Below is information about the cost of housing and dining at Towson University. Costs provided are for freshmen, transfers and other students who live on campus.
University housing and meal plan rates are published by academic year and reflect the cost of living and dining on campus for a specific housing cycle. Rates are organized by academic year to ensure you are viewing the most accurate information.
Please select the academic year below to view detailed housing and meal plan rates, billing information, and important notes related to that period.
This page includes housing and meal plan rates for students living on campus during the 2025–2026 academic year, including fall and spring semester billing details. Select this option if you are currently living on campus or reviewing rates for the 2025–2026 housing contract period.
This page includes proposed housing and meal plan rates for students planning to live on campus during the 2026–2027 academic year, including updated pricing and available meal plan options. These proposed rates are pending approval by the University Systems of Maryland Board of Regents
If you have questions about housing or meal plan rates, please contact the Department of Housing and Residence Life (HRL), housing AT_TOWSON, at Towson University.
Each year rates are developed by estimating operating costs for the upcoming year by looking at expenses like utilities, minimum wage increases, debt payments, construction projects and staff wages and/or benefits. Housing and Residence Life does not have control over these expenses, which typically cost more every year.
The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Housing and Residence Life proposes housing rates to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The President’s Cabinet reviews all rate and fee rates, and changes are presented to the Student Government Association at the spring Fee Forum. Any increases in rates are also approved by the University of Maryland system.
The costs of operating Housing and Residence Life are distributed among the students who use the program’s services; they are not paid for by students who do not benefit directly. University housing serves approximately 5,000 residents each academic year. Because not all Towson University students benefit from the Housing and Residence Life program, the costs of the program are paid for by residential students through their housing occupancy charges and fees. HRL does not receive any money from the larger university budget or from the state of Maryland.
On-campus residents also benefit from services and supports that are not currently paid through their housing charges. For example, residential students benefit from services provided by TUPD, IT and other offices in ways that non-residential students do not. Costs like these are typically called “overhead” and on most campuses they are included in housing expenses as a percentage of the overall HRL budget.