Apply for a position of resident assistant (RA). Usually beginning sophomore year, students try out for RA positions at their colleges. They may have to fill out an application, complete an interview and show leadership and community involvement. The housing authority officials at their colleges select RAs. If selected, RAs receive assignments to each floor of every dorm and act as supervisors of their floors. In return, RAs receive free or deeply discounted housing for making sure that students follow dorm rules, helping residents get acquainted to their new homes and running informational programs for residents. Sometimes RAs receive free dining hall meals as well.
Become a graduate assistant (GA). Many universities have one GA per dorm. Graduate assistants oversee the resident assistants and deal with administrative matters. They may negotiate housing contracts, report and fix safety issues, maintain the dorms or complete other duties as assigned by the housing office. As their name implies, GAs are usually older, more mature students who are in graduate school, since their role requires more responsibility than that of an RA.
Get a scholarship that pays for your dorm room. If you have good grades or excel at a sport, often a "full ride" to a college or university includes the cost of your housing. Some schools have posh academic "honors" dorms or special dorms for student athletes.
Go to a college that has a work-study program. Colleges such as Berry College in Rome, Georgia, have work programs that allow students to get a job on campus. Instead of receiving wages, their labor earns them credit toward tuition, housing and other school-related expenses. Jobs can range from being on the grounds keeping crew to working at the school library.