Lottery Properties
The Housing Office provides graduate students with convenient and attractive apartments with rent that is below the market average. Newly admitted graduate students are guaranteed housing while returning graduate students can rent apartments by leasing or through an annual lottery process.
Catalina Apartments
The Catalinas, located on the northwest end of campus, are the center of Caltech's graduate resident community. The Catalina Apartments house single and married graduate students from a variety of academic disciplines and cultures, and give them the opportunity to interact within a beautiful residential setting.
Built in three phases, from 1984 to 1988, the complex offers accommodation to 450 residents. All apartments feature a private patio or balcony, carpets, and window coverings, furnished bedrooms and living rooms, central air conditioning, and heating. Each kitchen is equipped with a range and oven, double sink, wood cabinets, refrigerator/freezer, microwave oven, and garbage disposal.
Amenities at the Catalinas include:
- laundry rooms on site with card-operated washers and dryers
- recreation centers
- water and trash service paid for by Caltech.
Residents supply their own pillows, bed linens, towels, and kitchen utensils. In addition, residents pay their own gas, electricity, and internet, billed through the Caltech Bursar account. Telephone and cable television are set up and paid privately by the resident.
Resident shall not maintain pets that are prohibited by law, including the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Pasadena. Please see the full Caltech Pet Policy.
Catalina South: 430-450 S. Catalina Ave
29 one-bedroom units (Catalina South includes some additional Two-Bedroom Units). Approximately 510 sq.ft.
FURNISHINGS
LIVING/DINING ROOM
- Sofa
- Coffee table
- Table with two chairs
BEDROOM
- Desk chair
- Dresser
- Wastebasket
- 2' x 6' bookcase
- Computer/writing desk
- Double-size bed & mattress (54" x 74")
KITCHEN
- Range/oven
- Wastebasket
- Double sink
- Microwave oven
- Wood cabinets
- Garbage disposal
- Refrigerator/freezer
Catalina North: 1020-1040 E. Del Mar Blvd.
Catalina South: 430-450 S. Catalina Ave.
A total of 132 two-bedroom, one-bath units. (Catalina South includes some additional one-bedroom units.) Approximately 650 sq. ft.
Furnishings
LIVING/DINING ROOM
- Sofa
- Coffee table
- Table with two chairs
BEDROOM
- Desk chair
- Dresser
- Study desk (Catalina North) or Computer/writing desk (Catalina South)
- Wastebasket
- 2' x 6' bookcase
- Double-size bed & mattress (54" x 74")
- Two-drawer storage unit under bed (Catalina North)
KITCHEN
- Range/oven
- Wastebasket
- Double sink
- Microwave oven
- Wood cabinets
- Garbage disposal
- Refrigerator/freezer
Catalina Central:
346-378 S. Catalina Ave
38 four-bedroom, two-bath units. Each unit accommodates four single students. Approximately 1,100 sq. ft.
FURNISHINGS
LIVING/DINING ROOM
- Sofa
- End Table
- Table with four chairs
BEDROOM
- Bookcase
- Wastebasket
- Study desk & chair
- Two-drawer storage unit under bed
- Single-size bed and mattress (36" x 79")
- Built-in dresser/closet with mirror
KITCHEN
- Range/oven
- Wastebasket
- Double sink
- Microwave oven
- Wood cabinets
- Garbage disposal
- Refrigerator/freezer
Caltech pays for water and trash. Residents will be billed to their student Bursar's account for their usage of gas and electricity and a flat monthly internet fee. Accounts are in Caltech's name. Telephone and cable television are set up and paid privately by the resident (optional). For more information see Housing Utility Charges.
Each of the three Catalina Properties (North, Central, and South) has a recreation center for residents' enjoyment. Your Caltech ID will provide you access to the buildings. The recreation centers are equipped with outdoor barbecues, patio furniture, foosball and pool tables, large-screen cable TV, DVD/Blu-ray, stereo equipment, kitchenette, and fireplace. They also house the Catalina's washers and dryers, all card-operated.
To reserve a Catalina Recreation Room, you must create an account on our reservation system, accessible only to residents through invite. If you need access to the site, email gradras@caltech.edu or bgallego@caltech.edu
Catalina Recreation Room Policies
- Only residents currently residing in the Catalina Residential Apartments may reserve usage of the recreation rooms.
- Recreation rooms may be reserved for campus or residential community events.
- Only 2 of the 3 recreation rooms are available for reservation at any given time. One recreation room must be left open for general usage at all times.
- Please submit requests at least 48 hours in advance for approval. Reservation requests will not be checked over weekends and holidays.
- Parties and events must conclude no later than 10 PM on weekdays and 12 AM on weekends. Special events to be held outside of normal hours require approval from the Catalina Residential Life Coordinator.
- The Catalina Recreation Rooms are for the use and enjoyment of all Catalina residents. Please respect your neighbors when using these facilities by being mindful of noise level.
- Event Registration: Please check the Event Registration Guidelines or consult with the Catalina Residential Life Coordinator to determine if your event needs to be registered.
CLEANING
The Recreation Rooms should be cleaned after scheduled events. Large or excessive amounts of trash and recycling must be taken to bins located in the Cats, along S. Catalina Blvd. Failure to clean up after events will lead to the following actions:
- Resident may not schedule another party for one term
- Resident will be liable for all cleaning fees (minimum $150.00 billed to bursar account)
- Resident will need to meet with Catalina Residential Life Coordinator prior to registering another event
Off-Campus Lottery Apartments
These bed spaces are considered off-campus Contracted Housing and are not included in the on-campus capacity. Locations of off-campus housing bed spaces are not a set number and can change from year to year depending on other Institute needs. All off-campus housing is Caltech-owned and within walking distance of campus. Our designated off-campus housing includes furnished studio units; unfurnished one-bedroom units; and unfurnished two-bedroom units.
Each unit is furnished with:
- 1 Bathroom
- A bed, dresser, dining table, chair, bookshelf, a stove/oven, microwave oven , and a refrigerator/freezer
- A window air conditioner in the living room
Apartment Complex Information
- On-Site Laundry Room
Unit Information
- 1 Bathroom
- Unfurnished with the exception of a stove/oven and a refrigerator/freezer
- Has a window air conditioner in the living room and the bedroom
- Comes with one assigned parking space
Apartment Complex Information
- Security gates
- Two-story without elevators
- On-site laundry room
- Small courtyard
Unit Information
- 2 Bathrooms
- Unfurnished with the exception of a stove/oven and a refrigerator/freezer
- Has a window air conditioner in the living room
- Comes with one assigned parking space
Apartment Complex Information
- Security gate
- Two-story without elevators
- On-site Laundry Room
- Small courtyard
Caltech pays for water and trash. Residents will be billed to their student Bursar's account for their usage of gas and electricity. Accounts are in Caltech's name. Telephone, Internet and cable television are set up and paid privately by the resident (optional). For more information see Housing Utility Charges.