California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech is one of the world's leading institute for engineering and science. The university was initially established as Throop University in 1891 and was later renamed to California Institute of Technology in 1920. Caltech is one of the top 10 universities in USA and among the top 30 universities globally by U.S. News.
Caltech offers more than 60 degrees across various engineering and science disciplines. Currently, more than 1,000 students are pursuing undergraduate degrees while over 1,400 students enrolled in graduate studies.
Caltech begins its admissions process for international students in August every year for fall intake only. Applications are typically accepted till 1st week of January for undergraduate admissions and till mid December for graduate admissions. To get through Caltech admissions, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent with 3.5 (90%) for undergraduate admissions.
- 3.5 (90%) in a 4 year bachelor's degree for graduate admissions.
- TOEFL IBT score of 100 or IELTS score of 7.0.
- Submit letters of recommendation, SOP, essays and other course specific documents.
International students are required to pay an annual tuition fee of $65,622 (₹57.34 lakhs) for undergraduate study and $63,402 (₹55.40 lakhs) for graduate study. As an international student, you can be eligible for a 100% tuition waiver based on demonstrated financial need. Nearly 51% of students receive need based financial aid at Caltech University. The average need based package awarded to eligible students is $59,980 (₹52.41 lakhs).
- California Institute of Technology Rankings
- California Institute of Technology Degrees and Courses
2.1 Caltech Top Graduate Degrees
2.2 Caltech Top Undergraduate Degrees
- California Institute of Technology Admissions
- California Institute of Technology Cost of Living
- California Institute of Technology Scholarships
- California Institute of Technology vs Other Universities in California
- FAQs
California Institute of Technology Rankings
Caltech Rankings have always been among the top 30 universities as per esteemed ranking agencies. It ranks #23 in the U.S. News Best Global Universities Ranking for 2024-25 and #10 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Check out other notable rankings earned by Caltech University:
- #6 among National Universities by U.S. News.
- #7 among Best Value Schools by U.S. News.
- #7 among Most Innovative Schools by U.S. News
Check out Caltech University Rankings for Graduate School by U.S. News and World Report:
- #1 for Chemistry
- #2 for Aeronautical Engineering
- #3 for Biochemistry
- #3 or Mechanical Engineering
- #13 for Computer Science
- #14 for Economics
California Institute of Technology Degrees and Courses
Caltech University offers 28 undergraduate majors and 31 graduate programs through 6 academic divisions. The academic divisions at Caltech provide courses in biology, chemistry, engineering, humanities, physics, geological and others. The courses can be pursued in full-time and part-time mode as per recommendation of academic option. Check out the details of top graduate and undergraduate courses at Caltech with annual fees and deadlines:
Caltech Top Graduate Degrees
Check out the upcoming application deadlines and fees for top graduate degrees at Caltech University:
Top Programs | Application Deadlines | Annual Fees |
---|---|---|
M.S Aeronautics | December 15, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
M.S Astrophysics | December 15, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
M.S Bioengineering | December 1, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
M.S Computer Science | December 15, 2025 | $65,706 /Yr | ₹57.3 L/Yr |
M.S Electrical Engineering | December 15, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
M.S Mathematics | December 10, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
M.S Mechanical Engineering | December 15, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
M.S Medical Engineering | December 15, 2025 | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
Caltech Top Undergraduate Degrees
Tabulated are the top undergraduate courses at Caltech, with annual fees for international students:
Programs | Annual Fees |
---|---|
Bachelor of Applied and Computational Mathematics | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
Bachelor Economics | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
Bachelor Information and Data Sciences | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
B.S Computer Science | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
B.S Electrical Engineering | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
B.S Mechanical Engineering | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
B.S Chemical Engineering | $63,402 /Yr | ₹55.2 L/Yr |
California Institute of Technology Admissions
International students can apply for California Institute of Technology admissions for fall term. The applications for the 2025 academic year are now closed. All international students may wait until October to apply for the next intake. The below contains details of Caltech admissions including requirements, documents checklist and deadlines for international students:
Category | Undergraduate Admissions | Graduate Admissions |
---|---|---|
Application Portal | Common App or Questbridge | ApplyWeb |
Application Fee | $75 (₹6,551) | $100 (₹8,735) |
Academic Requirements | 3.5 (90%) or above GPA | 3.5 GPA (90%) in bachelor's degree |
English Test Scores | TOEFL IBT: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 | |
Admission Documents | Official transcripts | LORs | Supplemental Application Essays | Statement of Intent | Translation of Documents into English (if applicable) | Research Papers or Publications | STEM or non-STEM portfolio | Transcripts | SOP | 3 LORs | Essays | CV or resume |
Application Deadline | Restrictive Early Action [Nov 1, 2025] | Regular Decision [Jan 3, 2025] | December 1 - December 15 for most programs |
California Institute of Technology Cost of Living
The estimated cost of living while studying at Caltech University may range between $28,290 - $30,567 (₹24.67 lakhs - ₹26.65 lakhs) per annum depending on study level, lifestyle, and other expenses. The breakdown of total living expenses for international students in California Institute of Technology is as follows:
Expenses | Undergraduate Cost Per Annum | Graduate Cost Cost Per Annum |
---|---|---|
Housing | $12,105 (₹10.55 lakhs) | $10,200 (₹8.89 lakhs) |
Food | $8,886 (₹7.75 lakhs) | $8,687 (₹7.57 lakhs) |
Books and Supplies | $1,428 (₹1.24 lakhs) | $1,400 (₹1.22 lakhs) |
Healthcare | - | $965 (₹84,178 lakhs) |
Personal Expenses | $3,285 (₹2.86 lakhs) | $9,315 (₹8.12 lakhs) |
Total Living Expenses | $28,290 (₹24.67 lakhs) | $30,567 (₹26.65 lakhs) |
Also Check: Cost of Living in USA for International Students
California Institute of Technology Scholarships
Caltech offers need based scholarships which meets up to 100% financial of eligible international and domestic students. Only applicants demonstrating extreme financial requirements will be considered for such scholarships. Students not applying for financial aid in the first year won't be able to apply for the next academic.year. Graduate applicants may receive funding in the form of assistantship, fellowships, or work study opportunities on campus or off-campus.
