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Summary
California Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 967, 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 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 5. Its tuition and fees are $37,704 (2011-12).
Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, Calif., 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.
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Highly regarded as one of the world's leading institutions of science and engineering, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)is home to some of the brightest students and faculty, who share the mission of investigating "the most challenging fundamental problems in science and technology." Caltech, a small, focused institution, provides one of the best student-to-faculty ratios (3:1) and has long promoted innovative interdisciplinary collaboration, making exceptional research opportunities readily accessible to undergraduates. Its faculty and alumni have received 32 Nobel Prizes. For students with a passion for science and engineering, Caltech offers an unsurpassed learning experience. A beautiful, quaint campus, nestled in the heart of Pasadena, enjoying a year-round pleasant Southern California climate, Caltech also operates comprehensive off-campus facilities including Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Palomar and Keck Observatories. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1891 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | quarter |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2010 Endowment | $1,631,076,000 |
Applying
When applying to California Institute of Technology, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, 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 $65. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.6 percent and an early acceptance rate of 16.0 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 13% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| 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 64.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at California Institute of Technology include: Engineering; Physical Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 98.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 3:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 81% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
California Institute of Technology has a total undergraduate enrollment of 967, with a gender distribution of 60.5 percent male students and 39.5 percent female students. 92.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 8.0 percent of students live off campus. California Institute of Technology is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at California Institute of Technology.
| Total enrollment | 2,175 |
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| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | N/A |
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | N/A |
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & 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.
| Students who have cars on campus | 35% - Low |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At California Institute of Technology, 53.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $31,030.
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.
| Tuition and fees | $37,704 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $11,676 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
