10 U.S. Colleges With Pet-Friendly Dormitories
Most college dorms don’t accommodate pets unless they qualify as service or emotional support animals. However, a few schools have developed detailed policies to support students who wish to live with pets on campus. These programs extend beyond one-off exceptions encompassing housing assignments, behavioral requirements, registration systems, and, in some cases, community spaces or events.
Eckerd College – Florida
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Since 1973, residents at Eckerd have brought pets to campus with full approval, thereby establishing one of the earliest formal college pet policies in the country. Seventeen residence halls now welcome registered furry companions, and graduating seniors even include their pets in a campus ceremony. The college also maintains a fenced dog park for off‑leash time.
Lees-McRae College – North Carolina
Credit: Instagram
This college sits high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it makes room for pets, too. Lees-McRae residents can apply to live with a dog or a cat after spending two semesters in campus housing. Only four dorms allow pets, and the college enforces breed, age, and health requirements. Individuals need to register pets before the academic year begins and pay a $500 fee.
University Of Northern Colorado – Colorado
Credit: Instagram
At UNC, pet ownership isn’t a side benefit, but an option to leverage when it comes to housing. Students can apply for pet-friendly floors in three different residence halls. Each resident may bring one cat or dog, as long as it’s over six months old and under 40 pounds.
Johnson & Wales University – Rhode Island
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Whether you are on the Providence or Charlotte campus, Johnson & Wales gives pet owners a clear path to living with approved pets. Cats, small dogs under 40 pounds, and certain caged animals can stay in campus housing if they meet the school’s guidelines. The university charges a $250 fee and refunds it if the pet is not approved.
University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Illinois
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Only residents of the Ashton Woods apartments may live with pets at UIUC. These apartments operate separately from standard undergrad housing and fall under graduate and family services. Students need to sign an agreement, provide vaccination records, and follow pet care rules. Up to two animals are allowed per apartment, plus a fish tank not exceeding 50 gallons.
Warren Wilson College – North Carolina
Credit: Instagram
Just last year, Warren Wilson launched a pet housing policy that opened dorm rooms to a broad list of approved animals. Dogs under 40 pounds, cats, rabbits, chinchillas, non-venomous snakes, iguanas, and other small pets can live with their owners who meet the requirements. Each animal must have been with the student or their family for at least ten months.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Massachusetts
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
If you want to bring a pet to MIT, your options are limited to cats and fish—and only in select residence halls. Fish tanks should stay under 20 gallons, and cats must be officially registered through the housing office. There are no breed or age restrictions for cats, but all other animals are off-limits.
SUNY Canton – New York
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
One of the earliest SUNY schools to grant permission for pets, SUNY Canton created a designated pet wing in 1997. Students living in this section can live with cats, ferrets, fish, and small caged animals, as long as they complete registration at the start of the semester. These dorm rooms are alcohol-free, and pets can’t be added mid-year.
Stetson University – Florida
Credit: Instagram
Keeping an unapproved animal to Stetson can lead to a $500 fine and a student conduct hearing, so the college takes its pet policy seriously. Those enrolled have to reapply each year to keep pets on campus. Approved pets include cats, dogs under 50 pounds, hedgehogs, hermit crabs, and fish—only in three designated housing areas.
Stephens College – Missouri
Credit: Instagram
Offering more than basic permission, Stephens supports pet-owning students with real resources. Searcy Hall includes an on-site dog daycare, which makes daily care easier for those living on campus. All pets are required to be vaccinated, fixed, and at least six months old. Certain dog breeds, like pit bulls and rottweilers, are restricted.