encompassing Fall and Spring semesters), you can request housing over winter break by visiting the Housing Contract Extension Request webpage to complete and submit your request.

    How do I know if I must live on campus?

    • If you are a first-time undergraduate student and your first term of enrollment at YSU is a Spring semester, you are required to live on campus in a YSU residence hall.   
    • J-1 exchange students and English Language Institute participants are required to live in university housing for a defined contract period (Academic Year contract if arriving in Fall, or Spring Only contract if arriving in Spring) regardless of their term of entry.
    • All other undergraduate international students whose first term of enrollment at YSU is a Fall semester are encouraged (but not required) to live in university housing for their first year of enrollment.
  • Who is eligible for the international student housing scholarship?

    Any incoming undergraduate F-1 student who is enrolled as a full-time YSU student. Transfer, J-1, ELI and graduate students are not eligible to receive this scholarship.

  • When will I see the scholarship applied to my student account?

    The University will not disperse the scholarship funds to the student account until confirmation that official transcript has been received.  The University recommends enrolling in the University payment plan as the method of payment in case there is a delay in the scholarship being applied.  Once the scholarship funds are applied, future payments will automatically reflect the updated total.

  • Can the scholarship be renewed?

    No.  The scholarship is only available for a period of two semesters for a student arriving in the Fall OR a one semester for a student arriving in the Spring.

  • Are there tax implications for my international student housing scholarship?

    Yes. Housing scholarships awarded to international students who meet criteria for award do require tax reporting and withholding.  The withholding rate for students with F-1 or J-1 immigration status is 14%.  Scholarships awarded to students of other immigration status are subject to up to 30% withholding.  Recipients of taxable scholarships will receive a year-end tax form, IRS form 1042-S no later than March 15 of the following calendar year.  This form will then be used to file a tax return with the IRS by April 15.

  • What options are available for me to pay my bill?

    Your student account will feature your tuition AND your housing charge. Students may pay their YSU bill online through the Penguin Portal. The payment options are credit card, debit card, and electronic check. If a student is paying with a credit or debit card, there is a 2.85% convenience fee for each transaction.
    For complete directions on how to make payments through your Penguin Portal, please visit the Penguin Service Center | Pay Bill webpage.

     

    • Payment Plan

    The university offers a payment plan to all YSU students. A payment plan allows students to divide their total account balance into equal monthly payments throughout the semester. There is also a $50 enrollment fee due with the first payment. The monthly payment installments are based on the total account balance divided by the number of remaining due dates for the semester (either four, three, or two).
    For more information about how to enroll into payment plan, please visit the Penguin Service Center |Enroll in Payment Plan webpage.

     

    • Flywire and Transfermate

    Students needing to pay by international wire may also consider using Flywire or Transfermate. It should be noted that these options can take some time to process, so international students should plan accordingly by organizing payment prior to their travel to campus for move-in.


    For more information about how to pay through Flywire, please visit the University Bursar | How to Pay Through Flywire webpage.
    For more information about how to pay through Transfermate, please visit the University Bursar | How to Pay Through Transfermate webpage.

    • Bank Drafts

    All bank drafts must be drawn on a US bank.  If you wish to bring a bank draft, it should not exceed the total amount that is currently owed on your student account.  If you bring a bank draft that is less than the full amount of your student account balance, you must have a plan for payment for the unpaid remainder of your balance, using one of the above methods.

     

    Students who wish to utilize the bank draft option, should upload a copy of their check for cashiers to view AHEAD of their arrival here in Youngstown: University Bursar Secure Document Upload (Please note, this will not initiate payment, but will provide the cashiers an opportunity to screen your bank draft ahead of your arrival)

     

    If you do not have plans to arrive on campus during business hours that the Cashiers Window is open, (M-F, 8am-2pm) the University urges you to consider a different payment method, as you will not be able to make payments upon your arrival outside of this timeframe.

     

    PLEASE NOTE:  Cash is NOT an accepted method of payment for student accounts.

     

    • Additional Financial Resources for International Students to Consider

    Go to the PNC International Students webpage.

  • Exemption from the housing requirement

    Is there any way for international students to be considered exempt from the housing requirement?

