Published in: Career Opportunities

Can Caltech University Help You Build a STEM Career?

Author Proresumes Team

Published on: September 9, 2026

Caltech University, also known as the California Institute of Technology, is an elite research university. It was established in 1891 and helped the US during the Second World War. California Institute of Technology’s location is in Pasadena, California.

It provides science, engineering, and technology education to develop researchers, scientists, and engineers. The cost to study for an academic year at the California Institute of Technology at the undergraduate level is $98,622.

The university offers various funding opportunities for need-based domestic and international students through grants and work-study.

Are you interested in building a career in any STEM field? Explore Caltech.

What are the benefits of studying at the California Institute of Technology in the USA?

The California Institute of Technology Ranking includes the 10th spot in the QS World University Rankings.  It is a research-focused university that is famous for its science and engineering degree programs. The institute has produced great researchers, scientists, and engineers.

Here is a list of benefits to study at California Institute of Technology:

1. Academic rigor: Even when Caltech’s academic programs are hard, they challenge students to learn and perform better. The enrolled students at the university score a 4.2 or higher GPA. Moreover, the California Institute of Technology’s academics push students to solve complex issues with critical thinking.
2. Research opportunities: Research is among the top priorities of students studying at Caltech. There’s a one-to-one ratio of Ph.D. researchers and students on the Pasadena campus. Moreover, the institute also established and runs JPL, which is known as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is owned by NASA.
3. Small-size classes: The limited class sizes allow the students at California Institute of Technology to enjoy being a part of a community. The average size of the class includes 20 students, that allow everyone to participate in activities and be visible.
4. Campus life and culture: Besides a strong community, the university offers a vibrant culture and on-campus activities for students. The California Institute of Technology is home to around 9 residential communities along with 100 social clubs. It offers diversity and welcomes students from different countries, areas, or cultures.
5. Strong Alumni Network: The university offers rich career opportunities for students in research, science, and technology fields. Moreover, it allows students to get hired by companies like NASA, Google, SpaceX, and more. Apart from this, the alumni network includes names like Frank Capra, Gordon Moore, and more.

What are the majors and minors included in the Caltech University undergraduate programs?

The California Institute of Technology programs allow students to get research opportunities, competitive jobs, and build unique visions. The university is divided into six main divisions, and the students are expected to take classes from each division.

According to the core curriculum, all students have to take classes from every discipline regardless of their majors. Interestingly, majors are known as “options” at the California Institute of Technology because they can choose double majors as well.

Here’s a list of the major and minor courses that are offered within the undergraduate degree programs:

• Aerospace (Minor only)
• Applied and Computational Mathematics
• Applied Physics
• Astrophysics
• Bioengineering
• Biology
• Business, Economics, and Management
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Computation and Neural Systems
• Computer Science
• Control and Dynamical Systems (Minor only)
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering and Applied Science
• Environmental Science and Engineering
• English
• Geological and Planetary Sciences
• History
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Information and Data Sciences
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Neurobiology (Minor only)
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Robotics
• Structural Mechanics (Minor only)
• Visual Culture (Minor only)
• Cross Registration
• Academic Advising

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What are the Caltech graduate programs?

California Institute of Technology offers 31 graduate degree programs for students in the following majors:

Biology and Biological Engineering

• Bioengineering
• Biology
• Computation and Neural Systems
• Neurobiology

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry

Engineering and Applied Science

• Aeronautics
• Applied and Computational Mathematics
• Applied Mechanics
• Applied Physics
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science
• Computing and Mathematical Sciences
• Control and Dynamical Systems
• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Engineering
• Space Engineering

Geological and Planetary Sciences

• Environmental Science and Engineering
• Geobiology
• Geochemistry
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Planetary Science

Humanities and Social Sciences

• Social and Decision Neuroscience
• Social Science

Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

• Astrophysics
• Mathematics
• Physics

What are the top majors at Caltech University?

Here’s a list of the top majors that are selected by students at the California Institute of Technology:

Physics

Caltech’s physics programs have gained worldwide popularity and are among the best degree programs. It helps students build a strong foundation in physics and explore different physical phenomena.

Computer Science

Caltech’s computer science degree programs allow students to build promising careers in information technology (IT). It also offers research opportunities for students in the following areas of computer science:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Algorithms
• Systems

Mechanical Engineering

Caltech’s engineering degree programs include mechanical engineering that focuses on robotics and energy production.

