ESF freshmen are required to live on campus unless they are commuting from home. Transfer students are not required to reside on campus. Transfer students may choose to live at Syracuse University's residence halls or apartments and contract for dining services or find living accommodations off-campus and arrange their own meals. Upon acceptance at ESF, students will receive complete information about housing options, fees, and registration. Syracuse University has 11 main campus residence halls, which vary in size from 130 to 570 students.
All residence halls are coeducational by wing, floor, or alternating room.
Each large residence hall has a lounge, television room, laundry room, vending machines, and recreation space. Many also have special facilities such as a computer cluster, snack bar, exercise areas, and a branch of the Syracuse University Bookstore. Syracuse University also provides housing especially for families. All students with meal plans are entitled to eat at any of the six campus dining centers or two food courts on campus. The Syracuse University housing contract is binding for the academic year, not just one semester.