    • Youngstown State University recognizes that some students may have valid reasons to request exemption from the international housing requirement. Exemption criteria have been established and students may request exemption by submitting a completed exemption form.  The exemption application and documentation will be reviewed by Associate Vice President of Student Experience and Executive Director, International Programs.   
    • Deadline to request exemption from the academic year contract: August 15  
    • Deadline to request exemption from Spring only contract: December 15
    • It is strongly recommended you do not make alternative housing arrangements until you have received written notification that your request for exemption has been approved.
    • Inability to afford YSU housing will not be considered as grounds for an exemption as students must document sufficient liquid funds for one year’s academic and living costs in order to receive an I-20.
    • Students under the age of 17 years old require approval of the Director of Housing & Residence Life to live in a university residence hall.

    What are the criteria for exemption?

    • The student has resided in the region prior to enrolling at Youngstown State University for minimum of 6 months.   
    • The student’s parents or other immediate family members reside in the region  
    • The student is married or has a dependent
    • The student has thirty or more transferred credits earned beyond high school graduation
    • The student is over age 23
    • The student has medical or other condition, subject to documentation and review
    • The student has dietary restrictions that dining services cannot accommodate. Before submitting a request for exemption based on dietary restrictions, a student must complete this form to communicate their dietary needs to dining services.
    • The student has extraordinary circumstances as determined by the by the Associate Vice President of Student Experience and Executive Director, International Programs.
  • How can I access the exemption form?

    International Student Housing Requirement: Request for Exemption (office.com)

  • How do I complete a housing contract?
    • You are able to complete a housing contract online via your Housing Portal.
  • Where will I live once I arrive?
    • Housing & Residence Life will make every effort for you to check directly into your assigned room.
  • What if I need to arrive prior to January 2nd (the designated airport pickup date)?

    International students are able to arrive and check-in at their designated residence hall starting on January 2nd- the same date as the international student airport shuttle service, coordinated by ISSS.  International students arriving January 2ndand beyond will not be assessed a fee for early arrival and will be permitted to check in, provided they have met move-in criteria.

    Students who arrive prior to January 2nd and students who have NOT met move-in criteria, will not be permitted to check-in and should plan on staying in a hotel.  While there are several local hotels you could consider, the University recommends the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown at 44 East Federal Plaza, Youngstown, OH.  You can call to inquire about reservations at +1-866-568-0896.

    Regardless of move-in date, ALL move-in criteria (including student account payment in full or enrollment in University payment plan) must be complete.

  • How do I know if I will be denied check-in upon arrival?
    • If you arrive on campus prior to January 2nd, you should plan to stay in a hotel
    • If you arrive on campus and have not completed a housing application, you should plan to stay in a hotel until you are able to complete a housing application and meet the move-in requirements
    • If you arrive on campus and have not completed your move-in criteria (including payment of your full student account balance or enrollment in the University payment plan), you should plan to stay in a hotel until you have met all move-in requirements
  • Who will my roommate be?
    • Students will receive their housing assignment and any roommate information via their YSU email.  Original roommate assignment and/or assigned roommate may ultimately change due to many factors; if this is the case, the Housing & Residence Life team will do their best to communicate updates to you prior to your arrival
  • Can I request a new roommate?
    • In the event that you would like to change rooms, please note that the room freeze period is in effect the first two weeks following the start of classes and no request will be considered during this time.
    • After the room freeze period has ended, you should reach out to your RA and Housing Coordinator (the professional staff member who manages your residence hall).  Inquiries will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Can I cook my own food?
    • The cost to live on campus includes a full meal plan.  Meal plans for residential students are mandatory.  To review permitted items (cooking appliances, etc.) please review the resident handbook. All residence halls have kitchens which you are welcome to use outside of eating in the dining hall and other campus dining locations.
  • Where can students wash clothes?
    • There are washers and dryers available in every residence hall basement. Using the washers and dryers is free for all residents.
  • Can I smoke and drink on campus?
    • YSU is a tobacco free campus, use of tobacco products are prohibited within the residence halls. Additionally, the residence halls are alcohol-free locations and residents are not permitted to consume alcohol (or any other drugs), regardless of their age.
  • What happens if I do not comply with the international housing requirement?

    Compliance:
    Except for those with an exemption as provided in the international housing requirement policy, any first-year international student who fails to reside in university housing may be subject to immediate administrative withdrawal by the university or assessment of residence hall fees for the semester(s) that the student failed to reside in university housing as required by this policy. The Director of Housing & Residence Life, upon finding that any such first-year student, during the first year, failed to reside in university housing, shall notify the Associate Vice President of Student Experience and Associate Provost of International Programs. Upon approval, the Director of Housing & Residence Life shall assess fees as appropriate.

Miss the virtual session and want to learn more?

View a recording of the most recent International Housing Virtual Prep Session here!