California Institute of Technology
1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125
The California Institute of Technology is a private university in CA, founded in 1891 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 982, and the graduate enrollment is 1,419. The California Institute of Technology is a hyper-selective school, receiving 8,007 applications and accepting 6.7% of applicants. The California Institute of Technology’s athletics teams competes at the club, intramural, and varsity level. Additionally, the California Institute of Technology employs 349 full-time instructional staff and has a 3:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
97
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
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Applicants applying to the California Institute of Technology will apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the Questbridge Application (if qualified). Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer specific questions pertaining to the university.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Action Application Deadline
November 1st
Regular Application Deadline
January 3rd
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Character/Personal Qualities - Very Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Important
- Extracurricular Activities - Important
Average Acceptance Rate
6.70%
STUDENT LIFE
Pasadena, California, the charming home of the California Institute of Technology, is known for its annual Tournament of Roses Parade and historical architecture. The school has a unique, small-town atmosphere similar to its surroundings while located only approximately 11 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Because first-year students must live on campus, their academic and social life usually revolves around its 124-acre sprawl. While many of the world’s brightest minds come from Caltech, there’s plenty of room for fun through its uncommon traditions—including sit-down dinners served by student waiters, a pumpkin drop every Halloween from Millikan Library, and plenty of pranks on and off-campus (with some involving MIT).
Housing
- 85% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are required to live on campus
The California Institute of Technology initially modeled its undergraduate student residence, the House System, after England’s residential college system at Oxford and Cambridge. That means that there are 11 student residences and houses which form the basis for the school’s self-governing living groups. Each community is therefore not simply defined by the physical building but also by the social connections and activities therein. For first-year students, a Caltech housing tradition is a two-week rotation to try different houses before a permanent house assignment. Considering that over 80% of students remain in their house for all four years, the school may be onto something. The 11 residences are close-knit communities that encourage collaborative learning and living settings with individual special activities and house traditions.
Life as a Student
As a “Techer,” the nickname for Caltech students, your academic life centers around a quarter-based academic calendar. You will also start with the core curriculum, which is courses all undergraduates must take no matter what major they choose. Lunchtime pizza classes and freshman seminars support classroom lectures with deeper discussions, lab time, or field research. These opportunities open doors to work with the California Institute of Technology’s top scientists and engineers, who are constantly engaged in prominent research. Caltech students live by a specific honor code that allows them 24/7 access to labs and other facilities on campus. However, the school also encourages students to participate in 20 NCAA Division III sports teams or more than 100 student organizations. The latter includes the environment, special interests, religious and faith-based organizations, and even food-related clubs. Extracurriculars aren’t just a way to unwind after working hard; they help you make new friends and find your place at Caltech.
TOP MAJORS
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Physics
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Fencing
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Basketball
Fencing
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Badminton
Ultimate Frisbee
Badminton
Ultimate Frisbee
Intramural
Intramural
Basketball
Soccer
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Basketball
Soccer
Table Tennis
Volleyball
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Caltech will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need through financial aid packages and for admitted students whose family has insufficient financial resources to pay for all or part of the educational expenses, Caltech will provide a financial aid package that will make it possible for attendance.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ depending on your circumstances.
- Tuition - $58,479
- Fees - $2,385
- Housing/Room - $10,815
- Board/Meals - $7,791
- Books and Supplies - $1,428
- Personal Expenses - $2,700
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $83,598
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
The California Institute of Technology, nicknamed Caltech, is located in Pasadena, California. The school was founded in 1891 by local philanthropist Amos G. Throop as “Throop University,” a forerunner to Caltech. While the preparatory and vocational school quietly opened to 31 students, it quickly gained momentum with the arrival of astronomer George Ellery Hale, the founder and first director of the Mount Wilson Observatory, in 1904. Hale soon joined Throop’s board of trustees as the school was reorganized as an independent Polytechnic School in 1907. Under the leadership of Hale, chemist Arthur A. Noyes, and physicist Robert A. Millikan, the school was renamed the California Institute of Technology and quickly established itself as the preeminent institution for science and engineering that Caltech is famous as today.
Initially located in Old Pasadena, the California Institute of Technology moved to its permanent campus in 1910. Former United States President Theodore Roosevelt delivered the keynote speech capturing his hopes for “the one-hundredth man I want to see with the kind of cultural, scientific training that will make him and his fellows the matrix out of which you can occasionally develop a man like your great astronomer, George Ellery Hale.” Thanks to the early leadership of Hale, Noyes, and Millikan, Caltech achieved national fame in the 1920s as it set out to fulfill Roosevelt’s advice. While the school’s core curriculum heavily emphasized engineering and pure science, it broadened its students’ knowledge with “liberal” instruction in English, history, and economics.
Today, the California Institute of Technology is ranked #9 in National Universities. Although its total undergraduate enrollment is 901 and graduate enrollment is 1339, it remains a tiny powerhouse among science and engineering institutions. As an undergraduate at the California Institute of Technology, be prepared to participate in research opportunities while earning your degree. The school produces a significant amount of research, including receiving grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Health and Human Services, and NASA. Additionally, 76 Nobel laureates, 4 Fields Medalists, and 6 Turing Award winners are affiliated with Caltech. While Caltech students study hard, they play hard, too, with a longtime reputation for practical jokes. The Caltech Beavers, its athletic team, competes in 20 NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference sports. Notable alumni include astronaut Frank Borman, Intel founder Gordon E. Moore, and film director Frank Capra.