Is Caltech public or private?

Caltech is a private research university in Pasadena, California. Its current catalog identifies it as the California Institute of Technology and lists institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

What undergraduate degree does Caltech offer?

The undergraduate program leads to a four-year Bachelor of Science degree. The current catalog lists options including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Earth or planetary sciences; the published offerings here preserve only exact active taxonomy matches.

What English test is required for international undergraduates?

Caltech requires English-proficiency scores from international undergraduate applicants unless the applicant's native language is English or English is the primary language of instruction in secondary school. The admissions page lists IELTS 7 in each area, TOEFL 100 with 25 in each area, or Duolingo 130.

Can a student apply directly after secondary school?

Yes, first-year applicants apply during the final year of secondary school and enter in the fall. Caltech specifies preparation in calculus, physics and chemistry, and Indian applicants must complete both Class X and Class XII state-board or CBSE examinations.

How much does undergraduate study cost?

For 2025-26, Caltech lists tuition of $65,622 and mandatory fees of $2,586. Its estimated nine-month total cost of attendance is $93,912 on campus or $97,455 off campus, before optional health-insurance additions.

How do international students apply?

International first-year applicants use Caltech's undergraduate admissions route and may apply through Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision. The 2025-26 page lists November 1 and January 5 deadlines for those routes; applicants must check the live cycle page for the applicable year.

Does Caltech offer master's and doctoral study?

Caltech offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and a select number of Engineer's and non-degree programs. M.S. availability is option-specific, while the Ph.D. is research- and thesis-based and normally requires at least 12 terms of enrollment.

Does Caltech offer a terminal master's in every field?

No. The Graduate Studies Office says not all options admit directly for the M.S.; an M.S. may be granted on a Ph.D. path or as a terminal degree in special cases. Applicants must read the current special regulations for the chosen option.

What professional or executive courses does Caltech offer?

Caltech CTME offers professional development, executive education, certificate programs and short courses for working professionals in areas such as systems engineering, AI, data science, project management and software engineering. These non-degree offerings are not treated as university degree programmes in this catalogue payload.

What recognition should applicants check?

Caltech's catalog records WSCUC institutional accreditation. It also records ABET accreditation for the B.S. Mechanical Engineering program and approval of the B.S. Chemistry program by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training; these designations do not automatically determine professional licensing in another country.

Where do students live?

Caltech publishes on-campus and off-campus undergraduate budgets and graduate housing estimates. For 2025-26, the undergraduate on-campus housing estimate is $12,105 for nine months, while graduate housing and utilities vary by unit type from $10,920 per bed to $21,180 per unit in the published examples.

Is Caltech public or private?

Caltech is a private research university in Pasadena, California. Its current catalog identifies it as the California Institute of Technology and lists institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

What undergraduate degree does Caltech offer?

The undergraduate program leads to a four-year Bachelor of Science degree. The current catalog lists options including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Earth or planetary sciences; the published offerings here preserve only exact active taxonomy matches.

What English test is required for international undergraduates?

Caltech requires English-proficiency scores from international undergraduate applicants unless the applicant's native language is English or English is the primary language of instruction in secondary school. The admissions page lists IELTS 7 in each area, TOEFL 100 with 25 in each area, or Duolingo 130.

Can a student apply directly after secondary school?

Yes, first-year applicants apply during the final year of secondary school and enter in the fall. Caltech specifies preparation in calculus, physics and chemistry, and Indian applicants must complete both Class X and Class XII state-board or CBSE examinations.

How much does undergraduate study cost?

For 2025-26, Caltech lists tuition of $65,622 and mandatory fees of $2,586. Its estimated nine-month total cost of attendance is $93,912 on campus or $97,455 off campus, before optional health-insurance additions.

How do international students apply?

International first-year applicants use Caltech's undergraduate admissions route and may apply through Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision. The 2025-26 page lists November 1 and January 5 deadlines for those routes; applicants must check the live cycle page for the applicable year.

Does Caltech offer master's and doctoral study?

Caltech offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and a select number of Engineer's and non-degree programs. M.S. availability is option-specific, while the Ph.D. is research- and thesis-based and normally requires at least 12 terms of enrollment.

Does Caltech offer a terminal master's in every field?

No. The Graduate Studies Office says not all options admit directly for the M.S.; an M.S. may be granted on a Ph.D. path or as a terminal degree in special cases. Applicants must read the current special regulations for the chosen option.

What professional or executive courses does Caltech offer?

Caltech CTME offers professional development, executive education, certificate programs and short courses for working professionals in areas such as systems engineering, AI, data science, project management and software engineering. These non-degree offerings are not treated as university degree programmes in this catalogue payload.

What recognition should applicants check?

Caltech's catalog records WSCUC institutional accreditation. It also records ABET accreditation for the B.S. Mechanical Engineering program and approval of the B.S. Chemistry program by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training; these designations do not automatically determine professional licensing in another country.

Where do students live?

Caltech publishes on-campus and off-campus undergraduate budgets and graduate housing estimates. For 2025-26, the undergraduate on-campus housing estimate is $12,105 for nine months, while graduate housing and utilities vary by unit type from $10,920 per bed to $21,180 per unit in the published examples.

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PhD Computer Science at California Institute of Technology: Admissions Process

How to apply for PhD Computer Science at California Institute of Technology — step-by-step process, documents required, and application timeline.

Written by Students Traffic Research Team·Updated On: 12 Jul 2026

California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, United StatesPhD Computer Science · Private$65,622/yr

Academics eligibility recognition fees

Admissions

Programme-specific admission requirements are being verified with the university. Do not rely on another programme's requirements when preparing an application.

Requirements being verified

Application steps will appear here once they have been checked against the university's current programme page.

Deadlines & Intake

Intake

September

When to start

Start document preparation and application planning at least 3–6 months before the September intake.

Admissions notes

Applying to California Institute of Technology?

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