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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions most often asked by our families. More in-depth information on each of these topics is available throughout the UD website - please feel free to use the UD search tool at the top of the page if you would like to explore. We're also happy to answer questions or provide more information - please contact us for assistance.

General Questions

Your next steps will always be available in Porches. Prior to fall, your Porches to-do list will include steps like:

  • Completing housing and meal plan form
  • Completing language questionnaire
  • Completing your health requirement form
  • Updating your FlyerCard photo
  • Submitting your course preferences
  • Registering for New Student Orientation

Porches (porches.udayton.edu) is your all-access pass as you prepare for life at the University of Dayton, and it will guide you throughout your college experience. Our porch-clad student neighborhood is one of the things that makes UD really special, and we've carried that idea of community space into this site for UD students, faculty and staff.

Login with your UD username and password is required for Porches. Once you're logged in, you'll find a to-do list tailored just for you that will remind you what you'll need to take care of before you arrive on campus. You can also use Porches for things like:

  • accessing your UDmail and calendar
  • checking the campus events calendar and dining services menus
  • reading daily campus and personal announcements
  • tracking your academic progress
  • updating your emergency contact information

Now that you've made your enrollment deposit, your official UD username is available in your Admission Account. You will be able to activate your official UD account and create your password after February 1. Your username and password will allow you to access services like:

  • Google Apps including UDMail
  • Printers
  • Parking Services
  • Porches

You can reset your password at password.udayton.edu.

Once you have confirmed your enrollment and paid your deposit, we will create your official UD username and email account. You can begin accessing your email from Porches after February 1.

Before fall, you can contact the UD Admission and Financial Aid office: admission@udayton.edu. As a UD student, you'll be able to update your contact information through Porches.

Admission counselors are assigned based on region – you can find yours on our Meet the Counselors page, or email admission@udayton.edu and we can help.

You can sign up for a virtual tour, event or one-on-one virtual appointment. Find options at udayton.edu/visit.

Financial Aid & Billing

Yes

For academic merit scholarships, entering first-year student scholarships are renewable for four years, provided you maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, are registered full-time and are a responsible member of the University community. Details for additional scholarships are available on Financial Aid's scholarships document (PDF).

Bills will be mailed to your home address in early July, and you will be able to view your bill online at that time, as well. The first payment will be due July 22.

The University offers two payment options: payment in full or the University of Dayton payment plan, which is a four-payment per semester plan that allows you to make monthly payments on University-billed expenses. There is a $50/semester enrollment charge for the payment plan. More information is available on the Student Accounts website.

Enrollment for the payment plan will begin in July. In Porches, you'll choose the Flyer Student Services tab, then "My Payment Center."

Information regarding financial aid appeals is available on Financial Aid's "Special Circumstances" page.

If you’ve received the textbook scholarship, it will appear in your comprehensive financial aid award packet, which most admitted students will receive in January. Remember that to receive the textbook scholarship, you will need to visit campus and file the FAFSA by Feb. 1.

Tuition and scholarship information is available on our website. Admitted students will receive merit scholarship information approximately one month after admission. Comprehensive financial aid award packages, which include information about additional scholarships, grants and loans, as well as a four-year outline of tuition costs, will begin mailing in January.

Academic merit scholarships are renewable for four years (and transfer student scholarships are renewable for three years), provided you maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you are registered full-time, and you are a responsible member of the University community.

All UD students may apply for University-funded employment opportunities on campus. These opportunities are posted online through Career Services. Federal Work Study is awarded based on financial need – to see if you’re eligible for this type of employment, you’ll need to file the FAFSA.

Yes. We’ve listed a number of opportunities on our External Scholarships page. Your UD aid will not be affected by any outside scholarships you earn, unless you earn more than the cost of attendance.


Grants do not need to be repaid, while loans do. Students could be eligible for up to $21,000 per year in grants.Learn more about University, federal, state and external grants that may be available to you.

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is a program from which a parent or guardian can borrow annually as much as their student’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received. Learn more from Financial Aid.

Subsidized loans are for students who have filed the FAFSA and demonstrated financial need. With subsidized loans you are not charged interest while you’re enrolled at least half-time and during periods of deferment. Unsubsidized loans are not based on demonstrated financial need and begin to accrue interest from the time the loan is disbursed to the student’s account. Learn more from Financial Aid.

To assist you in the search for additional financial resources, we can provide you with the names of some of the programs/lenders our students are currently using. Please contact us for assistance: admission@udayton.edu.

No. You only need to file the FAFSA if you would like to be considered for financial aid.

The FAFSA is available beginning October 1. You should complete and file your FAFSA as early as possible, but you must submit it by March 1. The University of Dayton's Title IV school code is 003127.

Yes. Your four-year outline of costs, scholarships and aid will be included in your comprehensive financial aid award package. These begin mailing in January.

