California Institute of Technology popularly known as CalTech is a well-renowned research institute for Science and Engineering. Caltech campus is home to 982 undergraduate students and 1,410 graduate students. The university houses 18% international students. It is one of the hardest universities in USA to gain admission, with an acceptance rate of only 3%.
For admission to Caltech, applicants do not need require any minimum GPA. The majority of accepted applicants displayed a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (90%) and are among the top 10% of their class. The estimated tuition in California Institute of Technology for an international student is 60,816 USD (50.64 lakhs INR). According to the university, 46% graduates went to attend graduate or professional schools, and 43% students secured full-time employment.
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Caltech Acceptance Rate
California Institute of Technology is one of the hardest universities in the world to get into. The university has an overall acceptance rate of only 3%. Caltech has observed an enrollment of 1023 undergraduate students, and, 1440 graduate students in Fall 2023-24. Around 126 international students constitute 12% of the undergraduate student body of the university. The university encourages students to have confidence in themselves to cope up in a university with an undergraduate population of less than 1000.
Recent News:
US could hit the edge of the enrolment cliff as early as 2025, which could result in a 15-20% increase in the number of Indian students enrolling in American universities by 2026, according to study abroad experts.
Caltech Rankings
California Institute of Technology is ranked at #15 in QS World University rankings 2024. It is not an Ivy League school, but enjoys a similar status due to its high research reputation. Some trends of California Institute of Technology rankings by reputed agencies are as follows:
| Ranking Type | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank | 2022 Rank | 2021 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #15 | #=6 | #6 | #4 |
| THE World University Rankings | #7 | #6 | #2 | #4 |
| U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities | - | #9 | #9 | #7 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) | - | - | #9 | #9 |
Check the comparisons between California Institute of Technology and some top ranked universities in the world:
California Institute of Technology Campus
The California Institute of Technology campus is situated in the heart of Pasadena at the foot of the prestigious San Gabriel Mountains. The university owns the Kavli Nanoscience Institute for research purpose. Its Seismological Laboratory located on the school campus is the global preeminent source for earthquake information.
The university has its own Center for Autonomous Systems and Technology, Bioengineering center, Observatory and many other on-campus research facilities. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is the leading research center for robotic exploration of the solar system in the United States.
California Institute of Technology Student Life
- There are more than 50 student clubs and sports organizations and 16 Division III varsity teams.
- The university guarantees housing for all first-year graduate students looking to study in USA. All freshmen and second-year undergraduate students are also offered with campus residence.
Caltech Courses
California Institute of Technology offers 28 undergraduate majors to its students across 6 academic divisions. International students can select from 30 graduate programs in California Institute of Technology.
Research is an integral part of Caltech, with over 50 research centres and institutes. This includes 5 NASA facilities on campus. Caltech students conduct research along with Nobel laureates.
