Caltech University | Why is it one of the top universities?

Caltech University | An overview

Caltech is an acronym for California Institute of Technology (CIT), located in Pasadena, California. The private university is known for its groundbreaking research. Ranking among the best academic global institutions, Caltech University was founded in 1891 as a preparatory and vocational school by politician businessman Amos Gager Throop. It is also among the most selective international universities. 

Why is Caltech University a famous institution?

There are many reasons why Caltech university is outstanding and in a league of its own. Caltech is one of the world-renowned institutions for science and engineering, and it has some of the brightest minds in the world. The university is also one of the most innovative institutions that address pressing scientific questions. It is one of the most difficult institutions to qualify for and is a doyen for exemplary research. It is second in diversity, just next to MIT for its international recognition.  

Apart from that, there are other reasons why Caltech University is considered to be special, even among the other reputed academic institutions – 

• It has a very low faculty-to-student ratio. It is somewhere around 1:3. 
• There are multiple interdisciplinary connections between various academic departments. Due to this interconnectivity, almost all teachers and students know each other.
• Junior faculty and students get extra support to rise to the next level. If students want to aim for PG studies or become a teacher, then they are provided with all the aids. Likewise, junior faculty do not compete but rather train and qualify for a senior post. Most of the time, only one person is hired for one post. They rise to a senior level after years of training and teaching. This way, students also get to learn from the best teachers. 
• Undergraduates get a chance to be a part of research projects.
• The institution also gets the biggest grants in the country, and it has an endowment worth $1.8 Billion.

Caltech University world ranking

Caltech has a reputation for being innovative, and its science and engineering programs are some of the best in the world. Moreover, only a handful of universities can match Caltech in these areas.

According to the US News rankings, Caltech ranks #9 among the best global universities. Caltech University QS ranking is #6. For the last decade or so, it has constantly been ranking among the top 10 international colleges and universities. We have mentioned the ranks for the last few years in the table given below –

Ranked By	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) – Universities Rankings	9	9	8	9	NA
QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) – World University Ranking	4	4	5	4	6
THE (Times Higher Education) – University Ranking	3	5	2	4	2
US News and World Report – Global Universities	6	6	6	7	9
US News and World Report – National University Ranking	12	12	12	9	9

Caltech University courses

Caltech University courses include 28 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate majors. The six academic divisions which offer these courses are – 

• Biology and Biological Engineering
• Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• Engineering and Applied Science
• Geological and Planetary Sciences
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Physics and Mathematics 

Popular Bachelor’s programs at Caltech University – 

• Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Biology/ Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Computational Mathematics

Popular Master’s and PhD programs offered at Caltech University are – 

• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science 
• Aeronautics
• Biology
• Astronomy
• Space Engineering

These courses offer remarkable opportunities for research and development for students. So, these are the best academic choices students can make to advance their academic careers. Since Caltech has limited seats, there is high competition for securing a berth in the prestigious institution.

Caltech University fees

The average Caltech University fee for UG courses is approximately $83,598 for the Academic Year 2022-23. The graduate courses’ costs range between $97,886 and $102,086. For Indian students, the average fees for a 4-year B.E or B. Tech would be in the range of ₹44.31 Lakhs to 47.48 Lakhs. An MS would cost around ₹42.63 Lakhs to 47.47 Lakhs. In addition, there are several scholarships offered to students.

Course	Fees(In INR)	Duration
B.E/ B.Tech	₹44.31 Lakhs – ₹ 47.48 Lakhs	4 years
B.Sc (in any field/ science)	₹44.31 Lakhs – ₹45.76 Lakhs	4 years
M.Sc (in any field)	₹44-plus Lakhs	1.5 – 2 years (18 to 24 months)
MS (in any field)	₹42.63 Lakhs -₹ 47.47 Lakhs	1 – 2 years
BBA	₹44.31 Lakhs – ₹45.76 Lakhs	4 years

Notable Caltech University alumni

Several notable personalities have graduated from this prestigious institution. There are also 79 Nobel laureates from the institution. Out of these, there are 46 who have been directly affiliated with Caltech as alumni and faculty members. It is also the only educational institution with the highest number of Nobel Prize winners per capita in the USA. Some of the eminent ones are mentioned below – 

• Carl David Anderson (Nobel Laureate in Physics)
• Regina Dugan (first female director of DARPA)
• William Alfred Fowler (Nobel Laureate in Physics)
• Arvind Virmani (Indian government’s former Chief Economic Adviser)
• Edward Butts Lewis (Nobel Laureate in Medicine)
• Arati Prabhakar (DARPA’s 20th director)
• Arnold Orville Beckman (inventor of the pH meter)
• Gordon Earle Moore (American engineer and Intel Corporation’s co-founder)
• Harrison Hagan Jack Schmitt (a noted geologist and NASA astronaut graduated from Caltech) 
• Linus Carl Pauling (Famous biochemist and author)
• Mustafa A.G. Abushagur (former Deputy Prime Minister of Libya)
• Charles Gordon Fullerton (astronaut and air force colonel)

The list is not an exhaustive one. There are other high achievers who are associated with this prestigious institution. Even Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking were visiting faculty at the institution. 

Admission requirements

Getting admission to Caltech is very difficult because of its competitiveness. As a result, Caltech University has an acceptance rate of 6.7%. Of the total students who have enrolled in Caltech University, around 30% are international students. Also, there are 718 international graduate students. However, Caltech doesn’t have any minimum GPA requirement. But most of the selected international applicants have a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (approx. 89-90%) and should be in the top 10% of their class. 

Key takeaways

Caltech is one of the top universities in the world because – 

• It is one of the highest-ranked universities/institutions in the world. It ranks high on the US News and QS Ranking systems. The location of Caltech is also convenient. 
• The institution’s tuition fees are at par with the other top universities. There are multiple scholarships available. If eligible students can avail them to cut down on tuition fees. 
• Several Nobel Laureates are associated with the institution as alumni or faculty. 

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, reach out to us or drop a comment below!

Liked this blog? Read next: A complete guide to York University fees for international students. 

FAQ

Q1. Which English proficiency tests are accepted by Caltech?

Answer- For UG programs, Caltech University only accepts TOEFL. However, in 2022, they also started accepting the Duolingo English tests to test applicants’ English proficiency. However, IELTS scores are not accepted. 

Q2. Is there any waiver on the Caltech application fees?

Answer- Yes, Caltech application fees can be waived under special circumstances. If you or your family face legible financial hardships, the fees can be waived. Or, if you have applied for fee waivers through NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) or filled out the fee waiver form with ACT/SAT, then your fees could be waived. 

Q3. What are the minimum GPA and language proficiency scores for getting into Caltech?

Answer- Although no minimum GPA score has been specified, it is better to have above 3.5, and also be in the top 10 of your class. There is also no minimum score for language proficiency tests.