Residence Life Housing - Cedar Hall

Whatcom Community College's new Residence Hall, located off of Cordata Parkway and adjacent to the WTA bus station, offers Whatcom students the opportunity to live and engage on campus. The state-of-the-art residence hall is home to up to 240 students in a variety of apartment styles and includes plenty of community spaces for studying, meeting, and socializing.

The new space offers residential facilities, programs, and services that enhance student learning and support student success. The diverse residential community offers interaction and communication with people from all over the world.

Students 17 and older may live in Cedar Hall.

Cedar Hall Fees:

 

Fee	Cost	Description	Is it Refundable?	due Date?
International Housing Application Fee	$50	Fee for processing of Cedar Hall application or Homestay app	No	At the time of submission of Cedar Hall app or homestay app
Airport Pickup/ Transportation Fee	$75	Fee for newly arriving International Students to cover transportation costs from the airport	No	Added to student account after arrival
Reservation Fee/ Deposit	$250	Fee to hold your space in Cedar Hall, rolls over to damage deposit when you move in	Yes – up to 72 hours before set move-in date if housing is cancelled or Yes - refunded at move out if there is no damage to the unit	Immediately after placement in Cedar Hall is accepted
Cleaning Fee	$250	Fee for cleaning your unit before you move in /after you move out	No	Added to student account after move-in
Quarterly Fee	Between $2850 and $4200	Regular, recurring quarterly fee to live in Cedar Hall	No	First payment due shortly after arrival and then at the beginning of each quarter

How to Pay Cedar Hall fees:

1. Go to the Online Payment Portal here: https://mywcc.whatcom.edu/PaymentPortal/Login.aspx
2. Enter Student ID number and PIN (birthdate: MMDDYY - for example 17 March 2016 is 031716)
3. Select the correct quarter
4. Click Login – the amount due is shown at the top of the page.
5. Pay with Visa, MasterCard and most debit cards (some international credit cards may not be accepted). If your card is not accepted, you may pay through Flywire here: https://payment.flywire.com/pay?recipient=WCC 

For more information, view the Residence Life housing information page.

For instructions and assistance with applying for housing in Cedar Hall, please contact kkester@whatcom.edu

Homestay

Whatcom Community College's Homestay Program offers the opportunity for a unique cultural experience by placing students with local families in Bellingham and surrounding areas. Living with a host family gives students a chance to learn about American culture by participating in the homestay's daily activities.

Homestay hosts come from various ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, religions and lifestyles. Students who wish to be a part of the Homestay Program must be open minded to experiencing the cultural diversity of the U.S. and our local area.

All students under the age of 17 are required to live in a WCC Homestay.

**Please note: International Programs will continue to make homestay placements for 16 year old students only through Fall 2023. Students who are 17 years old must live in Cedar Hall, and students who are 18+ are highly encouraged to live in Cedar Hall.

Homestays include:

• A safe, clean and welcoming living environment.
• A private bedroom with access to a quiet study space, kitchen and laundry facilities.
• Regular interaction with homestay hosts that provide opportunities to practice English
• Daily meals (food available for the student to make a breakfast and lunch, with an evening meal provided by the host).
• Live near a bus route within 45 minutes commute to WCC. All international students need to travel to the college on their own.

Homestay Fees:

 

 Application and Placement:

• It is important for students to include as much information as possible in the homestay application so that a "best-fit" placement can be made. Students are matched with homestay hosts based on information provided in the student's homestay application.
• Homestay application materials will be sent to students after admission to the college.
• Homestay placements will not be made until all forms have been received.
• Homestay placements are sent out 10 days before the suggested student arrival date. 

 

Off Campus Housing

There are many apartment complexes located within walking distance from the college. The average rental costs for apartments near WCC can range in price from $550-$800 per month for a bedroom in a shared apartment (2 or more bedrooms), to $950-$1200 for a studio or one-bedroom apartment. Generally, these apartments are not furnished and students are required to buy all household necessities (bed, kitchen/cooking items, table and chairs, etc.). Additionally, utilities (water, electric, wifi, etc.) are often added expenses, not included in monthly rent. Deposits (both refundable and non-refundable) may also be due with the first payment. Please review Bellingham rental information for specifics on any of these housing options.

Students must be 18 or older to live in off campus housing.