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California Institute of Technology

Name: Information Session & Campus Tour
Start: 2026-05-08T15:00:00
Location: California Institute of Technology

Caltech

Pasadena, California 91125

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Campus Vibe

STEM-heavyTight-knitUrban

Among the most selective in the Northeast — top graduate earnings

California Institute of Technology is a private institution in Pasadena with particular strength in engineering and computer science.

A small campus of 1K undergraduates with a 3:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

93% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $128,566 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,902.

Established

1891

Motto

"The truth shall make you free"

Mascot

Bernoulli the Beaver

Type

Private research university

Conference

Southern California

Division

Division III

Campus Visits

14 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, Apr 17 · Campus Visit

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3%Acceptance

—SAT Avg

1,023Students

3:1Student:Faculty

93%Grad Rate

$128,566Earnings 10yr

$18,902Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California Institute of Technology Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate3.1%

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

3.1%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$63,255

Room & Board$19,503

Books & Supplies$1,428

Total Cost of Attendance$83,598

Average Net Price$18,902

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$1,667

$30–48K$1,023

$48–75K$7,003

$75–110K$22,073

$110K+$56,275

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$18,902

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

9600.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

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Programs (82)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

1,023

Gender Split

43% / 57%

Women / Men

Pell Grant Recipients

15%

Race & Ethnicity

White 20%

Black 4%

Hispanic 19%

Asian 35%

Two+ 9%

Int'l 12%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate93.2%

Freshman Retention97.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$132,140

8 Years$142,597

10 Years$128,566

Rankings

U.S. News

#11

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Forbes

#22

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Wall Street Journal

#29

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Washington Monthly

#58

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More About This School

Varsity Sports

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Rankings

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History & Fun Facts

•1897–1900s Caltech started as a vocational school founded in present-day Old Pasadena on Fair Oaks Avenue and Chestnut Street on September 23, 1891, by local businessman and politician Amos G.
•The school was known successively as Throop University, Throop Polytechnic Institute (and Manual Training School) and Throop College of Technology before acquiring its current name in 1920.
•The vocational school was disbanded and the preparatory program was split off to form the independent Polytechnic School in 1907.
•At a time when scientific research in the United States was still in its infancy, George Ellery Hale, a solar astronomer from the University of Chicago, founded the Mount Wilson Observatory in 1904.
•He joined Throop's board of trustees in 1907, and soon began developing the university, and the whole of Pasadena, into a major scientific and cultural destination.

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

153Very High

Estimated from CA state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

Los Angelespop. 3.9M

9 mi(16 min)

San Diegopop. 1.4M

113 mi(196 min)

San Franciscopop. 870K

348 mi(603 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

LAX Los Angeles21 mi

SAN San Diego111 mi

LAS Las Vegas215 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2582 mi · ~74h 35m drive

New York, NY2437 mi · ~70h 24m drive

Hartford, CT2502 mi · ~72h 17m drive

Providence, RI2566 mi · ~74h 8m drive

Albany, NY2444 mi · ~70h 36m drive

Syracuse, NY2323 mi · ~67h 7m drive

Rochester, NY2250 mi · ~65h drive

Buffalo, NY2185 mi · ~63h 7m drive

Philadelphia, PA2380 mi · ~68h 45m drive

Pittsburgh, PA2124 mi · ~61h 22m drive

Harrisburg, PA2288 mi · ~66h 6m drive

Newark, NJ2428 mi · ~70h 9m drive

Washington, DC2286 mi · ~66h 2m drive

Baltimore, MD2306 mi · ~66h 37m drive

Atlanta, GA1925 mi · ~55h 37m drive

Charlotte, NC2107 mi · ~60h 52m drive

Raleigh, NC2224 mi · ~64h 15m drive

Miami, FL2329 mi · ~67h 17m drive

Orlando, FL2191 mi · ~63h 18m drive

Tampa, FL2143 mi · ~61h 55m drive

Nashville, TN1769 mi · ~51h 6m drive

New Orleans, LA1663 mi · ~48h 3m drive

Richmond, VA2274 mi · ~65h 42m drive

Chicago, IL1734 mi · ~50h 6m drive

Detroit, MI1971 mi · ~56h 56m drive

Minneapolis, MN1513 mi · ~43h 43m drive

St. Louis, MO1578 mi · ~45h 35m drive

Kansas City, MO1346 mi · ~38h 53m drive

Indianapolis, IN1797 mi · ~51h 55m drive

Columbus, OH1965 mi · ~56h 46m drive

Cleveland, OH2036 mi · ~58h 49m drive

Milwaukee, WI1733 mi · ~50h 4m drive

Dallas, TX1231 mi · ~35h 34m drive

Houston, TX1365 mi · ~39h 26m drive

Austin, TX1219 mi · ~35h 13m drive

San Antonio, TX1196 mi · ~34h 33m drive

Los Angeles, CA9 mi · ~16 min drive

San Francisco, CA348 mi · ~10h 3m drive

San Diego, CA113 mi · ~3h 16m drive

Seattle, WA956 mi · ~27h 37m drive

Portland, OR822 mi · ~23h 45m drive

Denver, CO821 mi · ~23h 43m drive

Phoenix, AZ351 mi · ~10h 8m drive

Salt Lake City, UT571 mi · ~16h 30m drive

Honolulu, HI2568 mi · ~74h 11m drive

Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Mid-Range

Budget

Airport Transit

Los Angeles (LAX)21 miles

Rental car

32 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

42 min$25-42

San Diego (SAN)111 miles

Rental car

167 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

222 min$133-222

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Schools Like This

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Deadline Calendar

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California Institute of Technology Application Checklist

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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California Institute of Technology Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award