Summer Lottery Process
Please read the information below carefully and be mindful of the dates and procedures that apply for securing summer housing. Summer lottery will occur in one round for those needing to participate.
Important Dates
Eligibility
Students who have been enrolled for the entire duration of the 2024-25 Spring Term, or who are currently eligible to enroll for the 2025-26 Fall Term, without UASH or Dean's approval, and have a SURF or campus/JPL/local internship, are eligible for summer housing. Students without a 2025-26 Fall contract, may not stay past August 24, 2025.
Summer Lottery
The Summer Housing Lottery for Caltech students will be conducted by the Housing Office, and students who are interested in living on campus will be required to apply for housing and have a reason to be on campus for summer 2025. The application can be found on the Housing website and must be submitted by Monday, April 21, 2025 at 12pm (noon). Acceptable reasons include a SURF, non-SURF campus research/internship, non-SURF JPL research/internship, Work Study employment (of 20 hrs/wk or more), or other local employment. Graduated seniors are not eligible.
Where possible, students who can stay in their current assignment ("squatting") will do so, as to prevent unnecessary moves at the start of the summer. If a student lives in a double and their roommate will not be staying over the summer, the student can pull another student into the double or the student can be pulled into another double. Students who cannot squat or pull in a roommate will then select a summer assignment via lottery. Lottery numbers will be posted by Tuesday, April 22, 2025, along with lottery appointments for Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, 2025. All 8 houses will be available to be selected. There will be limited availability in Bechtel, as this residence will host the WAVE and FSRI programs this summer.
The summer contract period will be from June 15, 2025, through August 24, 2025. Students who need to stay beyond August 23 will be able to apply for an extension over the summer to stay between the end of the summer contract and the beginning of the fall contract. Applications for extension/storage will be sent closer to that time. Students without a fall housing assignment will need to move out by noon on August 24, 2025. Students with a fall housing assignment who do not request to stay during the extension period will move their belongings to their fall assignment when the new room becomes available (some time between Saturday, August 23, and Monday, August 25).
What is ...
All Caltech students living in undergraduate residences have a base rate of $3,158.00 per person, per term. For the purpose of calculating fees, the summer term is defined as:
- June 15 - August 24, 2025
All Caltech students living in undergraduate residences are also automatically enrolled in the declining balance meal plan: $588.00/term
Between August 23rd and August 25th, residents must move to their fall assignments as soon as it becomes available (if room differs from their summer assignment.)
The summer housing term is between June 15 and August 24, 2025. Housing past August 24, 2025 will be available only to students with a Fall 2025-2026 housing assignment who have submitted an extension request. The cost of housing beyond August 25 will be prorated at the summer daily rate of $44.48 per calendar day.
Questions
All students interested in living in campus housing for the summer must apply and include an explanation of their need for housing.
We encourage students to apply for summer housing despite not being sure of their summer plans. Students have until May 31, 2025 to sign their contract. You may cancel your summer assignment without a fee by June 1, 2025.
If you are not able to attend the room picking process you may designate a proxy to pick an assignment for you. Proxies must have written authorization from the student for whom they are selecting.
You may also designate the Housing Office as your proxy. We will select a space for you based on your preferences available at the time of your pick.
Proxy forms are available online.
Graduating seniors are not eligible to live on campus
Students with a Fall 2025-26 housing contract will be able to apply for an extension over the summer to stay between the end of the summer contract and the beginning of the fall contract. More information will be made available after spring term.
The standard 10-week summer contract dates are June 15 – August 24, 2025. Housing fees for this period (or any portion of this period) will be processed in July and posted to the July 10th Bursar's statement. Students with a fall housing assignment may remain in housing past August 24, but they will have to submit the UG Summer Extension Application (available mid-July) and move to their fall housing assignment between August 23-25, 2025. Housing fees for any occupancy dates between August 25 – September 23, 2025 will be processed in October and posted to the October 10th Bursar's statement.
All summer contracts start June 15, 2025 and end on August 24, 2025. If you need to stay past August 24th, you must submit the Summer Extension Form and move to your fall assignment between August 23-25, 2025. Housing beyond the contract period will be prorated at the daily rate.
We allow students to store belongings in their fall assignment at no charge between their summer and fall contracts, provided they follow proper procedures. This year, that period will be from August 25 through September 23, 2025. There is no free storage during the summer contract period (June 15 - August 24, 2025).
You can submit your questions regarding the housing lottery to the Undergraduate Lottery Q&A Form and we will answer at the info sessions and/or to you directly!