California Institute of Technology

In 2021, tuition for full-time students at California Institute of Technology was $54,570 a year.

Tuition increased 3.93 percent in 2021, from $52,506 the prior year. On average, college tuition rises about 3 percent a year.

If these numbers seem daunting, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students pay far less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college more manageable.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Caltech

California Institute of Technology is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of California as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. These institutions offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Attending a school where you qualify for in-state tuition can save significant money on the overall cost of college. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school.

Explore other California colleges

Caltech International Student Tuition

Caltech has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support:

On-campus jobs

Caltech-specific loans

Caltech-specific scholarships

Caltech Living Expenses and Other Costs

In addition to tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies.

Room and Board at Caltech

Room and board at Caltech is $17,337 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other campus housing, plus a meal plan that allows you to eat in the school dining facilities. Students who live off campus but still want to use the dining facility can pay for a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $11,163.

Board costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the meal plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Caltech

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. At Caltech, you can expect to pay about $1,428 a year for books and supplies. This does not count the initial cost of a computer or other technology. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs. Full-time undergrads at Caltech pay $2,292 in fees each academic year.

There may also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team, may mean additional fees.

Transportation costs

The total cost of transportation in college can really vary. It depends on if you drive or fly to get to school, own a car, or if you prefer to walk or take public transportation to get around campus.

A school's location can impact transportation costs. The California Institute of Technology campus is in a suburban setting in California, not far from Los Angeles. First-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Other College Costs

When creating a budget for college, don’t forget to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

Let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, which can add up for both on-campus and off-campus students.

How much does Caltech cost?

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

California Institute of Technology Financial Aid

The majority of Caltech undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2021, 459 of the 901 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Caltech meets 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $50,854 a year. Around 28 percent of Caltech undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Caltech graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $16,950 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Caltech financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Caltech

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2021, Caltech awarded 459 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $22,736,135 to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $242,332 in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Caltech

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Caltech students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Caltech was $50,854 in 2021. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Caltech seem more manageable.

What will attending Caltech really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Caltech's net cost calculator on their website.

Caltech Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Caltech does not have guaranteed tuition.

The school offers a Prepaid Tuition Plan, which is a type of college savings plan that enables people to purchase future credits for their children at today's rate. It is best for people who are sure they or their child will attend a public school in their state.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does California Institute of Technology offer tuition waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups to cover some or all of the cost of tuition. Some schools offer them for employees and their family, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.