UMass Amherst

Housing Options

Commonwealth College is a community within the larger University community. Like their peers campus-wide, some members of the College commute from home, others live in residence halls, and still others join fraternities and sororities or live in the surrounding community.

Residential Academic Programs

Residential Academic Programs (RAP) enable first-year students to live in small groups with other students of similar interests or majors, and to attend classes in their residence.

Commonwealth College --Residential Academic Programs

Commonwealth College offers its own special housing opportunities. First-year students may choose to live and learn with other honors students through one of our Honors Residential Academic Programs. Commonwealth College incoming, first-year students have the opportunity to take two Honors courses with those living in their residence hall. This experience allows for the building of a vibrant intellectual community both inside and outside the classroom. Open only to honors students, these Honors Residential Programs are located in all parts of campus.

Residential Academic Programs

Students may also choose to live in a Residential Academic Program with those in their major, or those who are not in Commonwealth College.

Other Housing Options

First-year Commonwealth College members who choose not to join a Residential Learning Community or other Residential Academic Program may follow the regular all-campus procedures for housing selection.


photograph of student reading by Justin LaneFirst-year College members may choose to join one of five
Residential Learning Communities including Writing Butterfield,
the writers' residence at UMass Amherst.

southwest residential area photograph by Justin Lane


Or they may choose from the full array of housing options available to all UMass Amherst students.