University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

General Room Selection

Quick Links:  Finding a Roommate  |  Creating a Roommate Group  |  Things to Remember  |  Housing Portal

General room selection is the final step in the housing process for next year.  Students who are not already assigned to housing as a member of a group or Greek organization must participate in this process.  Otherwise, they will be provided with a housing assignment by our housing system over the summer.  In order to be housed, a student must first submit a housing application for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

How does General Room Selection Work? (Upper-Class Students only)

If you have identified a roommate...

You will participate in general room selection with a roommate, which begins on Monday, April 13 at noon.  You will need to create a roommate group by identifying your desired roommates(s).  The deadline to create a roommate group is 5 p.m., Thursday, April 9.  Your requested roommate(s) will receive an email message notifying them that you have invited them as a roommate.  The deadline to accept a roommate invitation is noon, Friday, April 10.  Your designated group leader will be the person responsible for making everyone’s housing assignments.  So, it’s important that the group leader be someone who checks and responds to emails in a timely manner. 

The following housing options are available:

  • Lodge room: 2 people
  • Lodge suite: 4 people
  • LLC room: 2 people
  • CPA 4-person apartment: 4 people

Instructions for creating a roommate group can be found below.  If you have already created a roommate group, you do not need to create a new one.  The deadline to submit a roommate group is 5 p.m., Thursday, April 9.  If a roommate group is not created/submitted by that deadline the members will only be able to participate in general room section without a roommate.

Once your group leader submits the roommate group and all members have accepted, the leader will receive an email message indicating the assigned date and time when they can log into the portal and select your room or suite.  If your group leader will not be available during your group’s assigned time you can designate someone else as your group leader by notifying our office (upjhousing@pitt.edu).

If you have NOT identified a roommate...

There are two options available to you. 

#1: You can search for a roommate using StarRez' roommate matching system.  

  1. Log into the Housing Portal
  2. Click on "Housing Application" at the top of the page.  
  3. Click “continue” next to Academic Year 2026-2027
  4. Click on "Selection Process" from the left column and choose “General Room Selection,” from the drop-down menu.  Click “save and continue”.
  5. On the "General Room Selection Roommates" page, click on the "Suggest Roommate" link. 
  6. StarRez will recommend potential roommates using a match score based on answers to the demographic questions in the housing application. Students who are already a member of a group are not available as a roommate.  
  7. You can then view the student's profile, send them a message, or request them as a roommate.  

#2: You participate in general room selection without a roommate, which will be available beginning Thursday, April 16.  The following options are available to you:

  • LLC room
  • Lodge room – one room in a lodge suite (shared bathroom)

You will receive an email message with an assigned time for April 16 when you can log into the housing portal and select your room.  The system will show only rooms with available space.  If a specific room is not visible that means it has already been booked.  If you choose an empty room, you will be assigned a roommate over the summer.  The University reserves the right to make and change room assignments to facilitate optimal use of the residential facilities. 

If you miss your time, you can log in AFTER your assigned time, but not before.  This year, we have extended the general room selection deadline until May 1.  Students who do not select a room by that deadline will be assigned to a room over the summer.  

Creating a Roommate Group (all students)

Roommate groups allow you to identify students with whom you wish to live.  In addition to identifying an individual roommate, creating a roommate group also allows first-year students and upper-class students (wishing to live in a lodge) to identify suitemates.  In order to add someone to a roommate group, that person must have submitted a 2026-2027 housing application.  Students who have not submitted a housing application will not appear during a search. 

  1. Log into the Housing Portal 
  2. Click on "Housing Application" at the top of the page.  
  3. Click “continue” next to Academic Year 2026-2027
  4. Click on "Selection Process" from the left column and choose “General Room Selection,” from the drop-down menu.  Click “save and continue”.
  5. On the "General Room Selection Roommates" page, click on the "Search for Roommates by Name/Email" link. 
  6. Enter your preferred roommate's first and last name OR Pitt email address then click "search."
  7. When you see your preferred roommate's information, click "Send Roommate Request."
  8. If you wish to add another roommate to your group, click "Search for Roommates by Name/Email," and repeat steps 6 and 7. 
  9. When finished, click "save and continue."  
  10. Each requested roommate will now receive an emailed invitation. They have 48 hours or until noon, Friday, April 10 (whichever occurs first) to accept the invitation or they will be ineligible to be your roommate.

Things to remember...

  • If you do not currently have a roommate, you have until June 30 to identify one.  If you find one, please contact our office with the roommate’s information.  We will then notify that person and they will need to accept your request.  If we receive permission, we will assign you together.  If you do not identify a roommate by June 30 or your requested roommate does not accept your invitation you will be assigned one over the summer.
  • All room assignments, once made, are frozen until the second week of the fall semester.
  • If you do not participate in general room selection, you will be assigned over the summer based on which spaces are available. 
  • If you are interested in a single (private) room for next year, you will need to complete a private room request form (under “Housing Forms” on the housing portal).  Please note private room requests are not guaranteed and likely will not be approved until after the fall semester has begun.  Private rooms are awarded on a seniority basis according to the applicant’s individual terms-in-residence.  Selecting an empty room during general room selection does not guarantee a private room.