Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, California, approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Social and academic life at Caltech centers on the eight student houses, which the school describes as "self-governing living groups." Student houses incorporate an admired Caltech tradition: dinners served by student waiters. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but around 80 percent of students remain in their house for all four years. The Caltech Beavers have a number of NCAA Division III teams that compete in the Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Integral to student life is the Honor Code, which dictates that "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."
In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics and physics. Caltech participates in a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Caltech maintains a strong tradition of pranking with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another top-ranked science and technology university. Companies such as Intel, Compaq and Hotmail were founded by Caltech alumni. Famous film director Frank Capra also graduated from Caltech.Caltech is a world-renowned research and education institution focused on science and engineering, where faculty and students pursue new knowledge about our world and search for the kinds of bold and innovative advances that will transform our future. The scientific, engineering, and technological contributions of Caltech's faculty and alumni have earned national and international recognition, including Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Technology and Innovation, and National Medals of Science. Each year, Caltech faculty are granted nearly 140 patents; its faculty and alumni have started more than 130 companies since 1995. Caltech's 300 professorial faculty members offer a rigorous science and engineering curriculum to approximately 1,000 undergraduates and 1,300 graduate students, providing one of the nation's lowest student-to-faculty ratios. Caltech undergraduate students hail from across the globe and represent the top tier of high school graduates - 98 percent placed in the top tenth of their senior class. Caltech offers generous financial-aid packages to ensure that a Caltech education is accessible to all students; more than half of Caltech students receive need-based assistance. Student life at Caltech revolves around the eight campus Houses, each of which embodies a distinct personality and has unique traditions; the Caltech student body as a whole has a long history of planning and carrying out elaborate pranks both on campus and across the country. Caltech students can choose to participate in any of more than 100 clubs that represent a wide range of interests, or compete in 17 NCAA Division III varsity sports. The Honor Code governs life at Caltech, affording students such privileges as take-home tests, permission to collaborate on assignments, and the keys to campus buildings. Caltech's 124-acre campus is located in the city of Pasadena, 10 miles from Los Angeles. The Institute manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA, and owns and operates large-scale research facilities such the Seismological Laboratory - one of the world's foremost centers for geophysical research - and a global network of astronomical observatories that includes the Palomar Observatory and the W. M. Keck Observatory.
Applying
When applying to California Institute of Technology, it's important to note the application deadline is January 3, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due December 31. The application fee at California Institute of Technology is $75. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.8 percent and an early acceptance rate of 13.5 percent.For more information about the tests, essays, interviews and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at California Institute of Technology is 3:1, and the school has 64.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at California Institute of Technology include: Engineering; Physical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Mathematics and Statistics. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97 percent.Student Life
California Institute of Technology has a total undergraduate enrollment of 983, with a gender distribution of 63.6 percent male students and 36.4 percent female students. At this school, 85 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 15 percent of students live off campus. California Institute of Technology is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.Campus Services
California Institute of Technology offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, health service, and health insurance. California Institute of Technology also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at California Institute of Technology, 35 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at California Institute of Technology.Cost and Financial Aid
At California Institute of Technology, 50.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $37,557.Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs, or use the U.S. News 529 Finder to choose the best tax-advantaged college investment account for you.