Music scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, following an audition with the music faculty, usually held in January/February. For more information on music scholarships, call 937-229-3936. 
Visual arts scholarships are also awarded annually on a competitive basis, following a review of a student’s portfolio. For more information on visual arts scholarships, call 937-229-3237. 
Other departmental scholarships are typically reserved for upper-class students; departments who have funds available notify students directly about those opportunities.

RaiseMe scholarships are awarded based on a list of your accomplishments throughout high school, including academic performance and extracurricular involvement. RaiseMe awards are built into our merit scholarships; they are not additional awards. 

Academics

Yes. Contact information for your dean's office will be provided in Porches.

In May, you will receive a first-semester schedule guide, which was prepared by your academic adviser. If you have questions, you can take advantage of summer advising - contact information will be available in Porches. You'll be able to submit your course preferences, and as a service to you, we will create your schedule for the first semester and make sure you're starting off on the right foot.

If college credit is received and evaluated after your original schedule is released, we'll work with you to make any needed changes to your schedule. If you have schedule-related questions, your academic dean's office will be the best place to find answers.


The University of Dayton requires all students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) to complete a language requirement while earning their degree. Biochemistry (BCM), Chemistry (CHM), and Engineering Technology, Global Manufacturing Systems Engineering Technology (GMT) majors are also required to complete a language requirement as part of their degree. Students in these degree programs are required to complete a language placement questionnaire.

Depending on the results of the questionnaire, students may also be instructed to complete a language placement exam.

If you're interested in taking foreign language courses at UD, you must complete the language questionnaire for placement purposes, even if language courses are not required by your major. The questionnaire is available to all students in Porches once they have confirmed their enrollment.


An incoming first-year student is automatically designated an Honors student if he or she meets certain criteria:  a 3.7 GPA or top 10% of high school class, and a 29 ACT or 1360 SAT. By earning a cumulative UD GPA of 3.8 or higher by the end of the first semester as a full-time student, a first-year student will be invited to the Honors Program. By earning a cumulative UD GPA of 3.7 or higher by the end of the first year as a full-time student, a rising sophomore will be invited to the Honors Program.

In addition to graduating with a specially notated Honors diploma and key, students receive a number of benefits on campus, like:

      • Assured academic scholarships (provided application materials are submitted on time)
      • Opportunities to participate in Honors signature programs that can provide research funding and take you around the world, like the Global Scholar Experience at Oxford University
      • Priority registration for courses
      • Honors Study Room in the library and book loaning privileges
      • Honors Student Center
      • Support from the Associate Director for Prestigious Fellowships and Graduate School Advising
      • Subsidized tickets to Dayton-area cultural events
      • Options for Honors housing all four years, both on campus and in the student neighborhood
      • Opportunities for fellowships to assist with international study, research or service projects, as well as fellowships and travel funds to assist with Honors Thesis projects or to present research at scholarly/professional conferences

If you have earned college credits while in high school and would like these transferred to UD, you’ll need to have an official transcript of grades mailed from the college to:  

Office of the Registrar
University of Dayton
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469-1668  

In most cases, these credits will be accepted toward your degree requirements. In order for credit to transfer, you must have earned a C or better in a course, and only credit hours transfer.


 We do not currently have CCP classes on campus that can be taken for credit, but we will generally accept CCP credits taken at another institution as transfer credits. Please contact us with any questions.

Yes. The AP program recognizes college-level work completed in high school. To receive credit and advanced placement for this program, have your test scores sent to the University of Dayton (College Board code: 1834). Download our AP credit chart (pdf) for more information.

We can definitely help! Please contact us at admission@udayton.edu.

Through the Discover programs (Discover ArtsDiscover BusinessDiscover EngineeringDiscover Engineering TechnologyDiscover Sciences, and Discover Teacher Education) you can explore different majors while staying on track to graduate in four years. The programs are flexible, allowing you to explore areas of interest while taking Common Academic Program courses that are required for all degrees. Students transition from the Discover programs into majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, School of Engineering, or School of Education and Health Sciences.

Yes – we offer options to double major, pursue minors, and get a head start on graduate school through our bachelor’s plus master’s programs. Students cannot declare a double major until they have arrived on campus and met with their academic adviser. Until then, contact admission@udayton.edu if you have questions.

Yes – through our Office of Learning Resources, you can find information about learning and studying resources, like academic coaching and tutoring, as well as resources for students with disabilities. Learn more at the Office of Learning Resources website. 

Housing & Dining

You will be able to complete your housing and meal plan form via Porches in the spring.

No. We only require a $400 enrollment deposit, which is credited toward your first-semester billing statement.

