UC Santa Barbara announced that first-year and transfer students will now be guaranteed two years of university-owned housing beginning Fall 2026.Â
UCSB began Phase One with the construction of the San Benito residence hall, set to open Fall 2027. Photo courtesy of UCSB Housing, Dining and Auxiliary Enterprises
Prior to this, the University only guaranteed one year of campus housing to these groups, leaving students to either apply for a second year through a lottery system, or find other housing in the surrounding area. Now, the incoming cohort of first-years will live in the residence halls as per usual, but upon their second year they may choose to continue living in a residence hall or opt for university-owned undergraduate apartments.Â
This expansion was made possible by the two-phase housing development project for undergraduate students. UCSB began Phase One with the construction of the San Benito residence hall, set to open Fall 2027, which is an apartment-style residence hall that will provide 2,224 new undergraduate beds.
San Benito is replacing the Munger Hall housing project, previously part of the Mesa Verde housing proposal. In 2014, Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charles Munger pledged $200 million to construct the proposed Munger Hall, which planned to accommodate 4,536 single dorms. Many rooms did not have window access, so Munger proposed artificial LED panels to serve as virtual windows.Â
The lack of natural lighting and density of the proposed residence hall sparked concern and drew national criticism, with the University eventually abandoning the plan.
The Santa Rosa Residence Hall has been demolished. Photo courtesy of Camila Araya Guizar
Phase Two of development, the East Campus Housing project, began at the start of summer with the demolition of the Santa Rosa Residence Hall. The project will provide 1,275 beds, 412 of which will be replacements for the torn down Santa Rosa Residence Hall, and plans to open in Fall 2028.