Explore: Popular Scholarships to Study in USA
California Institute of Technology vs Other Universities in California
Check out the comparison of Caltech University with other closely ranked universities in California by U.S. News and World Report on the basis of multiple factors:
Category | Caltech | Stanford University | University of California Los Angeles | University of California Berkeley | University of Southern California |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. News National Rankings 2024-25 | #6 | #4 | #15 | #17 | #27 |
U.S. News Global Universities Rankings 2024-25 | #23 | #3 | #11 | #5 | #79 |
Acceptance Rate | 3% | 4% | 8.96% | 11% | 9.8% |
Average Tuition Fee (USD) | $65,898 | $65,910 | $46,503 | $51,032 | $71,647 |
Average Graduate Salary (USD) | $116,000 | $119,000 | $91,000 | $98,000 | $94,000 |
Caltech University is one of the top choices among international students in USA with a strong background in engineering or science stream. The university admits only highly achieving applicants with good academic GPAs, test scores, extracurricular or professional background. It is one of the highly competitive universities in USA with the lowest acceptance rate.
FAQs
Ques. What are the Pros and cons of attending Caltech?
Ans. The pros and cons of attending Caltech as per alumni review are as follows:
Pros:
- Get along with brilliant minds from all over the world with exceptional academic and non achievements
- Small class size with 3:1 students to faculty ration, meaning each student gets personalized attention.
- Well rounded STEM education with research opportunities.
- Campus nearby industrial center which opens doors to lots of job opportunities.
- On campus housing for all students.
- Beautiful campus
- 100% scholarship opportunity for both domestic and international students.
Cons:
- Isolated campus from the surrounding world, you will spend the majority of your time on the university campus,as there is nothing much to do outside the campus.
- Tense and busy undergraduate coursework.
- Hard to get into due to low acceptance.
- Focused more on science and engineering.
Ques. Is Caltech a Tier 1 school?
Ans. Known for its research opportunities, Caltech is one of top tier 1 universities in USA alongside MIT, Stanford, Duke, John Hopkins. Rice, Vanderbilt, and others.
Ques. Is Caltech an Ivy League?
Ans. Caltech is not a member of IIvy League but it does offer the similar curriculum along with its excellence in academics and research.
California Institute of Technology Program Fees & Deadlines
Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility | Financial Aid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M.S Computer Science 1 year | Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (15th Dec 2025) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 100 | GPA: 3.5, TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7.5, Duolingo : 120 | - |
Restrictive Early Action Deadline For 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025) Regular Decision Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (3rd Jan 2026) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 75 | IELTS:- 7, Duolingo:- 130, TOEFL:- 100 | - | |
Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (15th Dec 2025) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 100 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | - | |
M.S Mathematics 2 years | Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (15th Dec 2025) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 100 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | - |
M.S Astrophysics 1 year | Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (15th Dec 2025) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 100 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | - |
B.S Mechanical Engineering 4 years | Restrictive Early Action Deadline For 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025) Regular Decision Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (3rd Jan 2026) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 75 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | - |
Ph.D Biology 4 years | Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (1st Dec 2025) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 100 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | |
B.S Chemical Engineering 4 years | Restrictive Early Action Deadline For 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025) Regular Decision Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (3rd Jan 2026) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 75 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | - |
B.S Computer Science 4 years | Restrictive Early Action Deadline For 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025) Regular Decision Application Deadline For 2026 Intake (3rd Jan 2026) | USD 65,622 /Yr | 75 | TOEFL : 100, IELTS : 7, Duolingo : 130 | - |
B.S Planetary Science 4 years | USD 63,402 /Yr | - | - | - |
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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 % | 10.0 % |
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Overall 10 out of 1401 in Global Ranking
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California Institute of Technology Student Profiles
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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.
Campus Life
Almost all the facilities, including WiFi, libraries and sports are top-notch.
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$120,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
QS scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
Richard A. Freund International Scholarship | Scholarship per student$5,000 | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeMerit-Based | |
SWE Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship | Scholarship per student$5,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
NSHSS Scholarships | Scholarship per student$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
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California Institute of Technology Admissions
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)
California Institute of Technology Exam Scores
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 |
---|---|---|---|
323 | 150 | - | - |
California Institute of Technology Campus Location
Nearby This Campus
- Bus Station
- Book Store
- Shopping Mall
- Super Market
- Airport
Bus Station
Shopping Mall
Airport
Book Store
Super Market
● All distance are measured radially. Actual distance may vary
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Comments
Found 11 Comments
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will definitely work on it.
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.