Higher Learning
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Featured Institution

California Institute of Technology

A+

Grade

3%

Acceptance

$19,500

Net Price

1530-1580

SAT Range

location_on Pasadena, CA
• www.caltech.edu •
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What the School is Known For

From the School

Caltech — the California Institute of Technology — is a world-renowned science and engineering research university that produces an extraordinary concentration of discoveries and Nobel laureates from a remarkably small student body. Founded in 1891 in Pasadena, California, Caltech operates some of NASA's most important facilities, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Caltech's singular focus on science, engineering, and mathematics, combined with a culture of intellectual rigor and collaborative honor, produces graduates who go on to define entire fields of human knowledge.

The Student Body

From the School

Caltech enrolls only about 900 undergraduates and 1,300 graduate students — making it by far the smallest elite research university in the United States. This small scale means every undergraduate has an unusually close relationship with faculty, and the community is extremely tight-knit.

Caltech students describe a culture of intense intellectual engagement, mutual support, and genuine eccentricity. The honor code, which allows take-home exams and unsupervised testing, reflects a fundamental trust between the institution and its students.

Getting In

From the School

Caltech's acceptance rate is approximately 3%, the lowest of any university in the country for its level of academic specialization. Caltech seeks students with exceptional mathematical ability and genuine passion for science and engineering — not merely high grades.

Caltech requires all applicants to have taken calculus and physics at the high school level, reflecting the mathematical intensity of the curriculum. The admissions process is holistic but weighted heavily toward demonstrated aptitude in quantitative fields.

Academic Programs & Research

From the School

Caltech's curriculum is centered on a rigorous Core requirement in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology that all students — regardless of major — must complete in the first two years. This common foundation produces graduates who are unusually versatile across scientific disciplines.

Research is embedded in the Caltech undergraduate experience from the first year. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program alone places hundreds of students in faculty labs each summer, and the JPL — co-managed by Caltech and NASA — offers unparalleled opportunities in space science and engineering.

Life on Campus

From the School

Caltech's small, Mediterranean-style campus in Pasadena, California is a jewel of 124 acres framed by the San Gabriel Mountains. The scale means students know one another across year groups and departments in a way that is impossible at larger universities.

Caltech's house system and its traditions of pranks — many of them technically sophisticated — reflect a culture that prizes creativity, humor, and ingenuity alongside academic seriousness.

Living & Getting Involved

From the School

Caltech guarantees on-campus housing for all four undergraduate years through its eight residential houses. Unlike most universities, students choose their house through a mutual selection process in which they are hosted by multiple houses and choose the one that fits them best.

Each house has a distinct culture and traditions. Houses self-govern their dining, social programming, and internal governance — giving students an unusual degree of autonomy and ownership over their residential experience.

Athletics & Recreation

From the School

Caltech fields 13 varsity sports in NCAA Division III and is one of the few elite research universities to maintain an active varsity athletic program. Caltech's men's basketball team famously ended a 310-game losing streak — a record that became a symbol of the institution's priorities.

Recreational facilities include the Braun Athletic Center, outdoor pools, and courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball. Intramural and club sports are popular ways for students to stay active outside of academic work.

Student Support Services

From the School

Caltech's small size means support services are highly personalized. The Center for Teaching, Learning & Outreach provides tutoring, academic coaching, and support for students navigating the rigorous Core curriculum.

Caltech's Dean of Students office and Residential Experience staff maintain close relationships with students throughout their four years. The campus health center provides primary care, mental health services, and wellness programs.

Wellness & Mental Health

From the School

Caltech Counseling Services provides free individual therapy, group counseling, and crisis support to enrolled students. Given the intensity of the Caltech academic experience, the counseling staff is experienced in supporting students through academic pressure and transition.

Caltech's peer support programs and house advisors play an important role in the mental health ecosystem, providing informal support and connecting students with professional services when needed.

Plan a Campus Visit

From the School

Caltech Undergraduate Admissions offers information sessions and student-led tours on select weekdays and Saturdays during the academic year. Tours cover the main academic quad, Millikan Library, laboratory facilities, and the residential houses.

Prefrosh Weekend in April invites admitted students for a comprehensive two-day immersion in Caltech life, including stays in the residential houses, class visits, and lab demonstrations. Virtual tours are available for prospective students.

Career Outcomes & Placement

From the School

Caltech graduates are among the most sought-after scientists and engineers in the country, and a disproportionate share go on to doctoral programs at the world's leading research universities. The Caltech Career Development Center provides recruiting support and alumni connections.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory — co-managed by Caltech — is one of the most distinctive career pathways available to any university graduate. Caltech's alumni network, though small, is extraordinarily concentrated in research, academia, and deep technology.

Fields of Study

From the School

Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Biology are among Caltech's most popular undergraduate options. Caltech's programs in Astrophysics, Geophysics, and Chemical Engineering are world-renowned for the quality of their research environments.

Caltech does not offer programs in the professional fields (law, business, medicine) at the undergraduate level, reflecting its singular focus on science, engineering, and applied mathematics.

Cost of Attendance

From the School

Caltech's undergraduate tuition is approximately $63,255 per year, with total cost of attendance — including room, board, and fees — reaching approximately $84,000 annually. Caltech's financial aid program significantly reduces the net cost for the majority of enrolled students.

Caltech's research stipends and SURF fellowships also provide meaningful income for undergraduates who participate in funded research programs, partially offsetting personal costs during the academic year.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

From the School

Caltech meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted domestic undergraduates with no loans required. Families with annual incomes below $85,000 typically pay nothing toward tuition, room, or board.

The Caltech financial aid office individually tailors packages and works with students and families to ensure the cost of a Caltech education is not a barrier to enrollment. Research fellowship income does not reduce need-based aid awards.

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