Housing Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply for Residence Halls or Homestay by registering into the Housing Application Portal with your CTCLink account. Once logged in, complete and submit the application form. Please note that after submitting your online housing application, you will no longer be able to access your account to make changes. If you encounter any issues, please contact us at housing@edmonds.edu.

The earlier you apply, the better your chances of receiving your preferred housing option.

The deadline for submitting your housing application is at least two weeks before the scheduled arrival date. The earlier you apply the more you take your preference for the best consideration. Late applications may be considered, but availability is not guaranteed.

Late applications may be accepted depending on availability. However, there is no guarantee that housing will be available, and late applicants may be placed on a waiting list.

The housing contract is a legal agreement between you and Housing and Residential Life at Edmonds College. The contract period varies depending on the student's preferences, but it typically lasts for 3 or 4 quarters and outlines your rights, responsibilities, safety, and the terms of living in college housing.

Housing assignments are made based on the order of application submission, housing preferences, and availability. Priority is given to students who have paid the housing application fee.

For new students, the fee covering the first 30 nights must be paid along with the application fee before Homestay placement information is provided.

Payment is required after submitting your housing application, once the application fee appears on your ctcLink account.

You will be notified of your housing placement via email.

Housing changes are subject to availability and may not be guaranteed. To request a change in your housing assignment, please email Housing at housing@edmonds.edu.

While we try to accommodate all housing preferences, due to high demand, we cannot guarantee specific room types. If you do not get your preferred assignment, you may be placed on a waitlist and contacted if space becomes available.

If you need to cancel your housing application before you sign in to move in, you might be able to do so. However, the housing application is non-refundable under any circumstance. To cancel your application, please email Housing at housing@edmonds.edu.

• If you are a new arrival your housing charges are due a week after you arrive.
• If you are an existing resident your housing charges are due roughly one month before the start of the quarter in question.

You can make your housing payment through your CTCLink account. For step-by-step instructions, please refer to this guide: How to make the payment

We are required to ensure that balances are paid in full before the quarter in question begins. Setting the due date early allows us time to properly diagnose and address issues with students that miss the payment deadline and either find a solution or get them moved out before the quarter begins.

If you are relying on financial aid you must reach out to the Housing Financial Coordinator each quarter and explain your circumstances. Depending on your situation you may be required to establish a payment plan and make payments while we wait for your financial aid disbursement. 
Financial Aid

• Any fee prefaced with the word “Housing -” is a mandatory housing fee. Failure to pay your housing fees can result in holds, late fees, eviction, and collections.
• Please see the Additional Fees table or email the Housing Financial Coordinator if you have questions about why you incurred a fee.

• If you are an international student you cannot establish a payment plan. You must pay your housing balance in full on or before the due date.
• If you are domestic you may be able to establish a payment plan. Email the financial coordinator explaining your circumstance and they will work with you to come to an agreement.

Yes, we offer an airport pickup service for new students arriving from the airport to the Residence Halls and Homestay. This service is available on our Arrival Dates. If you plan to arrive early, you must arrange to stay in a hotel. 

To request airport pickup, please mark the field of the airport pickup request when you submit the housing application, or please let us know by email. You must provide your flight details, including the arrival time, date, and airport, along with your phone number. 

You will need to provide the following information when requesting airport pickup:

Full name and CTCLink ID number
Flight number
Arrival date and time
Phone number

The airport pickup service is $120 on the arrival date. Pickup after the arrival date is $150.

The driver will be holding a sign with the Housing at Edmonds College. You will receive details on the airport pick-up information at least two weeks before your arrival.

Yes, we can pick up you and your family, but the $120 airport pickup fee will be charged per person in your group.

If you forget to request airport pickup in advance, contact us by email immediately. We may still be able to accommodate your request.

Yes, the pickup service will wait for you on a delayed arrival. We will track your flight and adjust the pickup time as needed.

The driver will drop you off at Rainier Place, the housing office where you can check in or out. The both Res Hall and Homestay students arriving during the day will be brought to campus, and the hosts will meet their homestay students at school. If homestay students arrive in the evening, the driver will take you to your homestay. 

The drivers will attempt to contact you via WhatsApp, so please keep your phone on and connect to the airport Wi-Fi while waiting for their call. You can use WhatsApp to communicate with them and arrange the meeting point.