Some top Caltech courses and their respective tuition fees are as follows:
California Institute of Technology Admissions
In an academic year, the university admits international applicants in three 10-week terms, plus an optional summer research term. The step-by-step application process is provided below:
Caltech Admissions: PG
| Category | PG Admission Requirements |
|---|---|
| Application Portal | Graduate Portal |
| Application Fee | 100 USD (8,320 INR) |
| Academic Requirements | Undergraduate degree from a registered institute | Top 5 to 10% students of their class |
| GPA | No bar | Minimum scores of accepted candiates: 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (90%) |
| English Proficiency Requirements | IELTS: 7 | TOEFL iBT: 100 | Duolingo: 130 |
| Standardized Test Scores | GRE/GMAT score (Avg. GRE: 330 | GMAT: 500) |
| SOP/LOR | 3 Letters of recommendation | Statement of purpose |
| Additional Requirements | CV | Work experience |
Caltech Admissions: UG
| Category | UG Admission Requirements |
|---|---|
| Application Portal | Common App | QuestBridge |
| Application Fee | 75 USD (6,245 INR) |
| Academic Requirements | Higher secondary certificate |
| GPA | No minimum GPA (Minimum scores of accepted candiates: 3.5 out of 4.0 or 90%) |
| English Proficiency Requirements | IELTS: 7 | TOEFL iBT: 100 | Duolingo: 130 |
| Additional Requirements | CV | Personal statement |
California Institute of Technology Cost of Attendance
The annual tuition for both the undergraduate and graduate programs in Caltech is 60,816 USD (50.65 lakhs INR). The fees and other expenses vary across different academic levels. The following table provides the approximate costs of studying in Caltech:
| Type of Expense | Annual Cost for Undergraduate (USD) | Annual Cost for Graduate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | 60,816 | 60,816 |
| Fees | 2,439 | 2,247 |
| Accommodation | 11,247-12,960 | 9,180-20,268 |
| Meal | 6,471-8,256 | 8,395 |
| Books and Supplies | 1,428 | 1,400 |
| Personal Expenses | 2,700-4,428 | 9,000 |
| Transportation | 0-1,764 | - |
| Health, Dental, & Vision | - | 880 |
| Total | 86,886-90,306 | 91,918-103,006 |
California Institute of Technology Cost Comparison
| University | Tuition Fee (USD) | Equivalent Tuition Fee for Indians (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | 60,816 | 50.64 lakhs |
| New York University | 16,148 to 109,050 | 13.44 to 90.82 lakhs |
| Stanford University | 36,000 to 82,000 | 29.98 to 68.29 lakhs |
Caltech Scholarships
Caltech does not offer any merit-based scholarships. The university meets 100% requirement of students with a demonstrated financial need. The institute provides scholarships, loans, awards, grants only on the basis of the needs of the students and even helps them to locate work while studying to support their finances. International applicants can apply to various external scholarships for international students in USA. Some popular scholarships for studying in USA are as follows:
Caltech Placements
The Career Development Center of California Institute of Technology provides dedicated career services to its graduates and alumni. The center provides counseling, resume writing workshops and tips, pre-health and pre-professional advising, Networking strategies, and higher study options to the students. Students even learn to compose interview thank you letters through the career centrer. Students are provided with LinkedIn labs to connect with employers.
The average starting salary of California Institute of Technology graduates is 116,000 USD (96 lakhs INR). Career fairs arranged twice a year by the university brings over 150 recruiters to employ Caltech graduates. The average salary for various jobs in USA after studying in Caltech is given below:
Caltech Alumni
California Institute of Technology alumni network has over 25,500 active living members. Caltech alumni include Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs, academic leaders, technological innovators, medical pioneers, etc. The alumni benefits include career assistance through Caltech Alumni Advisors Network and can seek or offer a job on Handshake.
California Institute of Technology Notable Alumni
| Alumni | Designation | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Kip Thorne | American theoretical physicist | Known for his contributions in gravitational physics and astrophysics |
| Linus Pauling | American chemist and biochemist | Published more than 1,200 papers and books |
| Gordon Moore | American businessman and engineer | Proposed Moore's law |
| Benoit Mandelbrot | American-French-Polish mathematician and polymath | Wolf Prize for Physics in 1993, the Japan Prize in 2003, the Einstein Lectureship of the American Mathematical Society in 2006 among others. |
| Donald Knuth | American computer scientist and mathematician | 1974 recipient of the ACM Turing Award, informally considered the Nobel Prize of computer science |
A world-renowned institute, Caltech addresses some fundamental scientific questions and presses for societal challenges through the brightest and most innovative minds in the world. Ranked among the best universities in USA, the institute ensures equal learning opportunities for all the students with on-campus housing for all candidates. Furthermore, Caltech fulfills entire costs and needs of the students through its need-based scholarship programs. The university brings international students to professional exposure through its career oriented programs and hence is a desired place for international students willing to study in the USA.
FAQs
Ques. Is Caltech an Ivy Leage institute?
Ans. No, the California Institute of Technology is not a Ivy League institute. However, the institute is one of the top universities in the USA and has an equivalent reputation like a Ivy League member.
