In Pasadena, California, there is a private research institution called the California Institute of Technology (often known as Caltech or CIT). The institution is among a select group of American technological institutes that are highly committed to the teaching of pure and applied sciences, and it is responsible for many contemporary scientific breakthroughs. Caltech is usually regarded as one of the most prominent colleges in the world because of its history of technical innovation.
Caltech was established in 1891 as a prep and vocational school, drawing notable scientists. In 1910, the preparatory and vocational schools were dismantled and sold off, and the institution adopted its current name in 1920. The precursors of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory were founded between 1936 and 1943. In 1934, Caltech was elected to the Association of American Universities.
Caltech has six academic departments with a focus on science and engineering. Its main campus is spread over 124 acres and is 11 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. 95% of undergraduates live in the on-campus housing system, and the honour code allows professors to give take-home exams. The Caltech Beavers compete in 13 college sports in the NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Caltech is a leading institution in the United States with 79 Nobel laureates, 46 former students and faculty members, six Turing Award winners, four Fields Medalists, eight Crawford Laureates, 56 non-emeritus faculty members elected to one of the United States National Academies, four Chief Scientists of the U.S. Air Force, and 71 recipients of the United States National Medal of Science or Technology.
It has also been home to six Turing Award winners and four Field Medalists, eight Crafoord Laureates, 56 non-emeritus faculty members elected to one of the United States National Academies, four Chief Scientists of the U.S. Air Force, and 71 recipients of the United States National Medal of Science or Technology. In a Pomona College survey from 2015, Caltech was rated first in the nation for the proportion of its graduates who go on to make a living.
Academics
- Undergraduate Studies
- Graduate Studies
- Online Education
- Executive Education
- Teaching, Learning, & Outreach
A Caltech education is renowned for its demanding course work, tight teacher relationships, and intimate class sizes. The academic atmosphere at Caltech places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary cooperation, critical thinking, mutual support, and a profound knowledge of fundamental ideas and principles across areas as students work towards undergraduate and graduate degrees alongside their intellectual peers.
About Undergraduate Education
About 1,000 undergraduates at Caltech have a total of 28 choices (majors), which are distributed across six academic departments. With the multidisciplinary character of modern research, industry, and society, Caltech’s curriculum not only develops students’ skills in a core field of study and research but also demands a significant depth and exposure to fundamental science, the humanities, math, and social science in general.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY ＞UNDERGRADUATE DEANS’ OFFICE ＞STUDY ABROAD & FELLOWSHIPS ＞STUDENT RESEARCH ＞
Career Development
The Career Development Center offers resources to help with anything from finding an internship to pursuing higher degree programmes to planning a career.
Teaching, Learning & Outreach
With the Institute’s K–12 public educational outreach programmes, or by participating in them, you may learn about best practises in teaching and learning.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Every summer, hundreds of undergraduate students have the chance to carry out independent research projects with the help of knowledgeable mentors who are at the cutting edge of their respective professions.
Undergraduate Admissions
Afford
Our classes are hard, but paying for Caltech shouldn’t be.
We meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need through grants, scholarships, student employee, and student loans.
Caltech’s approach to financial aid
We’re committed to providing you and your family with a financial aid package that fully meets your demonstrated financial need. Through a combination of different types of aid, admitted Caltech students are guaranteed to receive aid that meets their level of financial need.
How financial aid works
We know financial aid can be stressful and confusing. Even for numbers people. However, with the right information, you can feel confident in the process.
Calculating need
Caltech thoroughly reviews every financial aid application to assess each family’s financial need and provide financial aid to meet that need. Factors used to determine financial need include:
- Taxed and untaxed income
- Assets, excluding retirement accounts and your primary home
- The number of people in your household
- The number of children in the household attending college as undergraduates
- Unreimbursed medical expenses
The financial aid application and review process is done annually, so if any of those factors change from year-to-year, then your financial need and corresponding financial aid will change accordingly.
Financial aid versus scholarships
The term financial aid encompasses all types of financial assistance for college – federal and state grants, loan and work-study programs, institutional loans and scholarships, and external (private) scholarships and student loans.
In contrast, scholarships are a specific type of financial aid known as “gift-aid” that does not have to be repaid after graduation. Scholarships can be merit-based, need-based, or both.
Merit-based scholarships are awarded based upon merit, meaning good grades and strong test scores. Need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial need. At Caltech, all student scholarships are based exclusively on financial need. You’re also welcome and encouraged to apply for outside scholarships.
Cost of Attendance (COA), Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and Financial Need
Cost of attendance (COA) is the estimated cost of attending an institution. While it includes tuition and fees, COA also includes estimated costs for housing, food, travel, and personal expenses.
EFC is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Caltech Supplemental Financial Aid Application.
Financial need is calculated by subtracting EFC from COA and is what determines the amount of need-based financial aid a student can receive within a given term of enrollment.
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Total Need
Calculating costs
Use the net price calculator to see what students with a similar financial profile have paid to go to Caltech, taking into account grants and scholarships. Use our MyinTuition tool to anticipate your college costs and estimate your eligibility for need-based scholarships at Caltech by answering six basic financial questions.
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Phone: (626) 395-6280
E-mail (General Inquiries): finaid@caltech.edu
E-mail (Document Submission): finaiddoc@caltech.edu (documents required for financial aid application should be submitted through IDOC)
On Campus:
Visit us in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions located on 383 S. Hill Ave. (behind the Holliston parking structure), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Mailing Address:
Caltech Financial Aid
Mail Code: 20-90
1200 E California Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91125
How to apply
Most Caltech students apply using our First-Year Application and use the Common App, Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, or QuestBridge Application. If you’re an international student, you’re subject to different requirements, which are listed separately. In addition, we also welcome students for transfer admission and others through our 3/2 program.
The application deadline for fall 2023 applicants has passed. Thanks for your patience as we update the requirements for fall 2024 applicants this summer.
First-Year Applicants
Transfer Applicants
Applicants
We’re not just looking for students who have excelled in high school. We also want to know that you’re motivated by the thought of getting in way over your head. Failure—problem sets you can’t solve, experiments that go nowhere—isn’t anything to fear. Our question is: How will you handle that? If you’ve challenged yourself at every turn, love STEM but a bunch of other things, too, and are driven by curiosity, you’re on the right track.
LEARN ABOUT OUR REVIEW PROCESS ＞
Ask us anything
There’s a lot to digest here. If anything’s unclear or you need to know more, or you want to see Caltech and Pasadena, get in touch with us.
Find Your Admissions Counselor
Mon-Fri
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
CONTACT INFORMATION
1200 E California Blvd
Mail Code MC 10-90
Pasadena, California 91125
(626) 395-6341
ugadmissions@caltech.edu
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