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Since 1790, the United States counts everyone living in the country every 10 years, including college students. Responses to the survey help make sure communities across the nation are accurately funded and represented for the next decade. Everyone receives information about the U.S. Census in the mail in mid-March. If you haven’t received your Census information, you will soon. It’s important to note that even though many students may be spending spring quarter at a parent/guardian address, students should count the address where they’ve lived most of the time. For most, that is their Bellingham address.

A few things to remember:

1. Generally, people should count themselves based on where they live on April 1, 2020, however most college students are counted differently and should not be counted at their parent/guardian’s residence.
   1. Students living on campus in University Residences should be counted there. The Census Bureau is working with ²ÝÁñÉçÇø housing staff to ensure they are counted.
   2. Students living off campus should count themselves at their off-campus address while in school, even if they spend time somewhere else during school breaks. Students living away from Bellingham for spring quarter’s online classes should still count their college address away from home if that is where they have lived most of the time. For most ²ÝÁñÉçÇø students, they should count their Bellingham/Whatcom County address.
2. Parents and guardians should not count college students on their Census unless their student has lived with them the majority of time during their student’s college career.
3. Census information will arrive in all mailboxes by the end of March. The questionnaire can be completed online, by phone, or by mail.
4. For more information and a link to complete the 2020 Census online, visit .