The General Catalog began as a short document with information on the University, but expanded into a booklet promoting the school with a sample of the entrance examination and course descriptions. This record collection includes catalogs from 1930 to 2015.

The Catalog has grown over the years, the last printing of the course catalog was in 2015. Since then, they are available in a digital format and is become borne digital objects produced by the California Maritime Academy Admissions Office.