Only graduate students who have a firm Ph.D. completion date may apply and be given high priority for an extension of their lease to no later than July 31. Students applying for a housing extension for the purpose of completing their dissertations must have a letter from their principal advisor or dissertation committee chair stating the date when the student is scheduled or likely to defend. Apply here for a graduate housing extension.

Graduate students with families are able to reside in the Edwards Apartments, Lakeside Apartments and Townhomes, Lawrence Apartments, and Meadows Apartments.

Students will need to indicate on their housing application that they will be bringing family to live with them on campus as well as add their family members to the My Housing for Graduates portal. If you are unable to add your family members to the portal, email [email protected].

Family documentation is required for all family members residing in on-campus graduate housing. 

• Spouse: copy of the marriage certificate or copy of most recently filed Federal Tax Return (Form 1040) containing joint marital filing status information.
• Domestic Partnership: submit the application for domestic partnership and supporting document  (joint bank statement, former lease/deed/mortgage agreement listing both names, insurance beneficiary information, voided check with both names, etc.) 
• Child or Dependent: Copy of a birth certificate OR copy of the most recently filed Federal Income tax return (Form 1040) containing dependent status information. 

All documents should be submitted before the housing application deadline and can be uploaded directly to the My Housing for Graduates portal.

All graduate housing, including  entry 34 of the New Graduate College dorm, can be assigned or selected without regard to gender if students choose this option. 

Hardship Housing is a process by which returning students who wish to remain in University Housing and do not already have priority in the Room Draw process may apply for priority through the Hardship Housing Process. 

Students may qualify for Hardship Housing due to special or extenuating circumstances, financial hardship, some other type of hardship, or because they may not be successful in Room Draw.  

Approved Hardship Housing requests, will receive a housing contract, regardless of year of study. Students living off campus can also apply.  Applications are most often approved for financial hardship but can be approved for other significant considerations.

If approved, you may receive priority placement over other returning students via this process. Application dates are posted each prior to Room Draw. View forms 

The application requires the hardship application form, financial information (including a recent tax return) and a brief written statement outlining the situation. This information will be kept confidential and all identifying details, such as names and addresses, will be taken out when the application is presented to the Graduate Housing Advisory Board for review.  All hardship housing applicants must also complete a Room Draw application by the deadline.  

Incomplete and late applications will not be reviewed. 

Circumstances can change, and we do not keep any student’s financial information on file, applications must be resubmitted each year.

Please note that Hardship Housing approval does not guarantee a particular room type, location or other preferences and is not meant to be an exception to the renewal process.  

All graduate students are eligible to apply for a medical accommodation.  Please refer here for details on how to apply.  

Application dates are posted each year prior to Room Draw and the incoming student application process.

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Are there ADA compliant rooms in Graduate Housing?  Yes, both Lakeside and Lawrence apartments contain ADA compliant units. The Graduate College is a dormitory-style building that does not contain ADA compliant rooms

What types of apartments in Lawrence and Lakeside are compliant and what modifications are standard in those buildings?   Lawrence contains studio, 1br and 2br apartments that have ADA compliant doorways and bathrooms (grab bars, flexible shower head, and accessible showers).  Lakeside provides full ADA compliant units both as townhomes (minimum 3 bed, up to 4 bed), and apartments (minimum 1 bed, up to 3 bed).  All accessible units feature one accessible bedroom/bathroom and an accessible kitchen with all required clearances and approach spaces. Bathrooms include all required grab bars and adjustable height shower wand.  Roll-in showers are only provided in the ADA compliant townhomes; all ADA compliant apartments are provided with ADA compliant bathtubs.

How high are the sinks, countertops, toilets, and other such fixed surfaces?  All accessible bathroom vanities and kitchen sinks are 34" maximum height and include ADA compliant faucets and pipe protection below. Toilet seats are approximately 16" high (within the 15"-19" range permitted by the ADA).

How high are the light switches, heater/AC switches, and things like that?  All switches are no higher than 48" to the centerline.

Are the interior doors like standard [light] house interior doors or are they heavier, and how high are the doorknobs? All interior unit doors are hollow-core wood as typically used in residential construction. Lever handles are 36" - 38" above the floor. 

What flooring surfaces are used in each room of the apartment in each apartment building? Vinyl-plank flooring in the kitchens, baths, hallways, and living areas; glue down carpet in the bedrooms.

How heavy is the exterior apartment door, and is it possible to fit it with an automatic opener?  All doors into accessible units meet the maximum opening force of 5 lbs. Exterior building entry doors are equipped with automatic door operators.