Move-in dates are typically scheduled for the weekend before classes begin. Please check the Housing Calendar on the housing website.

You can check in at the front office during office hours. If you arrive outside of office hours, you can contact the RAs for each apartment.

Students are not allowed to move in before the official arrival date. Early move-in is typically available only for those with specific needs, like athletes or students in certain programs.

Yes, there is a designated check-in process for all students moving into the Residence Halls. You will check in at the housing front office, located in Rainier Place, where you will receive your room key or fob and move-in instructions.

Yes, you are allowed to have family or friends help you move in.

Yes, we offer orientation sessions and shopping trips for new residents to meet other students and learn more about on-campus housing resources. Be sure to check your email or the housing website for details on any scheduled events.

If you experience any issues with your room or key on move-in day, go to the front desk or contact the housing office immediately. They will assist you with resolving any problems.

Each dorm room is equipped with basic furniture (bed, desk, chair, etc.), but you should bring personal items such as bedding, towels, toiletries, and kitchen items.

Keep an eye out for our flyers! We make sure to post event flyers in the lobby and on each floor of Triton Court and Rainier Place.
Flyers are not modern enough? Then check out our instagram page @ec.housing and stay up to date with our programs :p

Residents can use any of the community spaces in their building! 
Some lounges may have specific hours or instructions, like the Triton Game Room. In that case, residents need to call the RA in order to use the space. 
Other lounges, such as the Triton Lounge and the Rainier Community Room, can be reserved ahead of time! 

• Talk early: Share your study habits, cleaning expectations, and guest rules.
• Be honest: Speak up about small issues before they become big problems.
• Share chores: Divide tasks like cleaning and taking out the trash.
• Respect each other’s space and stuff: Ask before borrowing anything.
• Keep each other informed: Let your roommate know if you’ll be away or having visitors.
• Fill out a Roommate Agreement: Your RA can help you with this form from the Housing Office.

Pets are not allowed in the Res Halls. Residents may have an Emotional Support Animal or a Service Animal. 

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

You must register with the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSD) if special accommodations are needed when applying for housing. You are encouraged to apply early and to notify the Housing and Residence Life Office of special needs when the application for housing is made.

Smoking inside the Res Hall buildings is absolutely prohibited. For more information, please refer to our Housing Handbook. 
Housing residents may use the smoking hut located in the Rainier Place parking lot. 

The laundry rooms in Triton Court and Rainier Place work through an app. 

• Always bag your trash in plastic and use the dumpsters—never leave trash in hallways, lobbies, or outside your door.
• If a dumpster is full, use another one.
• Don’t put trash in recycling bins; separate recyclables and break down boxes.
• In Triton Court, if the trash chute is full, bring your trash to the outdoor dumpsters. Keep trash rooms clean.
• Leaving trash in wrong places may result in charges or closure of trash rooms.
• Improper disposal can cause pests, and you may be charged for extermination.

• Always lock your door when you leave or sleep.
• Don’t prop open exterior doors or let strangers in.
• Keep your keys to yourself and report lost keys right away.
• Don’t share personal info with people you don’t know well.
• Know emergency exits and take fire drills seriously.
• Never disable smoke alarms or block fire exits.
• Report any safety problems to your RA or the Housing Office.
• If you need help, contact Campus Security or your RA.

Send us your Homestay Application and the $275 Application Fee. We will send you information about your Homestay family before you arrive.

When you fill out your application, you will answer questions regarding your preferences and specific information that will help us match you with one of our Host Families. Application requests will be honored whenever possible, depending on availability.

If problems or concerns arise, we encourage students to talk to their families, and the Housing Office will help. If problems cannot be solved, we will try matching you with another host family.

No. Your host family will help you understand the local bus system. All students are matched with families close to bus stops, under 60 minutes travel to school by bus, and most families are 30-45 minutes from the school by bus.

Please check the Commute by Bus for more information.

When you fill out the Housing Application you can mark if you would like to be picked up at the airport on your arrival date. We will have one of our drivers pick you up at the airport. We have specific days we will pick students up and when they can move in each quarter. Please see our website for these important arrival dates. The driver will meet you at the baggage claim area, and they will have a sign that reads Edmonds College. You can find more information on our arrival page.

