Off-Campus Housing Policy

OBU believes that the on-campus housing experience we provide is unique and an important part of a student's success and overall experience. Students are more likely to engage with their peers earlier and longer and to become more involved and integrated in the campus experience. Students all tend to achieve higher academic success if they reside on campus and engage with the resources close to them. OBU wants every student to have this experience and be successful in this way.

Therefore, all OBU students are required to live on campus unless approved for exemption.

Exemptions may be considered for the following situations:

• student is enrolled in less than 8 total credit hours per semester (regardless of method of instruction, online or in-person)
• student is married (as defined by the OBU student handbook and the supporting texts of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000) or has dependent children
• student is 21 or older (turning 21 the semester for which they are applying)
• student is residing with family member who is 35 years or older

Please note: exemption approval will not be given on the grounds of financial considerations. To best serve each student and their financial situation, approval will not be given to those applicants who are applying due to financial reasons.