Ques. What is the application fee of California Institute of Technology?
Ans. Caltech accepts an application fee of 70 USD (5,800 INR) from the international undergraduate students and 100 USD (8,300 INR) from the graduate applicants.
Ques. What is the average cost of studying in the California Institute of Technology?
Ans.International students can anticipate a tuition cost of 60,816 USD (50.64 lakhs INR) across both undergraduate and graduate levels in California Institute of Technology.
Ques. What is the minimum GPA required for Caltech admission?
Ans. The university has no bar on the minimum GPA requirement, however, as an applicant you should get a GPA of 3.5 on 4.0 (~89-90%) or above for Caltech admission.
Ques. Is admission to Caltech tough?
Ans. Yes, California Institute of Technology is one of the highly selective universities in USA with an acceptance rate of only 3%. As a prospective student, you need excellent academic results, standardized test scores and multiple recommendations as the basic prerequisites for Caltech admission.
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California Institute of Technology comparison
| University Name | California Institute of Technology | University of California | Stanford University | Princeton University | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of California | Georgia Institute of Technology |
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| Collegedunia Score | 8.3 Out of 10 | 7.8 Out of 10 | 9.3 Out of 10 | 8.3 Out of 10 | 10 Out of 10 | 9 Out of 10 | 8.4 Out of 10 | 6.1 Out of 10 |
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| Acceptance Rate | 3.0 % | 11.0 % | 3.9 % | 4.5 % | 7.0 % | 4.0 % | 16.4 % | 23.0 % |
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Overall 10 out of 1503 in Global Ranking
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California Institute of Technology Student Profiles
California Institute of Technology Reviews
3 Reviews Found
- Likes:
- I chose Caltech because a faculty was present there which had similar interests to my field of research.
Overview:
Research focused, very well connected and nice weather throughout the year.
Fees:
PhD programs have no tuition fees, they are waived off.
Overview:
Caltech is very strong in what I do (electrical engineering) and other domains of science. It is a highly reputed institution and very selective.
Fees:
Around $50k
Overview:
My sister who lived in the USA had suggested me to take admission in this college. An online application form was submitted by me with an application fee $75 to get admission. They even asked me to show my undergraduate mark-sheet where I got 9.5 GPA.
Fees:
The tuition cost I paid was $52,000 plus a fee of $2000 was also charged form me. Other than this my books supplied and miscellaneous expenses got close to $1200 and $1800. Thankfully I received the financial aid of $10,000 which I had applied during the process of admission.
California Institute of Technology Scholarships
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caltech Scholarships | Scholarship per student$86,891 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| QS Connect Master’s Scholarship | Scholarship per student$2,000 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Collegedunia $150 Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$150 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Bhajan Lal Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Generation Google Scholarship Canada & USA | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Washington DC Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
California Institute of Technology Admissions
Application Portal: https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/apply
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)
California Institute of Technology Exam Scores
| Exams | Avg. Score | Min Score | Max. Score | %Submitted' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||||
| SAT | 1560 | 1530 | 1590 | 65 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 770 | 750 | 790 | - |
| Mathematics | 790 | 780 | 800 | - |
| ACT | 35 | 34 | 35 | 56 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| English | 35 | 34 | 36 | - |
| Mathematics | 36 | 35 | 36 | - |
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
California Institute of Technology Accreditations
Faculty
| Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6106 | 5428 | 678 | 980 |
California Institute of Technology Campus Location
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Comments
10 Comments
Can I be eligible for MS with 6 bands?
Caltech has a minimum IELTS Academic test score requirement of 7.0 overall for admission to most graduate programs. However, you can explore the Caltech courses to learn more about the curriculum, fees, and other details.
I want to apply to MIT and California Institute of Technology but fear my IELTS score.
Caltech requires a minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS Academic test. However, you can explore the Caltech courses to learn more about the curriculum, fees, and other details.
You need to submit your admission application through their online application portal along with all the requirements for admission stated by the university. You can check Caltech admissions for more information.