Application Fee: $275 (non-refundable)
Minimum Advance Payment: $1,027.20 (covers the first 30 nights; required along with the application fee before receiving placement details)
Quarterly Homestay Fee: Varies by term (see Payments and Fees)
Activity Fee: $25 per quarter
Airport Pick-up Fee: $120 (available on official arrival dates)
Late Payment Fee: $100 (applies if payment is not made within the first week of arrival)

• Private room with a bed, linens, dresser, closet, study desk with chair, adequate lighting, and an exterior window.
• Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• Access to laundry facilities and internet
• Participation in family activities and cultural exchange

Students are required to stay in the Homestay Program for at least one full quarter. If you wish to move out or change families, you must:

• Notify the Housing Office and your host family at least 30 days in advance
• Understand that no refunds are provided for early departure
  Be aware that if a stipend has been paid to the host family for the full month, adjustments will be made accordingly

In addition to the desire to share your home and your life with another person, there are some requirements:

• Must be under 15 minute walk to a bus stop from your home
• Must be under a 60-minute trip to campus by bus (includes walking to/from bus stops, and transfer time)
• Each student needs to have a private room (at least 81 square feet) with a window, a bed, linen, dresser, closet, desk, light, and a door that can be locked
• Provide meals. Students help themselves to breakfast and lunch. Host prepare homecooked dinner. Portion sizes are determined by each family's customs.
• All residents over age 18 must complete a background check
• It is preferred that your family is fluent in English and that English is spoken (on TV and radio too) in the home

Our goal is to get each host family at least one student. Each student must have their own space as listed in the requirements above. As each family situation is different, if there are specific concerns, these can be discussed with the Homestay Coordinator on a case-by-case basis.

Each homestay family must be under 15 minutes of walking to the bus stop and 60 minutes by bus to the college (including transfers and walking to the bus stop). If your family does not fall into either of these categories, it does not mean that you can not be considered. A student may be placed in your home if they have their own transportation or if the student approves of the accommodations after a site visit. 

In addition to bathroom and eating facilities, each student needs to have access to laundry and the telephone for local calls and internet. It is not recommended to let a student use a business computer. Use of the family computer is optional. It would be great if there was a “student computer” available.

If the student would like to use your family's phone, they are expected to pay for all long-distance calls they make. Edmonds College does not recommend that the student make long-distance calls on the family phone bill. Exception: Students should call their family on arrival night.

Each household is different. Communicate with your student about when meals are served. You are expected to provide food for three meals per day. The evening meal should be prepared at least five nights a week. If you will not be home at mealtime, let your student know. If the student will not be home, they should let you know. In either case, have food available for the student to eat when they arrive home.

1. Send an email with: name, address, phone number, and bus number (from home to school), then we will send a letter with information about our next orientation.
2. Take part in the Homestay Orientation. At the orientation, you will learn more about the process of becoming a host family, stipend procedures, program guidelines, and how to solve cultural issues and miscommunications that might come up.
3. Have your home visited by a housing staff member
4. Fill out all paperwork and return it to the staff member at the home visit
5. Pay $60 at home visit (one time fee for applying)
6. Once we have all paper work in, backgrounds finished, and all looks good to host, we will call about possible placements.

Most students arrive on set dates for each quarter. These dates are what we call our "arrival dates." You can find our arrival dates for each quarter on our Important Dates page. If a student has opted to use our airport pick-up service, we will pick the student up from the airport and bring them to the Housing Office or directly to your home, depending on the time and date that they arrive. If the student is arriving on their own, they will either come to the Housing Office or directly to your home. In any situation, we will work with you before the student's arrival to let you know when you can expect to meet your new student. If you receive calls or emails about a student's arrival (from student or their family), please notify the Housing Office.

• Look for the day and block of time (usually 3 hours) of your student's arrival in your letter from the Housing Office. Please keep the whole day free if your student experiences travel delays!
• We will call you as soon as we know your student is on their way from the airport and let you know approximately when to pick your student up at the Housing Office. Please arrive early.
• First impressions are important! Be ready to answer your phone and be on time. 
• Please call the Housing Office before the arrival dates if you are still waiting to receive an arrival time via letter - your student may be delayed.