California Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology is top private research university in Pasadena, USA. Caltech is among the top 10 universities in the world and is one of the most popular universities in the world.

Caltech is home to 2,300+ students, out of which 971 are UG and 1,398 are PG students. The university has one of the lowest student to faculty ratio of just 3:1 providing world-class education to its students.

Some important points for Indian students to apply at Caltech are-

• Rankings- Caltech is ranked among top 10 universities in the world as per top ranking bodies. The California Institute of Technology ranking is #7 in the world by QS Rankings 2027 as well as THE Rankings 2026. While the university is ranked #4 in the USA, just after Harvard University, as per QS Rankings 2027.
• Admission Chances- The California Institute of Technology acceptance rate stands at 3%, as per some unofficial sources. This shows it is really competitive to get admission at California Institute of Technology with high scores in academics. To increase the changes of getting admission at Caltech, Indian UG students can check the PDF here about Caltech admission requirements.
• Achievements and Innovation- The university has 49 Nobel Prize winners. Also,100+ Caltech-affiliated start-ups have launched over the past decade. The Institute manages JPL for NASA, sending probes to explore the planets of our solar system and quantify changes on our home planet.
• Research- Caltech is known for research, as 91% of Caltech undergraduates participate in research.
• Caltech vs MIT USA- As per QS Rankings 2027, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ranked higher for Indian students in the world as compared to Caltech. Living expenses at MIT University USA are higher for Indian students compared to California Institute of Technology. It is bit easier for Indian students to get admission at MIT USA, which has a slightly higher acceptance rate than California Institute.

California Institute of Technology Facts

California Institute of Technology is one of the most prominent universities in the USA. Indian students check various factors such as scholarships, location, ROI, etc. Check the table listed below for important information about Caltech Campus that are given as follows-

California Institute of Technology offers best degree programs for its international students. Caltech offers more than 45 academic programs at UG and PG levels for its international students. California Institute of Technology is committed to offering quality education through its six academic divisions for its international students.

California Institute of Technology Popular Programs

California Institute of Technology popular programs include Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Bioengineering. The top programs opted by Indian students at Caltech are listed below-

• MS
• B.E./B.Tech
• B.Sc.

California Institute of Technology Online Programs

California Institute of Technology offers various online programs at both UG and PG levels for its international students.

The living alumni of the California Institute of Technology cross over 25,000 in the U.S. and around the world. Check the names included in Caltech University notable alumni from the table given below-

Name	Profession
Howard Hughes	A prominent figure in the Aviation industry and a Film Producer
Richard Feynman	American theoretical physicist, known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics in 1965
Linus Pauling	American chemist, biochemist, chemical engineer, peace activist, author, and educator. Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry in 1954 and Nobel Peace Prize Winner in 1962.
Thomas Hunt Morgan	American evolutionary biologist, and geneticist. Won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933
Frank Oppenheimer	American particle physicist.
John McCarthy	American computer scientist and cognitive scientist
Robert A. Millikan	American experimental physicist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1923

California Institute of Technology grads work for leading sectors such as Engineering, Business Development, Information Technology, Education, Research, etc. Caltech University Placement Report attracts international students the most. California Institute of Technology graduates are constantly in high demand worldwide.

California Institute of Technology Placement Rate

California Institute of Technology placement rate stands at 87%, and the graduates are employed within few months of graduation. California Institute of Technology graduates work for top companies such as Caltech, Google, Boeing, Apple, Northrop Grumman, etc. As per unofficial sources, the average salary of California Institute of Technology MS graduate is listed below-

ROI after Education at California Institute of Technology

Return on Investment (ROI) for a university is determined by the salary a graduate can expect to earn after graduation, compared to all the costs associated with attending college, such as tuition, living expenses, and foregone earnings. Given below are the details of the fees (investment) and salary (return) at California Institute of Technology:

The California Institute of Technology tuition for Indian students at UG and PG levels is USD 68,574 (Around INR 64.80 L). Tuition fee at Caltech can vary each year for Indian students. Indian students who want to study at California Institute of Technology can expect the following amount for living expenses along with tuition fee-

• QS World University rankings for 2027 are out and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has been ranked at #7. Comparing the latest rankings of California Institute of Technology (Caltech)  with 2026 rankings, an improvement can be observed. Watch out this University of California ranking page for more detailed comparison.  
• Want to apply for the upcoming academic session, admissions are now open at Caltech. Mentioned below are the latest deadlines:
• Early Action deadline is Nov 1, 2026.

For California Institute of Technology admissions, international students must entry level requirements. Caltech offers admission for international students in two intakes namely Early Action and Regular decision every year. Indian students can apply for both UG and PG programs through Caltech Application Portal. California Institute of Technology application fee for international students is listed below-

California Institute of Technology Application Deadline

California Institute of Technology application deadline for international students is listed below-

California Institute of Technology Eligibility of Indian students

• For UG and PG program apply via Caltech Application Portal
• Complete the application form with all relevant documents
• Prepare your documents
• Submit test scores
• Pay the application fee

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

• Complete online application
• SAT and ACT scores (optional)
• Other course-specific requirements
• Higher secondary school certificate/Standard 12
• Resume/CV
• Copy of passport
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Academic Transcripts
• Personal Statement

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an approved university equivalent to US bachelor's degree.
• Complete application form
• Official academic transcripts
• Photocopy of passport
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Resume/CV
• SOP
• LOR
• Letter of intent
• Financial Proof

The California Institute of Technology is considered to be one of the top universities nationally. According to Shiksha Popularity Ranking, California Institute of Technology ranking stands at #7 in 2026 at national level. Also, the university is ranked #9 in the world by Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026. Moreover, a few of the California Institute of Technology courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking as mentioned below-

By Other Ranking Bodies

Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. It ranks California Institute of Technology at #10 in 2026. California Institute of Technology ranking stood at #11 as per US News in 2026 and #7 by THE in 2026, globally.

Spread around an 124 acres area of land, approximately 17kms northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, the Caltech campus, is one of the best campuses in the United States, home to a number of world class research facilities, hundreds of student clubs & international student associations, safe & secure housing, & a diverse student population of around 2,460 students. Given below is a description of some popular resources & services, that makes Caltech stand out from the rest-

International Student Support Services

The Caltech ISP program offers comprehensive support to international students with a admission offer in hand. This includes a range of support services including: relocation guidance, orientation program, travel, immigration & visa support, employment routes & how to navigate taxes in the US among other services.

Housing

Caltech offers guaranteed housing for all undergraduate students, including internationals, & applies to the first year of study. Housing options include: individual rooms for single students, 4-12 bedroom suites & furnished apartments as part of its housing facilities across campus which includes: Bechtel Residence, Marks/Braun House, Avery House, North House & the South House.

For Graduate students, housing is not guaranteed, but offered via a lottery.

Dining

When it comes to Caltech Dining, there are number of on campus restaurants & cafes available that serve students throughout the day. For a small monthly fee, students can acquire membership of the Athenaeum (faculty club), that offers a number of formal options for breakfast, lunch & dinner.