Graduate Housing Application Information

Graduate Housing Lottery

Students interested in living on-campus must apply for housing during an open lottery process. Due to limited availability, we are not able to guarantee housing for all students who apply.

Eligibility

To participate in the graduate housing lottery, all eligibility requirements must be met by the student:

1. Must be a full-time graduate student or a married undergraduate student.
2. Must not be a visiting researcher or scholar
3. Must be working towards a matriculating, degree-earning program.

Additionally, students must be able to move in by the 10th day of classes for the semester they are applying for.

Lottery Timeline

There are three housing lotteries through the year.

Winter/Spring Housing Lottery 2025

Limited openings available. Move-in dates from December 9, 2025 through January 29th, 2026

Summer Lottery 2026

Limited Opening available*. Move-in dates from mid-May to early June. Students are required to sign a contract until either 12/31/2026 or 5/31/2027. Summer only contracts are not available.

• Application Open March 16th at 9 AM EST through March 30th at 9 AM EST
• March 30: Lottery numbers are emailed to students by 5 PM EST
• March 31: Housing offers begin. Offers will continue until all spaces are filled

There is no waiting list for the Summer Lottery.

*This lottery is not open to students who are current living on-campus unless the leaseholder in their apartment is graduating.

Fall Lottery 2026

Move-in dates from late June through the 10th day of classes in September.

• Application Open June 1st at 9 AM EST through June 15th at 9 AM EST
• June 15: Lottery numbers are emailed to students by 5 PM EST
• June 16: Housing offers begin
• June 24: Waiting list information is posted.

Before You Apply

Housing Rates

Rates posted are charged to one student. In multi-occupancy apartments, this means that only one student, known as the leaseholder, will be billed the full about by Housing Services. Rates are not split per person by Housing Services.

Roommates and Max Occupancy

The leaseholder in an apartment has the ability to add roommates so long as they do not surpass the maximum occupancy. Roommates can be fellow students or family members. Housing Services does not have the ability to match roommates for you - you must find your own.

The maximum occupancy of an apartment is the maximum, not the recommend number of people. If you plan on adding non-family members as roommates, notes that Housing Services recommends one person per bedroom. If you decide to go over this amount, be sure you and your roommates are aware of the size of the space and how you will be sharing it. Please view the virtual tours and floor plans to better understand size and layout of apartments.

Accommodation Requests

Graduate students who need an accommodation are encouraged to contact Disability Support Services. Be aware of the deadline for your starting term. For Graduate Students, accommodation documentation MUST include proof of need to live on campus.

During the Process

After applying, a student is randomly assigned a number by a computer-generated program. This lottery number determines the order in which offers are sent to students. Demand for housing greatly exceeds what we have available. We encourage all students to apply to live on campus and to be prepared to look off campus. The lottery is NOT a guarantee, and the application process is completely randomized.

Application Preferences

On their application, students are asked to select their preferences for housing (ie: Packer vs. Saucon Village, one bedroom vs. three bedroom). Students are encouraged to indicate a first and second preference to increase their chance of being offered housing that meets their selections. Students may include requirements for their apartment - note that if we have no housing that meets these requirements, the student may not be offered any housing.

Accepting an Offer

All apartment offers are sent to the student’s Lehigh email account unless a different email address is used during the application process. Students have 48 hours to respond and accept an offer for housing (unless otherwise stated) or their offer will be given to the next student in the lottery. Students should read the offer details carefully and ask any clarifying questions before accepting the offer. Students who wish to decline the offer should respond in kind.

Once students submit their offer acceptance and security deposit, they will receive communication about completing Health & Wellness Center requirements and any other necessary forms. Students should be sure to check their email regularly as this process is time-sensitive.

Signing Your Lease

At least two weeks prior to move-in, students will receive an email requesting information on their move-in details and asking them to schedule a lease signing. During the lease signing students will be given an introduction to living in on-campus housing at Lehigh. After your lease signing, students will be able to obtain a parking permit if they have a vehicle. Students should come prepared with questions - we encourage all family and roommates to attend the appointment with the leaseholder.