Is the stove gas or electric, and how high is it?   The range is provided as a drop-in type with front mounted controls (all electric). The height in Lakeside matches the counter at 34" high maximum.

What are the windows like (swing to open, slide to open (vertical or horizontal), or twist a handle to open) in each apartment building?   In the Lakeside complex, all operable windows are casement type requiring the use of a crank handle. The Lawrence apartments are equipped with slide open windows with use of a latch.

Are there elevators in Lawrence, Lakeside, and Meadows and can they access all of the floors?   An elevator is provided in each apartment type building and in the parking garage. Each elevator accesses all floors of the building.

Only students living in designated apartments or townhome units are permitted to have a cat or dog. Students in all graduate apartment locations may keep small, non-poisonous household pets that can be humanely housed in cages, bowls, or aquariums (tanks of 10 gallons or less).

Registered cats and dogs are permitted in pet-friendly units that can be found:

Lakeside Apartments

• 1st floor unfurnished apartments with direct access to an exterior door

Lawrence Apartments

• Building 1- All 1st- 6th floor apartments 
• Buildings 2-7 - All 1st floor and some 2nd floor apartments
• Buildings 8-9 - All 1st floor apartments
• Buildings 10, 11 and 12- All 1st and 2nd floor apartments
• Buildings 13 and 14 - All 1st floor apartments

Meadows Apartments

• 301 Court Drive- All unfurnished units on the 1st and 2nd floors
• 307 Court Drive- All unfurnished units on the 1st floor. 
• 311 Court Drive- All unfurnished units on the 1st floor.   

All cats and dogs may be kept only after registering them with Housing and Real Estate Services or American Campus Communities (ACC) by completing a Pet Agreement and providing proof of required levels of personal property protection and liability insurance coverage as required and detailed below. Pets are not permitted under any other circumstances. In all cases, the roommate(s) must provide consent.

Pet Requirements

If you would like to bring a pet to campus and are assigned to a pet-friendly unit, a Pet Agreement must be completed and submitted for approval at least 7 days prior to moving in.   All pet requests are approved on an individual basis.  Feel free to contact the The Service Point to inquire about specifics. 

Upload the completed pet agreement and supporting document in My Housing for Graduates.   

Please ensure that you have the following prior to submitting your pet agreement for approval:

• Completed Pet Agreement with signatures of all contract holders and/or residents listed for your unit
• Municipality of Princeton Dog License
• A copy of your personal liability insurance coverage
• A picture of the Pet(s)
• Copies of all recent vaccination records

Students with dogs and cats residing in pet-friendly units will be charged a non-refundable $100 pet cleaning fee per contract holder.   If a student moves to a new unit, they will be charged an additional cleaning fee for the new unit. 

Students moving in with their pet to pet-friendly housing:

• Must carry $100,000 of personal liability coverage on their renter's insurance policy
• Be in compliance with local pet ordinances, rules and regulations - including dog licensing

Should any pets become a nuisance to others, destructive, violent, or noisy such permission will be revoked by the University, which shall have the sole right to make such a determination. All pet owners must be in compliance with state and local laws and ordinance governing licensing, vaccinations, and control. Any violations of these laws or ordinances will be considered a breach of contract.

Pet Rules and Policies

The Resident is responsible for all actions of the pet(s) and will abide by the following rules:

1. No pet may disturb the rights, comforts, or conveniences of other persons in or near the Property.

2. When outside of the Apartment and/or the Building, any pet must be confined by leashes under the Resident’s supervision at all times.

3. No pet may be tied to any fixed object in or on the Property.

4. Resident must promptly remove any pet waste from the Property.

5. The Resident must immediately remove any pet offspring from the Property.

6. The Resident must comply with all applicable statutes, ordinances, restrictions, and other enforceable regulations regarding pets in effect or as amended.

7. The Resident must keep the pet(s) rabies vaccine current.

8. The Resident must abide by an amendment to these pet rules after Princeton University provides written notice of such amendment to the Resident.

9. No aggressive breeds are allowed on the Property. This includes, but is not limited to Pit Bulls, Chows, etc.

10. No more than two (2) pets are allowed per unit unless authorized in writing by Student Housing.

11. Pet(s) must be approved in writing by Student Housing and all Roommates by the signing of this agreement.

12. Residents must ensure that pet(s) use designated waste areas at all times and pick-up and properly dispose of pet waste

13. The Resident must comply with any applicable licensing requirements. The University reserves the right to request documentation showing that the animal has been licensed in accordance with licensing requirements of New Jersey's Office of Animal Welfare. The license number must be provided with the submission of the Pet Agreement.

Single students who need to be in Princeton during the summer may apply for summer housing in the Graduate College and Annexes. Students already living in an apartment do not have to apply for summer housing if they are retaining their apartment.