The University encourages first year students to live in learning communities that foster opportunities to meet new people with shared academic interests.  The University also views the first year as an opportunity for incoming students to enter into a roommate experience with someone from another state or even another country. Learning to live with someone new is an important skill and one of the hallmarks of a Catholic, Marianist education. If students wish to select a mutual roommate during the housing application process, this may impact the community that the student is assigned.

For this reason, we discourage mutual roommate selections, but students are permitted to designate a roommate during the housing application process.

Many students reach out to other admitted students through Schools App to find a roommate. The University is not affiliated with any roommate matching services, however, and will not honor matches provided through external arrangements. Students should be wary of paying for roommate matching services.


Housing is assigned on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer. You can find the latest on housing assignment release dates in Porches.

All UD students are required to have a notebook computer. Computer hardware and software requirements vary depending on your major. UD will supply the software required for your major, including Microsoft Office, at no cost. More information about software is available on UDit's "Computing and Printing" page.

Undergraduate students outside of a 40-mile commuter radius are required to live on campus the first two years, but many students choose to stay either on campus or in our unique student neighborhood of porch-clad houses all four years. In fact, 85% of all UD students live on campus or in the student neighborhood.

First-year students live in one of our residence halls, which feature a resident assistant on every floor, study rooms, laundry facilities and a chapel. Every room comes with a fridge, microwave, cable TV/phone/wireless internet connection and air conditioning. Learn more about first-year housing. 

Second-year students live in one of our apartment buildings or in the Virginia W. Kettering Suite Complex. Learn more about second-year housing. 

Juniors and seniors also have University housing options, like houses in the student neighborhood, two- and three-bedroom apartments, two- and four-person townhouses, and townhouses and lofts in our ArtStreet complex. Learn more about upperclass housing.

Through a number of fine eateries around campus, we offer daily specials, vegan and vegetarian-friendly foods, sushi, specialty soups and salads, build-your-own options, bakery items, flavors from around the globe and more. 

You’ll also find treats like frozen yogurt and soft pretzels at The Galley, convenience-store items at Stuart’s Landing and protein shakes at The Chill in the campus Rec Plex. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants lining Brown Street just off campus.

Yes. First-year housing is generally co-ed by floor.

Yes.

All first year facilities come with a mini-fridge, a microwave, a bed per person, closet space, desk, desk chair and robust, secure WiFi. Hot plates are not permitted. Lofts may not be constructed and installed in University Housing, but beds may be bunked or unbunked.

There is no cost difference between the standard and flex meal plans, but there are differences in the ways you can purchase meals. Please see the Meal Plan Comparison chart from Dining Services for more information.

RA positions are open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students. Application information is typically available in October.

All of the dining halls on campus have options for students who are gluten free. The University also has an Administrative Dietitian, and any UD student may consult with her about general nutrition, food allergens, or special dietary concerns/restrictions.

Campus Life & Orientation

New Student Orientation is a virtual one-day experience required for all domestic first-year students enrolling in the Fall. The NSO programs occurs over the Summer leading up to Fall move-in.

NSO is an opportunity to connect with your future classmates, prepare for academic and non-academic life, and learn to navigate campus prior to arriving for your Fall classes. These virtual sessions serve as an introduction to the University and can help you answer your questions about the incoming student process.

Check out more information at go.udayton.edu/nso.


Information about move-in will be posted on UD's Move-In Day page when it's available.

Find out more information at go.udayton.edu/move-in

Welcome Weekend occurs directly after move-in and features events leading up to the first day of classes. Sessions include events like:

  • Welcome Mass
  • Resource fair
  • Convocation
  • Team time and small group meetings
  • Academic addresses
  • Evening socials

Through early drop-off, you can sign up for a one-hour time slot to bring all of your belongings to your assigned residence hall room before move-in day. While it’s not designed to allow students to unpack and settle in, it is VERY beneficial because it allows you and your family to avoid waiting in move-in day traffic, and instead proceeding directly to the move-in day parking/shuttle lots and carrying just small last-minute items on the bus that takes you to your residence hall. 

Early Drop-off is highly encouraged, especially for students who are coming from long distances. 

More information can be found at go.udayton.edu/earlydrop


Visiting campus is a great idea! And there are lots of ways you can visit – you can schedule individual sessions and tours, academic department appointments or career adviser appointments, or you can attend one of our admitted-student events. Most info sessions and tours are during the weekday, but we do offer some Saturday sessions, as well. You can find a list of dates and register online. Admitted student events are typically held on Sundays, and there are also options for overnights. Learn more about our events.

You do not have to be Catholic to attend UD – in fact, only a little over half of our students are Catholic. Our goal is to provide all students with a place to plug in their faith life (no matter its shape). We offer weekly interdenominational worship services and Bible studies, as well as retreats and fellowship opportunities. We also provide interfaith prayer spaces through our UD Interfaith Alliance, which aims to create a community of students, faculty and staff with diverse voices, where all voices are included and respected.


