New 2026 Edition100+ schools · Updated for move-in

Get Your School-Specific College Packing List

Personalized for your university in under 2 minutes. Includes your dorm's exact appliance rules, what's banned, climate-adjusted clothing, and move-in day tips — all in one place.

✓ 100+ universities✓ Dorm rules for kettles, microwaves & fridges✓ Printable & saves automatically

We'll load school-specific rules, banned items, and move-in tips.

Affects which items appear (e.g. shower caddy, microwave, kitchenware).

Adjusts clothing, outerwear, and weather-specific item recommendations.

4. A few optional details (helps personalize the list)

Your list is saved automatically in your browser. No account needed.

🎓100+ universities with verified housing rules
📋100+ items organized across 9 categories
🔒No account required — saves locally

How It Works

1

Pick your school

Choose from 100+ universities. We load that campus’s housing rules, banned items, and move-in details.

2

Add a few details

Tell us the housing type and climate. Your list adjusts for what each dorm allows and the weather they’ll face.

3

Pack, check off, print

Work through a personalized checklist, track what’s packed, and print or save it. Your progress saves automatically.

Why School-Specific Matters

A generic packing list can get your student fined or sent home with banned gear on move-in day. Dorm appliance rules vary wildly from one campus to the next:

  • Electric kettles are banned at UConn, Yale, and several UC campuses, but allowed at BYU and Oregon.
  • Microwaves are capped at 700W at Michigan and 1000W at Ohio State, while many schools provide a MicroFridge you shouldn't double up on.
  • Coffee makers are prohibited at Harvard, Northwestern, and UCLA, even though they're fine almost everywhere else.

This generator flags exactly what your student's campus allows, so you only buy what they can actually keep in the room.

Schools With Verified Dorm Rules

The generator includes packing lists with verified housing and appliance policies for these universities. Not listed? The general college list covers the essentials for any campus.

Show all schools +

Arizona State University · Auburn University · Baylor University · Boston College · Boston University · Brigham Young University · Brown University · Carnegie Mellon University · Clemson University · Colorado State University · Columbia University · Cornell University · Dartmouth College · DePaul University · Drexel University · Duke University · Elon University · Emory University · Florida State University · Fordham University · George Washington University · Georgetown University · Georgia Institute of Technology · Gonzaga University · Harvard University · Indiana University · Iowa State University · Louisiana State University · Loyola University Chicago · Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Miami University · Michigan State University · Mississippi State University · New York University · North Carolina State University · Northeastern University · Northwestern University · Pennsylvania State University · Princeton University · Purdue University · Rutgers University · Santa Clara University · Stanford University · Syracuse University · Temple University · Texas A&M University · Texas Christian University · The Ohio State University · Tufts University · Tulane University · UC San Diego · UC Santa Barbara · University of Alabama · University of Arizona · University of California, Berkeley · University of California, Irvine · University of California, Los Angeles · University of California, Riverside · University of Central Florida · University of Colorado Boulder · University of Connecticut · University of Denver · University of Florida · University of Georgia · University of Hawaii at Manoa · University of Houston · University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · University of Iowa · University of Kansas · University of Kentucky · University of Maryland · University of Massachusetts Amherst · University of Miami · University of Michigan · University of Minnesota · University of Mississippi · University of Missouri · University of Nevada, Las Vegas · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · University of Notre Dame · University of Oregon · University of Pennsylvania · University of Pittsburgh · University of Richmond · University of San Diego · University of San Francisco · University of South Carolina · University of Southern California · University of Tennessee · University of Texas at Austin · University of Utah · University of Virginia · University of Washington · University of Wisconsin–Madison · Utah State University · Vanderbilt University · Villanova University · Virginia Tech · Wake Forest University · Washington State University · Yale University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the College Packing List Generator work?
Select your university from our list of 100+ schools. The tool builds a personalized packing list based on your school’s dorm rules, your housing type, and the local climate. From there you can add or remove items, check off what’s packed, search the list, and print or save it.
Is the packing list really school-specific?
Yes. For each school we maintain dorm appliance policies verified against official university housing pages, including whether microwaves, electric kettles, mini-fridges, and similar items are allowed, provided, or banned. The list and the school info panel adjust to your campus’s rules.
Are electric kettles allowed in dorms?
It depends on the school. Some campuses (UConn, Yale, and several UC schools) ban them outright, while others (BYU, Oregon) allow them. The generator shows whether a kettle is permitted at your specific school so you don’t pack something that gets confiscated.
What about microwaves and mini-fridges?
Policies vary: some schools cap microwave wattage (Michigan at 700W, Ohio State at 1000W), and many provide a combined MicroFridge unit you shouldn’t duplicate. The tool shows your school’s specific appliance rules so you know whether to bring your own or leave it home.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up or account required. We believe every family should have access to accurate, stress-free packing information.
How current is the dorm policy information?
School appliance policies were verified against official university housing pages for the 2026 academic year. Policies can change or vary by building, so we recommend confirming with your student’s residential life office before move-in.
Can I customize the packing list?
Absolutely. After the list generates, you can add your own items, remove ones you don’t need, mark items as packed, and filter or search. The list also adjusts to your selected housing type and climate.
What if my school isn’t listed yet?
We’re continuously adding schools. If yours isn’t available, the generator falls back to a thorough general dorm list covering the essentials and common safety guidelines, which you can fully customize.
Does the tool include product recommendations?
Yes. Based on your school and climate, it suggests relevant items like bedding, storage, and electronics through Amazon. These are affiliate links, and UniversityParent earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, which we disclose on the page.
Can I print or save my list?
Yes. Your list saves automatically in your browser, so it’s there when you come back. You can also print it or save it as a PDF using your browser’s print dialog to share with your student.

More Free Tools for College Parents

Packing is just the start. These tools help you plan the money side too.

Or read the full college dorm packing list guide on UniversityParent.