Acceptance Rate
3%
Avg. SAT
1580
75th percentile
“Pasadena's fiercely selective STEM haven where undergrads tackle real research alongside Nobel-winning faculty.”
Pasadena, CA
Location
Midsize City
Campus Setting
Caltech traces its roots to 1891, when Amos Throop founded a vocational school that evolved into a premier science institute under astronomers like George Ellery Hale. You'll thrive here if you live for physics problems, late-night lab sessions, and collaborative puzzles—intensely curious types who see math as a playground. The campus exudes a quirky, brainy personality: think prank wars between houses and olive groves shading bike paths. Pasadena offers mild year-round weather and easy access to Los Angeles, but the area's high cost of living means budgeting carefully for off-campus eats. Small size delivers close-knit vibes, though it limits breadth in non-STEM fields.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Caltech focuses laser-sharp on science, engineering, math, and astronomy, with undergrads diving into research early through programs like SURF. Classrooms buzz with small seminars where your 3-to-1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name and push you hard. You'll solve real problems, from rover designs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to black hole simulations. Expect intense workloads and large intro lectures in core math sequences, but the payoff is hands-on ownership of discoveries. Tradeoffs include competitive access to oversubscribed labs and scant options outside STEM.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
987 undergrad • 1,443 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
24%
Black / African American
2%
Hispanic / Latino
12%
Asian
22%
Other / Multi-racial
39%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Pasadena, CA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Life revolves around the eight undergraduate houses, where freshmen rotate to find their crew before settling in for feasts, formals, and interhouse rivalries. A typical week mixes classes, problem sets, club meetings, and the occasional prank—Ditch Day lets students skip while faculty scatter clues campus-wide. Social scene stays low-key and nerdy, with hiking in nearby mountains or Rose Bowl events pulling you into Pasadena. Housing guarantees spots for all four years, fostering tight bonds in a tiny community. Challenges include academic pressure curbing big party scenes and the midsize city feel blending campus with urban bustle.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conf.
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$10,755
$30K – $48K
$1,371
$48K – $75K
$4,404
$75K – $110K
$18,206
$110K+
$46,921
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
97%
4 Years Graduation Rate
87%
6 Years Graduation Rate
94%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$128,566
97% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at California Institute of Technology and return in the fall. 87% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 94% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
87%
4-5 years
7%
6-8 years
2%
Non-grad
4%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$58,479
Acceptance
3%
Undergrads
987
4-Year Grad Rate
87%
Endowment
$3.6B
Pasadena, CA 91125
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