The Marianists are a worldwide family of Catholic brothers, priests, sisters and committed lay people. Their spirit of faith, community, service and hospitality defines this campus. For more than 160 years, the Marianists have enriched our community, creating a welcoming and inclusive campus where faith is best communicated through personal relationships. Every person, no matter their faith or background, is treated with respect and openness. We strongly believe that education can transform society if people work together in a common mission. We encourage students to use their education and faith to work for justice, serve others, and, yes, even change the world.

Sunday Mass is celebrated in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at 10:00 a.m., Noon, 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Mass is also celebrated in the Church of Holy Angels at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. and Noon on Sundays. We offer weekday Mass in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at 12:30 p.m. (unless the University is closed), and weekly in the residence halls at 9:00 p.m. In addition to daily and weekly Masses in residence halls, the Chapel and the heart of the student neighborhood, we also hold special prayer services and Masses. Taize Reconciliation, Advent and Lenten Morning Prayer, Bilingual Mass and the Black Catholic Mass are just a few.

As a Catholic and Marianist institution, the University regards religious studies and philosophy as having special roles in the undergraduate curriculum. We want to help students develop the ability to engage in intellectually informed, appreciative and critical inquiry regarding major faith traditions. A course on Faith Traditions, for example, is part of the University’s Common Academic Program, and is designed to encourage students to place religious traditions within historical context, or examine their philosophical foundations, or compare different religious traditions.

Guided by our Catholic and Marianist values, the University of Dayton calls all of our members to intentionally honor the dignity of all persons. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, gender identity or gender expression. Residence Life can provide support and assistance for transgender students in securing housing, and our office of LGBTQ+ Support Services connects students with resources and support.

A mid-sized city in southwestern Ohio, Dayton teems with imagination, innovation and world-class arts and culture. Learn more about the city and all you can do here.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs provides staff, facilities, services and special programs to support the academic experience of students. The OMA serves as a resource for the entire campus community, while providing multicultural students and their families with an additional connection to the University. Programs include a mentor program, cultural programming, retreats, faculty partnerships and more. Learn more about the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The Career Services staff is happy to help with your career-related needs from admission to retirement, providing many opportunities for you to connect with employers such as career fairs, on-campus interviews, social media and company information sessions. Career Services can help you learn the vital skills necessary for success in the job search process through workshops, class presentations and individual appointments with a career advisor. The office can also connect you with internships and co-ops, assist you with choosing a major, review your résumé, and pair you with an alumni mentor.


To help provide safety to our campus community members, the University of Dayton Police Officers are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  They conduct 24 hour patrol through the use of marked patrol vehicles, bicycles and foot patrol. Officers within the Department are State Certified with police powers and authority as set forth under section 1713.50 of the Ohio Revised Code. All officers have obtained at least 560 hours of specialized training through the  Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy as mandated by the Ohio Revised Code.  Safety and security systems are installed throughout the campus, including fire and security alarms, electronic access control, video cameras, and emergency phones.  These systems aid Public Safety in its mission of providing a safe and secure campus.  All campus safety and security systems are monitored in the Department of Public Safety Communication Center, enabling immediate response to an emergency on campus or within a university facility.  Campus crime statistics and all of the safety services provided can be viewed on the Public Safety website.

Or learn more directly from our Chief of Police and Executive Director of Public Safety, Rodney Chatman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A0r9mvxreI.


Internships and co-ops are not required, but Career Services can help you find one when you’re ready. UD is ranked #14 “Best Schools for Internships.”

In order to enhance higher learning and cultivate cross-cultural skills, the University of Dayton offers several education abroad programs. Whether for a summer, semester or year, students may study, intern or volunteer in places such as Ireland, China, Spain, Nicaragua, Cameroon and more. 
 
You can also spend a semester studying at the University of Dayton China Institute. In Suzhou, China, you’ll learn from UD professors, international professionals and prominent leaders in innovation.

Yes – UD has values-based sorority and fraternity chapters. Many organizations have study hours, mentors, scholarships and recognition awards for academic excellence, as well as leadership and service opportunities.

We have more than 270 student organizations on campus, including 45 dedicated to service and social action. You can find a list of student organizations on our Student Life site.

First-year students are not permitted to bring vehicles to campus; however, our campus is very walkable, and there are lots of options for getting around:

  • Our Link bike-sharing program allows you to rent a bike from one of multiple stations on campus for as long as you need it.
  • Two Zipcars — part of a vehicle-sharing initiative — are available on campus to rent for longer trips.
  • A Saturday shopping shuttle and weekday campus shuttle are available to all students.
  • Flyer Ride provides free rides anywhere within the university area during the evening and early morning hours.
  • Parking passes for upperclass students are available for $225 per year.

97% of University of Dayton students are employed, in a full-time volunteer program or in graduate school within six months of graduation.