USD Move In and Move Out Guide for Parents

How fall 2026 move in worked

Fall 2026 move in has already happened, but the pattern repeats each August. The undergraduate calendar set International Student Move In Day for Tuesday, August 25 and OLÉ Weekend new student orientation for August 29 to 31. The 2026 to 27 housing terms start the fall agreement period at 10 am on Sunday, August 30 for all residents, and they note that halls open earlier for residents taking part in orientation.

USD's Fall First Year Checklist says a full move in memo with your student's move in times and location is sent to their USD email with the housing assignment in early August. Residential Life's Fall Housing page already lists fall 2027 move in: Tuesday, August 24 for new international students, Saturday, August 28 for new first year students, and Sunday, August 29 for new transfer and returning students.

Spring arrivals

Students starting or returning in January follow a shorter version. International students move in Wednesday, January 20, 2027, and the housing terms reopen halls at 10 am on Saturday, January 23, the same weekend as new student spring orientation.

Before you pack

Residential Life's FAQ answers questions about the bed size in first year halls, MicroFridge units, air conditioning, laundry and renters insurance. Read those answers before you buy sheets or a mini fridge. The Residential Community Standards on the Housing Applications and Forms page spell out hall rules.

Move out is tied to the last final

USD does not use one move out day for everyone. The housing terms ask residents to leave within 24 hours of their last final exam or by the closing time, whichever comes first:

• Fall 2026: noon on Saturday, December 19.
• Spring 2027: noon on Thursday, May 20.

Manchester Village and Pacific Ridge work differently. The terms give upper class undergraduates and graduate students there continuous occupancy from August 30, 2026 through noon on May 20, 2027, and law students through noon on May 16.

The terms also say the university "is not responsible for personal property left behind" after a student leaves a room, and the forms page links a damage and cleaning cost sheet. A quick photo walk through of the room on move out day is a cheap safeguard.

Staying through a break or summer

Residential Life takes Intersession housing applications in November and summer housing applications in May. During winter break and Intersession, first year residents need written approval to stay, and hardship housing costs $65 per night.

Storage and shipping home

For a student flying home in May, the choice usually comes down to shipping, storing or carrying. The USD Mail Center ((619) 260-2204, mailcenter@sandiego.edu) handles sending and receiving packages, so ask about outgoing boxes and their hours during finals. National carriers such as USPS, UPS and FedEx all ship boxes home, and pricing depends on weight and distance. Self storage is the other route; compare unit sizes, access hours and how your student will get things there without a car.