The application will open March 15, 2024 and must be submitted by April 22, 2024.

If you are a current resident living in a graduate apartment, you may allow another Princeton-affiliated graduate student to live in your apartment or townhouse in your absence temporarily for up to six months or until the end of the current contract year (whichever comes first). The contract holder may not temporarily contract with undergraduate students, faculty/staff, incoming students, non-degree seeking graduate students or any other person(s) not affiliated with Princeton University.

You are financially obligated to pay all bills in your name, but you may collect money from the temporary resident through a personal agreement. Use the My Housing for Graduates link below to apply for a temporary change of residents.

Residents who plan to be absent from Princeton for a short period during their contract timeframe must adhere to the following guidelines if they wish to temporarily change residents for their unit during their absence.  Temporary Changes in Resident require a minimum timeframe of one month and a maximum period of up to six months. Students may not do so for more than one semester.

1. Enrolled graduate students who have a valid contract for the next academic year may temporarily change the resident for their apartment. Students who have an extension may not do so. Graduate students who are taking a leave of absence from the University are not considered enrolled and are therefore not eligible for University housing during the period of their leave. Hence, students planning a leave of absence are not allowed to temporarily change the resident for their apartment. Students in this situation must vacate their unit within 10 days of the termination of their enrollment but no later than June 30 for a summer vacate. They may reapply for University housing before their anticipated return to campus.
2. On rare occasions when it becomes necessary for the apartment contract holder to extend their temporary change in resident agreement, they must reapply to the Housing Department. The Housing Office will require confirmation from the student’s Academic Department, and re-evaluate the circumstances before considering approval.
3. The University contract holder is responsible for making monthly payments. The University contract holder assumes responsibility for all damages beyond normal wear and tear that may be caused to the property during the period of temporary change in resident and will bear all costs of such repairs.
4. No Temporary Change in Resident is permitted beyond the contract period. Graduate students may not temporarily change the resident for their apartment beyond June 30, unless they have already obtained an apartment contract renewal for the following academic year.
5. Graduate students may temporarily change only to other graduate students directly affiliated with Princeton University. The contract holder may not temporarily contract with non-degree graduate students, undergraduate students, faculty/staff or any other person (s) not directly affiliated with Princeton University.
6. Rent charged for the unit must not exceed the contract amount charged by the University for the unit. The University contract holder will remain liable for the total payment due during the term of the contract.
7. The University contract holder must complete a Temporary Change in Resident application available on the Housing and Real Estates office’s website, and prepare a written agreement for the temporary resident that clearly states the period of same, monthly payment expectations, and any other conditions deemed necessary. All parties involved must sign the agreement and submit a copy Housing and Real Estate office at least 10 days before the temporary period begins.
8. Transportation and Parking Services will issue a temporary parking permit to temporary residents that have a copy of the approved Graduate Housing Permission form. The Housing and Real Estate office does not issue additional keys to temporary residents. The contract holder is responsible for the exchange of keys and will be held responsible for any keys that are not returned to the University. A lock change will be performed if any key(s) are not accounted for.
9. A temporary resident is not allowed to make payment to the University on behalf of the contract holder. The contract holder is responsible to make payment directly to the University. Students that are still receiving a stipend may continue to have the monthly rate deducted.
10. Prior to submitting an application for a Temporary Change of Resident, the enrolled graduate student must discuss with the other contract holders sharing their unit. The length of stay (maximum 6 months) for a temporary resident and consideration for approval of an application is contingent upon the consent of all roommates/apartment mates.
11. It is important that a temporary resident be registered in writing with the Housing Department ten days in advance. Temporary residents, spouses, domestic partners and other dependents who are unofficial and are locked out will not be allowed access to the apartment. Temporary residents will not receive lock out services without their copy of the approved Temporary Change in Resident permission form. Temporary residents are not approved until the application is completed and on record with the Housing and Real Estate Office and the student contract holder requesting the Temporary Change in Resident agreement  has been emailed confirmation of approval. Students should apply to the Housing and Real Estate Office using the web application. 

Visit My Housing for Graduates to access the application.

Nondegree students may apply for housing via My Housing for Graduates at any point in the year. Their start dates are typically on the first of the month, and housing contracts are offered as vacancies allow. Housing contract dates cannot be outside of the approved enrollment dates.

The Housing Office hosts a listserv for spouses and domestic partners of graduate students. If you are a registered spouse or domestic partner of a student and would like to receive notices about ongoing project work and Facilities notifications, please opt in here to join the listserv.

If you are already on the work notices listserv, and would like to unsubscribe, click here to opt out.