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IPEDS ID: 110404
OPE ID: 00113100
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California Institute of Technology
1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, California 91125
General information:  (626) 395-6811
Website:  www.caltech.edu
Type:  4-year, Private not-for-profit
Awards offered:  Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree
Campus setting:  City: Midsize
Campus housing:  Yes
Student population:  2,126 (921 undergraduate)
Student-to-faculty ratio:  6 to 1
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open-close General Information
Admissionswww.admissions.caltech.edu/
Financial Aidwww.finaid.caltech.edu/
Apply Onlinewww.admissions.caltech.edu/applying
Mission Statement
  The mission of the California Institute of Technology is to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education. We investigate the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere, while educating outstanding students to become creative members of society.
Carnegie Classification
Research Universities (very high research activity)
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable
Federal Aid
Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and other federal aid (e.g. Direct Loans).
Undergraduate students enrolled who are formally registered with office of disability services
3% or less
Special Learning Opportunities
ROTC (Army, Air Force)
Study abroad
Student Services
Academic/career counseling service
Employment services for students
Placement services for completers
On-campus day care for students' children
Credit Accepted
Institution does not accept dual, credit for life, or AP credits
open-close Estimated Student Expenses (Before Aid)
Undergraduate academic year prices
Detailed Expenses2008-20092007-20082006-2007
Tuition and fees$34,437$32,835$31,416
Books and supplies$1,194$1,165$1,077
Living arrangement
On Campus
Room and board$10,146$9,540$9,102
Other$3,213$3,020$2,907
Total Expenses2008-20092007-20082006-2007
On Campus$48,990$46,560$44,502
  • All student expenses data apply to full-time first-time degree/certificate-seeking students.
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This calculator uses estimated student expenses data to estimate the total tuition and fees charged over the duration of a typical 4-year program at this school.
1. Select starting academic year
2. Select tuition inflation rate
 
 
% (0-100 allowed)
  • This school has a tuition prepayment plan which may reduce the total estimated tuition and fees over the duration of a program. For further details please contact the institution.
  • The output is only an estimate and not a guarantee of the actual amount the student may be charged; it is not binding on the Secretary, the institution of higher education, or the State; and it may change, subject to the availability of financial assistance, State appropriations, and other factors. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for, and receive, an actual financial aid award that includes federal grant, loan, or work-study assistance.
  • The estimated price does not include room and board, books and supplies, &c. (where applicable) and is based on typical tuition and fees figures listed above. Tuition and fees may vary by program. Please contact this institution for detailed price information.
  • Tuition inflation rate estimates for this school are based on the 3 years of data shown in the student expenses section.
Estimate the total tuition costs over the duration of a typical program at this school.
 Multiyear Tuition Calculator
  • For 2008-09, "tuition and required fees" for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are $34,437, including fees of $3,000. "Tuition and required fees" for seniors are $32,517, including fees of $1,080. "Other expenses" include additional meal expenses on weekends of $1,332 and personal expenses of $1,881.
Alternative Tuition Plans
Type of PlanOffered
Tuition guarantee plan
Prepaid tuition planX
Tuition payment planX
Other alternative tuition plan
open-close Financial Aid
Undergraduate students 2007-2008
Total grant aid received by all undergraduate students$15,033,346
Number of undergraduate students who received a Pell Grant105
  • Total grant aid includes dollars received from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources.
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students, 2007-2008
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid Received aid: 74% Did not receive aid: 26%
Percentage of students receiving grant aid by type
Percentage of students receiving grant aid by type Total grants: 65% Federal: 12% Pell: 10% Other Federal: 12% State/Local: 20% Institutional: 60%
Average amount of grant aid received by type
Average amount of grant aid received by type Total grants: $24,329 (!) Federal: $6,459 (!) Pell: $2,993 (!) Other Federal: $3,909 State/Local: $3,385 Institutional: $23,876
Percentage of students receiving loans by typeAverage amount of loans by type
Percentage of students receiving loans by type Total loans: 35% Federal: 30% Non-federal: 8%Average amount of loans by type Total loans: $3,519 Federal: $2,869 (!) Non-federal: $4,639
  • (!) Interpret data with caution. There are insufficient cases for a reliable estimate.
  • For more information on Student Financial Assistance Programs or to apply for financial aid via the web, visit Federal Student Aid.
open-close Enrollment
Fall 2008
Total enrollment2,126
Undergraduate enrollment921
Undergraduate transfer-in enrollment9
Graduate enrollment1,205
Undergraduate Attendance StatusUndergraduate Student Gender
Undergraduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 100% Part-time: 0%Undergraduate Student Gender: Male: 66% Female: 34%
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity: American Indian or Alaska Native: 0% Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 40% Black or African American: 1% Hispanic/Latino: 6% White: 40% Two or more races: 0% Race/ethnicity unknown: 2% Non-resident alien: 11%
Undergraduate Student AgeUndergraduate Student Residence
Undergraduate Student Age: 24 and under: 99% 25 and over: 1% Age unknown: 0%Undergraduate Student Residence: In-state: 29% Out-of-state: 61% Foreign countries: 8% Unknown: 2%
  • Age data are reported for Fall 2007.
  • Residence data are reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
Graduate Attendance Status
Graduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 100% Part-time: 0%
open-close Admissions
Undergraduate application fee (2008-2009): $60
Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2008
TotalMaleFemale
Number of applicants3,9573,004953
Percent admitted17%14%29%
Percent admitted who enrolled34%34%35%
Admissions ConsiderationsRequiredRecommended
Secondary school rankX
Secondary school recordX
Completion of college-preparatory programX
RecommendationsX
Admission test scores (SAT/ACT)X
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language)X
Test Scores: Fall 2008 (enrolled first-time students)
Students submitting scoresNumberPercent
SAT22997%
ACT7733%
Test Scores25th Percentile*75th Percentile**
NOTES:
*  25% of students scored at or below
** 25% of students scored above
  • Data apply to first-time degree/certificate-seeking students.
  • Institutions are asked to report test scores only if they are required for admission.
SAT Critical Reading700760
SAT Math770800
SAT Writing690770
ACT Composite3335
ACT English3335
ACT Math3436
open-close Retention and Graduation Rates
First-to-Second Year Retention Rates

Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who are seeking bachelor's degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.

Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Student retention: Full-time students: 98%
Percentage of Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2007 and Returned in Fall 2008
Overall Graduation Rate and Transfer-Out Rate

The overall graduation rate is also known as the "Student Right to Know" or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of "normal time" for completing the program in which they are enrolled.

Some institutions also report a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution.

Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution, or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this rate. At this institution, 96 percent of students entering students were counted as "full-time, first-time" in 2008.

Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2002
Overall graduation rate: Overall graduation rate: 88% (*) Transfer-out rate:
Percentage of Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated or Transferred Out Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
  • (*) Not all institutions report transfer-out rates.
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rates

Bachelor’s degree graduation rates measure the percentage of entering students beginning their studies full-time and are planning to get a bachelor’s degree and who complete their degree program within a specified amount of time.

Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor's degree rate: 4-year: 81% 6-year: 89% 8-year: 90%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Graduated in the Specified Amount of Time
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: Male: 88% Female: 89%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2002 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 96% (!)Hispanic/Latino: 84% White: 85%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2002 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
  • (!) Interpret data with caution. There are insufficient cases for a reliable estimate.
  • One or more categories are not present in the race/ethnicity graph because of an insufficient number of cases.
open-close Programs/Majors
Completions 2007-2008
sort byProgramBachelorMasterDoctorCertificate
  • Data shown are for first majors.
  • (-) Program is not offered at this award level.
Biological and biomedical sciences
Biochemistry/Biophysics and Molecular Biology-15-
Biology/Biological Sciences, General2909-
Category total29114-
Computer and information sciences and support services
Computer and Information Sciences, General2148-
Category total2148-
Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering81541
Chemical Engineering6610-
Civil Engineering, General-34-
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering1432140
Engineering Mechanics-01-
Engineering, General300-
Engineering, Other0112-
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering223-
Materials Science163-
Mechanical Engineering29814-
Category total6373651
History
History, General0---
Category total0---
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities
Humanities/Humanistic Studies1---
Category total1---
Mathematics and statistics
Applied Mathematics837-
Mathematics, General1124-
Category total19511-
Multi/interdisciplinary studies
Neuroscience413-
Category total413-
Physical sciences
Astrophysics477-
Chemistry, General19432-
Geochemistry222-
Geology/Earth Science, General531-
Geophysics and Seismology073-
Physics, General30821-
Physics, Other10311-
Planetary Astronomy and Science033-
Category total703780-
Social sciences
Economics, General1---
Economics, Other0---
Social Sciences, General074-
Category total174-
Grand total2081281851
open-close Varsity Athletic Teams
2007-2008 Varsity Athletes
NCAA Division III (without football) MenWomen
All Track Combined3031
Baseball16–
Basketball2014
Fencing178
Soccer26–
Swimming and Diving1417
Tennis1811
Volleyball–16
Water Polo11–
open-close Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
AgencyPeriods of AccreditationStatus
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities 1/31/1949 -  Accredited
open-close Campus Security
2007 Crime Statistics
Arrests - On-Campus200520062007
Illegal weapons possession000
Drug law violations000
Liquor law violations000
Arrests - On-Campus Residence Halls !200520062007
Illegal weapons possession000
Drug law violations000
Liquor law violations000
Criminal Offenses - On-Campus200520062007
Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter000
Negligent manslaughter000
Sex offenses - Forcible000
Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only)000
Robbery100
Aggravated assault100
Burglary316573
Motor vehicle theft212
Arson101
Criminal Offenses - On-Campus Residence Halls !200520062007
Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter000
Negligent manslaughter000
Sex offenses - Forcible000
Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only)000
Robbery000
Aggravated assault000
Burglary10514
Motor vehicle theft000
Arson100
  • (!) Residence Halls are a subset of On-Campus statistics
  • The crime data reported by the institutions have not been subjected to independent verification by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, the Department cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data reported here.
  • These data do not include incidents that: (a) took place off campus on public property immediately adjacent to and accessible from the Campus; (b) took place on a noncampus building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution; or (c) incidents at buildings/property owned or controlled by an institution but is not contiguous to the institution. For further information, see http://ope.ed.gov/security.
open-close Federal Loans
Average amount of undergraduate student loans by type, 2007-2008
Loan typeAverage amount
Direct Subsidized$1,644
Direct Unsubsidized$3,962
Default Rates
Fiscal Year200720062005
Default rate0.0%0.0%0.0%
Number in default000
Number in repayment404043
Aid Programs
  • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
  • Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan)
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