California Institute of Technology
- Private
- Research university
California Institute of Technology: international tuition 65,898 USD per year, one-year total cost 86,886 USD, acceptance rate 2.6%. Merit scholarships are not open to international students. Published minimum English scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 100, Duolingo 130.
Caltech has no merit scholarships and is need-aware for international students because aid funds are limited. The pages do not explicitly confirm need-based aid eligibility or required forms for international students.
Getting in. The school admits 2.6% of applicants. Admitted students scored around Reading and Writing 710–780, Math 760–800. The school requires the SAT or ACT. For English, the school asks for IELTS 7+, TOEFL iBT 100+ or Duolingo 130+.
Cost for a year. One year comes to 86,886 USD, before any scholarship. There is 1 scholarship, but none says international students can apply, so nothing is taken off yet.
Deadline and visa. The application deadline is 1/11. You apply through QuestBridge Application. How long the visa takes is up to the consulate; see the country note.
Admissions checked 13/10/2026
What is the tuition at California Institute of Technology?
International tuition is 65,898 USD per year. The total cost for one year is 86,886 USD.
Does California Institute of Technology offer scholarships for international students?
Merit scholarships are not open to international students. Caltech has no merit scholarships and is need-aware for international students because aid funds are limited. The pages do not explicitly confirm need-based aid eligibility or required forms for international students.
What English scores does California Institute of Technology require?
Published minimum English scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 100, Duolingo 130.
What is the acceptance rate at California Institute of Technology?
The acceptance rate is 2.6%.
- Pay in fullYesPay in fullOnce admitted you can enrol straight away — no scholarship decision to wait for.Your family covers all tuition and living costs for every year of the degree.You will need: your application and proof that your family can pay — the school needs it to issue your visa documents.
- Aid with the offerUnclearAid with the offerThe school decides aid while reviewing your application, so any need-based or merit award arrives with the offer.The school's official pages do not say whether international students get aid at admission — worth asking the admissions office directly.
- Apply separately for scholarshipsUnclearApply separately for scholarshipsOn top of the admission application, you send a separate scholarship application or get nominated.The pages we read mention no scholarship with its own application. Not seeing one does not mean there is none — ask the school.
For Vietnamese students
Vietnamese community nearby
Students on campus lifeiPublic YouTube videos by students and the school, matched to this school's name; Vietnamese videos first. Each reflects its creator's own view.
- Amy Wang2023Vlog
- R247 Success2023Campus tour
- Global Scholarships2023Applying
Contact
Tuition and cost for a year
Compared with 727 private United States schools with published tuition in Duckling's data.
What a year costs
Non-resident tuition (College Scorecard); international students pay at least this, some schools add an international fee.
VND converted at Vietcombank's selling rate on 15/10/2026; indicative only — the real amount depends on the rate when you pay.
Scholarships and aid for international students
- Is merit considered automatically with the application?UnclearThe page only says no merit scholarships exist; it does not say whether merit is considered automatically or needs a separate application, so nothing follows for international students.
- Is admission need-blind for international applicants?NoThe admissions page states Caltech is need-aware for international students because aid funds for them are limited, so ability to pay is considered.
- Is the CSS Profile or a school aid form required?UnclearThe provided pages mention only a general 'financial aid application' and never say CSS Profile or a separate international aid form is required.
Need-aware: applying for aid can affect admission
Scholarships at this school
Caltech need-based grants and scholarshipsIntl eligibility unclearThe school does not say whether international students can get this scholarship, so “Cost for a year” at the top does not subtract it. Ask the school before counting on it.Need-basedNeed-basedAwarded on family financial circumstances, usually via the CSS Profile or the school's own form.Considered automatically with the admission applicationSchool page
The pages describe need-based grants but never explicitly state whether international students can receive them.
Financial aid dates (first year)
- 15/01Priority filing date
- 15/01Aid application deadline
- 15/01Priority filing date
- 15/01Aid application deadline
- 15/04Aid notification
- 15/04Aid notification
- 01/05Reply by
- 01/05Reply by
Admission requirements
Compared with 349 United States schools that publish an application fee in Duckling's data.
SAT / ACT of enrolled students
English
Application requirements
- SATACTRequired
- Teacher recommendationRequired
- High-school transcriptRequired
- InterviewiInitialView (a recorded conversation and writing sample) is encouraged but not mandatory.Recommended
- Supplementary applicationOptional
- PortfolioOptional
How to apply
Minimum English scores vs other schools
Compared with 25 United States schools admitting under 15% that publish it in Duckling's data.
Compared with 14 United States schools admitting under 15% that publish it in Duckling's data.
Deadlines
- Restrictive Early Action application deadline (REA)Applicationin17days
- Deadline for all required and supplemental materials (REA)Documents+22 days
- Regular Decision application deadline (RD)Application+81 days
- Deadline for all required and supplemental materials (RD)Documents+87 days
- Admit reply deadline (REA and RD)Deposit+198 days
Early rounds & waitlist
Programs
Outcomes
Staying in United States after graduation
OPT: 12 months of work in your field after each degree level; degrees on the DHS STEM list can extend by 24 months (up to 36 months in total). Unemployment during OPT is capped at 90 days (150 days with the STEM extension). Note: on 8 October 2026 DHS published a PROPOSED rule charging USD 70,000 for initial OPT and USD 30,000 for later OPT; it is not in force, and comments close on 9 November 2026.
Climate
School & campus
Where the school is
Detailed map
Academics & housing
Classes by size
Housing
Why this school is listed: accepts applications through the Common App.
Updated 13/10/2026How Duckling sources data