Table of Contents
California Institute of Technology, or Caltech, is a private research institute in Pasadena, California. This leading technological institute has constantly ranked among the top universities for its academic courses, trained faculty, research training, and campus lifestyle. Caltech has contributed in some of the major scientific advancements and is devoted to instruction of pure and applied sciences. Keep reading to learn everything about the California Institute of Technology, its rankings, acceptance rate, courses & fees, and admission process.
Highlights Table
| University | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
| Location | Pasadena, Ca |
| QS Ranking 2025 | #10 |
| Acceptance Rate | 2.7% |
| Campus Size | 124 acres |
| Intakes | Fall (September) |
| Notable Alumni | Kip Thorne, Linus Pauling, William Shockley, Gordon Moore, Donald Knuth |
| Official Website | https://www.caltech.edu/ |
About California Institute Of Technology
Caltech was founded as a preparatory and vocational school in 1891 known as Throop University. It was only in 1920 when its name was changed to California Institute of Technology. In 1986, the Einstein Paper Project was launched to collect, preserve, translate, and publish papers chosen from the literary estate of Albert Einstein and from other collections. Today, the Caltech campus is spread in 124 acres and is organized into six primary academic divisions:
- Biology and Biological Engineering
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Engineering and Applied Sciences
- Geological and Planetary Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy.
California Institute of Technology Rankings
Caltech is one of the few technical institutions to make it to the Top 10 QS Ranked Universities in 2025. Caltech’s cutting-edge research in physics, engineering, and space exploration has paved its way among the top-ranked universities by several domestic and international organizations. Caltech is ranked #10 in the QS World Universities Ranking List 2024. Here are all the updated rankings Caltech has received this year.
| Organization | Ranking |
| QS Ranking | #10 |
| Times Higher Education (THE) | #7 |
| US News Education | #7 |
| Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) | #8 |
| Forbes | #22 |
California Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate
California Insititute of Technology has an acceptance rate of 2.7% only. This is one of the lowest acceptance rates in the entire world and makes the admission process very selective. The admission process is highly competitive and applicants who excel in both academics and co-curriculars are considered for admission. Here’s a division of Caltech’s acceptance rate.
| Categories | Acceptance Rate |
| Domestic Students | 2.7% |
| International Students | 3.1% |
California Institute of Technology Admission Process
Caltech annually admits only selective applicants who excel in academic and non-academic activities. Caltech only admits 235 new students, a handful of transfers, and 3/2nd students. Here are all the stages involved in the Caltech admission process.
Online Application
- Start your application process by using the First-Year Application on Common App or the QuestBridge portal.
- International students must fulfill all the requirements listed on Caltech at https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/international-applicants.
- Only applicants with incredible potential in STEM are accepted by the university.
Application Deadline
Caltech’s restrictive early action deadline is November 1. Students mostly apply during the final year of their high school. Students must start their application in the fall term, as the application deadline is in the US fall and winter. Students not possessing their final grades by this time need not worry as their most recent grades on transcripts will be reviewed. Here are all the Caltech application deadlines.
| Action | Deadline |
| Restrictive Early Action deadline | November 1, 2024 |
| Restrictive Early Action Decision Notifications | Mid-December, 2024 |
| Regular Decision Deadline | January 3rd, 2025 |
| Regular Decision notifications | Mid-March. 2025 |
| Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision admit Reply Deadline | May 1, 2025 |
California Institute of Technology Courses & Fees
California Institute of Technology has six primary divisions and offers a wide range of technical and non-technical courses in Astrophysics, Engineering, Humanities, and Physics. Students at Caltech usually take 45-51 credits per 10-week term. Regular students must enroll for four years (12 terms). Transfer and 3/2nd students must enroll for at least 6 terms.
The major courses offered by Caltech
| Aerospace | Anthropology | Applied & Computational Math |
| Applied Physics | Astrophysics | Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics |
| Bioengineering | Business Economics & Management | Chemical Engineering |
| Civil Engineering | Computer Science | Control & Dynamical Systems |
| Economics | Electrical Engineering | Energy Science and Technology |
| English | Environmental Science & Engineering | Geology |
| History and Philosophy | Humanities | Information and Data Sciences |
| Law | Mathematics | Mechanical Engineering |
| Medical Engineering | Music | Neurobiology |
| Philosophy | Physical Education | Physics |
| Political Sciences | Psychology | Scientific and Engineering Communication |
| Social Science | Visual Culture | Writing |
California Institute Of Technology Fee
The 9-month estimated cost of attendance at the California Institute of Technology is $90,822 to $94,380. This variation is mainly due to the student’s lifestyle and student accommodation. Here’s a detailed division of the entire fee at Caltech.
| Category | On-campus | Off-campus |
| Tuition fee | $63,402 | $63,402 |
| Campus fee | $2,496 | $2,496 |
| Accommodation | $11,697 | $14,733 |
| Food/ Meals | $8,586 | $7,353 |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment | $1,428 | $1,428 |
| Living Expenses | N/A | N/A |
| Personal Expenses (est.) | $3,213 | $4,968 |
| Total Estimated Cost of Attendance | $90,822 | $94,380 |
*Note – The above-listed fee division does not include the Caltech Student Health Insurance Plan. The Student Insurance will cost $4,998 for the 2024-25 school year—$1,666 per Insurance Term.
Conclusion
California Insitute of Technology is one of the finest engineering and technology institutes in the world. This top university has earned a name in Astrophysics, Mathematics, Physics, and Humanities, and other subjects as well. Its researchers founded NASA’s Jep Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is the leading center for exploring the solar system and distant stars and other heavenly bodies. Campus life at Caltech is a perfect blend of academic and career growth.