Electrical Engineering

The students who choose the electrical engineering major at California Institute of Technology gains in-depth understanding of areas like:

• Signal processing
• Electromagnetism
• Circuits

Chemical Engineering

The chemical engineering degree program prepares students to experiment with different chemical processes. It allows them to build scientific abilities and explore various chemical engineering careers.

How to get into (Caltech) California Institute of Technology?

California Institute of Technology admission requirements for different applicants include the following:

First-year applicants

The first-year applicants are those students who have never been enrolled in a bachelor’s program. Here are Caltech’s eligibility criteria for such students:

• Submit the application through QuestBridge or Common Application.
• Submit an $85 admission fee or request a fee waiver.
• Include two letters of recommendation. (One for STEM subjects and one for other subjects, including Arts or Humanities)
• Request that your school counselor submit your school report through the application portal.
• Submit official transcripts from your secondary school.
• Provide unofficial college transcripts if you have taken any college classes at high school.
• Submit the Mid-year report when first term senior grades are available.
• Submit the SAT and ACT scores. Caltech’s SAT requirements include a 1520+ score.
• Include supplemental materials like research papers, publications, art, STEM, and music portfolios.

Transfer applicants

Transfer applicants are those students who have completed some credits of a bachelor’s degree at a university or college. However, transfer eligibility doesn’t include students who are in the senior year of their degree.

Moreover, students who have already completed their bachelor’s degree are not eligible to get admission as a transfer applicant.

Caltech’s undergraduate admission requirements for transfer applicants include the following:

• Submit a $75 application fee or request a fee waiver.
• Take the Math and Physics entrance exams.
• Submit two letters of recommendation from faculty at your previous college or university. The applicants should include the name and information for their recommenders; the university will contact them.
• Some applicants are required to submit an additional recommendation letter.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• Official transcripts from your secondary school.
• Supplemental materials like STEM and non-STEM portfolios, research papers, and publications.

International applicants

Applicants who aren’t a US citizen or a permanent resident are considered international students. California Institute of Technology’s international student requirements are the same as domestic students, with these additional requirements:

• Submit the English language proficiency test scores if you are not a native speaker or did not receive primary instruction in English. Caltech’s English language requirements for undergraduates include the following scores:
• TOEFL: 100+
• Duolingo English Test: 130+
• IELTS: 7+
• California Institute of Technology is need-aware for international students since scholarship funding for such applicants is limited.  The applicants are required to confirm their financial aid intent in the application.
• The application materials are required in the English language. If the documents are in a foreign language, then applicants should submit certified translations along with them.

Graduate applicants

Caltech’s graduate admission requirements include the following:

• Submit a $100 application fee or request a fee waiver.
• Must have completed a bachelor’s degree or the international equivalent.
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A CV or resume document.
• Personal essays.
• Include standardized test scores for the GRE, which should be 329+. English language proficiency test scores are required for international students.

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What are the Caltech admission deadlines for undergraduate and graduate programs?

Here’s a list of Caltech’s application deadlines for the different applicants:

First-year applicants

• The application deadline for restrictive early action (REA) is November 1, and regular decision (RD) is January 4.
• The dates to submit supplemental materials for REA are November 6, and for RD are January 10.
• The decisions will be available by mid-December for REA and mid-March for RD.
• The admit reply deadline for REA and RD applicants is May 1, 2027.

Transfer applicants

The transfer application deadlines or timeline for the 2026-2027 academic year are not available at the university’s official website.

Graduate applicants

The applications for the 2027-2028 academic year for graduate students at Caltech will be available by October 2026. The deadlines for every graduate degree program vary between December 1 and December 15.

How much does it cost to study at Caltech?

California Institute of Technology utilizes the following formula to evaluate the financial need of students:

[Cost of Attendance] – [Family Contribution] = [Demonstrated financial need]

The cost of attendance is the estimated cost by the university, which includes billed and non-billed items. It gives a rough estimate to students and their families about the cost of studying for a year at this university.

Moreover, the family contribution part includes the charges expected to be paid by the student’s family for one academic year.

Explore Caltech’s cost of attendance and tuition fees for the academic year 2026-2027.

Caltech cost of attendance

The entire cost of attending a year at California Institute of Technology as an undergraduate is:

On campus

This undergraduate cost of attendance includes direct charges billed by the university and indirect charges as well for staying on campus.

