California Institute of Technology

Summary

California Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 983, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 124 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. California Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 10. Its tuition and fees are $45,390 (2015-16).

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 andphysics. 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 theMassachusetts 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.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Caltech is a world-renowned research and education institution focused on science and engineering, where faculty and students pursue new knowledge about...

General Information

School type	private, coed college
Year founded	1891
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	quarter
Setting	suburban
2014 Endowment	$2,118,100,000

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.

Selectivity	most selective
Fall 2014 acceptance rate	8.8%
Application deadline	January 3
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	December 31

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.