Residency Requirement

MCLA Residency Requirement

MCLA has a three-year residency requirement for all full-time matriculated students. We believe that being a part of our residential campus & community during your undergraduate career enhances the overall liberal arts experience. Living on campus provides students with additional support services, co-curricular engagement opportunities that tie the experience in and out of the classroom, leadership opportunities that help students to define themselves as an individual but also as a member of a larger community.

MCLA Students at a Program

All entering first year students and transfer students are assigned their residency requirement during the admissions process. Exemptions for living on campus for the 2025-2026 academic year to the policy are provided if students meet the criteria below:

  • Student’s home address is within a 20-mile radius of campus.
  • Student is 24 years of age or older.
  • Student is married or has legal dependents.
  • Students who have 75 transferable credits.

Going into effect for the 2026-2027 academic year, our residency requirement criteria for exemption will be updated to:

  • Have 75 transferable credits or more at time of admission.
  • Be 22 years of age or older by 9/15 of upcoming academic year.
  • Have a home address within a 30-mile radius from campus.
  • Be legally married or in a recognized domestic partnership.
  • Be a veteran.
  • Be responsible for legal dependents.

Note this updated policy does not apply to students entering or during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Students are given the option to petition for their residency requirement to be adjusted or reconsidered.

  • Incoming First Year & Transfer students can request reconsideration by emailing the office of Admissions at admissions@mcla.edu, stating why they believe they should be released from the residency requirement prior to their arrival to campus.
  • Current MCLA Students are provided two opportunities each academic year to submit a petition for release. Petitions for release must be submitted on their Self-Service THD and provide supporting documentation for one of the three categories below:
    • Financial
    • Psychiatric
    • Other

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Fall Semester: Available in the beginning of November and are due by December 1.
  • Spring Semester: Available in the beginning of March and are due by April 1.
  • Release Petitions can be found on a student’s Self-Service THD under applications during times listed above.
  • Students must submit a Release Petition on their Self-Service THD.
  • Students must upload a Personal Statement and any supporting documentation that provides reason why they can no longer fulfill their residency requirement or how they fulfill one of the exemption criteria.
  • Student must have submitted an up-to-date FASFA with Student Accounts/Financial Aid.
  • Student must submit a personal statement and supporting documents that show how with support of Financial Aid they would still be unable to fulfill the residency requirement.
  • Student must have filed paperwork with the Office of Disability Resources prior to the deadline for petition submission.
  • Student must provide documentation from a licensed medical provider that they have a pre-existing relationship with a diagnosis and how living on campus negatively impacts their ability to complete their degree due to their diagnosis.
    • Note: MCLA Health & Wellness staff members are unable to provide this documentation for students. 
  • Student must submit a personal statement stating why they are unable to fulfill their residency requirement due to the provided diagnosis.
Student must submit a personal statement that provides reason as to why they are no longer able to fulfill their residency requirement.
  • Students who are:
    • In their final semester at MCLA and would like to move off campus.
    • Students who have been assigned a clinical, internship or student teaching site that is outside of the commuting range for exemption.
    • Student now meets one of the exemptions listed in the residency requirement.
    • Student is now required to assist taking care of an ill or elderly family member at home.
No, students are encouraged not to sign any lease or agreements with off-campus housing until they have received official written approval stating their Release Petition has been approved.

Currently the Petition Review Board is led by Director of Housing Operations, Dianne Manning. It's members consist of:

  • Director of Residence Life, Brendon Goodridge
  • Director of Disability Resources, Cindy Macdonald
  • Director of Student Financial Services, Bonnie Howland

Questions? Contact Us


Residence Life & Housing 
413-662-5249 
reslife@mcla.edu