California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Founded 1891
President Thomas Rosenbaum (President)
Fees USD 60,864
Acceptance Rate Very Selective (<20%)
Campus Setting Suburban
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private research university founded in 1891 in Pasadena, California. Caltech is one of the most selective and prestigious STEM universities in the world, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 3:1, 79 Nobel Prize laureates among its faculty and alumni, and an acceptance rate of approximately 3%. Caltech manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and is a world leader in physics, engineering, chemistry, astronomy, and the life sciences. The campus enrolls approximately 2,300 students.
Divisions
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science — Aerospace, electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering
- Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy — World-ranked physics and LIGO research
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering — Ranked #1 globally in chemistry
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering — Neuroscience and bioengineering
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences — Earth science and planetary exploration
How to Apply
- Application: Common App or QuestBridge
- Application Fee: $75
- Test Scores: Test-optional; middle 50% SAT 1530–1580, ACT 35–36
- Acceptance Rate: ~3%
Key Deadlines
- Early Action: November 1
- Regular Decision: January 3