🏠 Claremont McKenna College — Parent Guide

🏠 How housing selection works at Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna College requires all students to live on campus for all four years and guarantees on-campus housing to every enrolled CMC student. As part of theClaremont Colleges Consortium(the 5Cs), CMC students have access to dining, libraries, courses, and social spaces at all five campuses, making the deeply interconnected with the wider Claremont community.

First-Year Students:Incoming freshmen are assigned to residence halls by the Office of before the start of the academic year. First-years complete a housing application and lifestyle questionnaire (covering sleep schedules, study habits, cleanliness preferences, and noise tolerance) to facilitate roommate matching. CMC assigns first-year roommates based on compatibility data — students may also request a specific roommate. Most first-year students are assigned toNorth Quadhalls (Appleby, Boswell, Green, Wohlford), which are the original 1950s–1970s buildings featuring suite-style rooms without central air conditioning. Room assignments are communicated in July before the first year.

Returning Students — Room Draw:Upperclassmen participate in CMC's annualRoom Drawlottery each spring. Selection proceeds from seniors down to rising sophomores, with lottery numbers assigned randomly within each class year. Students may draw as individuals or as roommate groups. The draw covers all 15 residence halls across three campus areas:

• North Quad(Appleby, Boswell, Green, Wohlford) — original suite-style buildings, no central AC; popular for their community atmosphere despite the heat
• Mid Quad(Beckett, Benson, Berger, Crown, Marks, Phillips) — newer buildings with central air conditioning throughout; the most sought-after area for students who prioritize comfort
• South / Tower Area(Auen, Fawcett, Stark) and other buildings — mix of styles; seniors may access the Senior Apartments, which offer the most independent living on campus

Room Types:CMC offers single rooms, double rooms, and some triple rooms across its suite-style residence halls. All bathrooms are shared within suites (semi-private) or on a floor basis. The Senior Apartments provide apartment-style housing with kitchens and greater autonomy for fourth-year students who have successfully drawn them.

Five-College Context:CMC students may use dining halls at Harvey Mudd, Pomona, Scripps, or Pitzer as part of the 5C meal plan. The extends beyond a single campus — students regularly move between the five colleges for meals, social events, and classes, creating a larger de facto community than any single college's enrollment suggests.

Key dates(approximate — verify each year at claremontmckenna.edu):

• Spring semester: Room Draw lottery numbers assigned; selection proceeds by class year
• March–April: Room Draw selection windows open (seniors first, then juniors, sophomores)
• May–June: First-year housing applications and roommate questionnaires open
• July: First-year room assignments sent; roommate contact information shared

For current deadlines, room availability, and detailed Room Draw rules, visit theCMC page.