Off Campus

The cost of attending 1 year at Caltech as an undergraduate without staying on campus has the following charges:

Meanwhile, the cost of attending a year as a graduate at California Institute of Technology includes:

The tuition fees for graduates are $68,574, and the mandatory annual fee is $2,448. The total of this is $71,022. Moreover, the university offers the estimated cost of living expenses for on-campus plans.

When we add the tuition and mandatory fees to the total cost of each on-campus plan, the total cost of attendance will be:

1. Per bed/4-bedroom: $102,796
2. Per bed/2-bedroom: $105,196
3. Per unit/1-bedroom: $113,056
4. Per unit/2-bedroom: $115,576

Caltech yearly tuition cost

California Institute of Technology undergraduate tuition fees for the academic year 2026-2027 is around $68,574:

Meanwhile, Caltech’s graduate tuition fee for 2026-2027 is also around $68,574 for a total of three terms.

Note: Caltech’s tuition fees for international students in both undergraduate and graduate courses are the same as US students.

What are the types of financial aid offered by the California Institute of Technology for students?

The financial assistance provided by the California Institute of Technology helps in covering the cost of attendance. The university offers the following types of scholarships and financial aid opportunities for students:

Grants and Scholarships

These are known as gift aid that is awarded according to one’s financial needs. The aid provided to undergraduates within this category comes from California Institute of Technology grants.

Moreover, it also includes Caltech’s need-based scholarships that are awarded by the university, federal, or state.

Work-Study

This allows students to earn a specific amount of money during each academic year by working on or off campus. It is a need-based program, and the eligible students are those with demonstrated financial need.

According to this tuition assistance program, the applicants get $2,500 of Work-Study each year. It offers three main options, such as:

• Federal Work-Study
• Caltech’s Work-Study
• Student Employment

Student loans

This is the type of borrowed money that is required to be repaid along with interest once you graduate. This type of financial assistance allows a student or parents to delay paying certain expenses during education.

California Institute of Technology considers all need-based students for their university loan program.

Note: While undergraduates qualify for all three types of funding opportunities, graduates will only be eligible for loans.

Is financial aid available at the California Institute of Technology?

Yes, Caltech University offers need-blind scholarships for US citizens and need-aware scholarships for international applicants.

Caltech financial aid for domestic students

Here’s a list of required documents to be eligible to receive financial aid from Caltech:

• Submit the FAFSA form through code 001131.
• Submit the CSS Profile through code 4304.
• Submit the non-custodial parent’s profile (if required)
• Complete the Caltech supplemental aid application
• Complete the verification worksheet
• Submit parent’s and student’s tax return documents.
• Submit the W-2 forms.
• Submit parents’ non-tax filer statements (if required)
• Submit student’s non-tax filer statement (if required)
• Submit the non-custodial parent’s tax returns and W-2 forms (if required)

Caltech scholarships for international students

California Institute of Technology’s scholarship requirements for international students are the same as domestic students. However, international students are not eligible for federal grants, federal work-study, or federal loans.

Caltech graduate scholarships and aid

The graduate students at Caltech receive financial assistance in the following ways:

• Internal or external fellowships
• Research assistantship
• Teaching assistantship

Note: To avail these opportunities, students require work authorization.

However, these opportunities are only for Ph.D. level students. The university does not provide any financial assistance for the master’s level students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Caltech University harder than MIT?

MIT and California Institute of Technology are considered the top US universities that offer academic excellence in STEM. To determine which university is harder to get into, interested students should compare their acceptance rates.

The California Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 2.3% for the class of 2026. However, MIT’s acceptance rate is 4.7% for the class of 2027. Even though Caltech appears to be more selective, it is harder to decide which university is more selective.

According to the students, both universities have a competitive admission process. The enrollment requirements include a strong academic record, interest in STEM fields, and thoughtful essays.

Q. What degree programs are available at Caltech?

The California Institute of Technology offers three levels of degree programs for students including:

• Bachelor’s
• Master’s
• Doctorate

The degree programs at the California Institute of Technology are available in the following majors:

• Engineering
• Multi-disciplinary Studies
• Physical Sciences
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Biomedical and Biological Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Business Management and Marketing

Q. What GPA is required for Caltech admission?

Just like many top US universities, such as MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and more, there are no strict GPA requirements at this university. The university focuses on holistic application review to proceed with admission.

However, applicants should have a GPA that can help them compete with some of the strongest STEM students. To get into California Institute of Technology, applicants should aim for a 3.9 unweighted GPA and six AP courses.

Moreover, apart from GPA, the university also considers other factors at the time of admission:

• Course rigor
• Class rank
• Essays
• Extracurricular