California Institute of Technology

In 2022, Caltech's tuition was $60,816 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 4%–from $58,479 the previous year. On average, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the "sticker price" of tuition does not always tell the full story. Many students pay way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. And, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until you're done with college.

California Institute of Technology meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at California Institute of Technology is around $64,303 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $17,219 of debt.

California Institute of Technology: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

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

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a school where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the total cost of attending college. Take the time to check your state's guidelines for how to qualify for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other California colleges

California Institute of Technology International Student Tuition

California Institute of Technology has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but may qualify for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at California Institute of Technology:

•On-campus jobs •California Institute of Technology-specific loans •California Institute of Technology-specific scholarships

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California Institute of Technology Room, Board, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at California Institute of Technology.

Room and Board Costs at California Institute of Technology

Housing and campus dining at California Institute of Technology is $19,503 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that allows you to eat in the California Institute of Technology's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can pay for a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $12,960.

Board costs vary based on on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at California Institute of Technology

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have resources for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at California Institute of Technology

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in an urban area is sometimes pricey, but there may be more buses, trains and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. California Institute of Technologyis in a suburb in California, not far from Los Angeles.

Other Costs

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

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The Full Cost of Attending California Institute of Technology

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Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending California Institute of Technology.

How Much Does California Institute of Technology Cost?

What will the cost of attending California Institute of Technology be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$60,816
Room and Board	$19,503
Board Only	$6,471
Other expenses	$2,700

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$85,458
Off-Campus	$74,154

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.

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California Institute of Technology Financial Aid

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The majority of California Institute of Technology undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 505 of the 984 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. California Institute of Technology meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $64,303 a year. Around 27% of California Institute of Technology undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. California Institute of Technology graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $17,219 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$11,693
California Institute of Technology-Specific Loans	$14,539
Private Loans	$35,000

Most Common Loans for California Institute of Technology Students
Federal Loans	7%
Institutional Loans	22%
Private loans	2%

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 California Institute of Technology financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at California Institute of Technology

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 2023, California Institute of Technology awarded 505 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $29.3 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $370,000 in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of California Institute of Technology

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 California Institute of Technology 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 California Institute of Technology was $64,303 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of California Institute of Technology seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$21,155
Off-Campus	$9,851

What will attending California Institute of Technology 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 make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the California Institute of Technology's net cost calculator on their website.

California Institute of Technology Tuition Payment Plans

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

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

Does Caltech Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, 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.

California Institute of Technology's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

California Institute of Technology's endowment was valued at $3.4 billion in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. The school spends $111,976 for each full-time student enrolled.

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Learn More About California Institute of Technology

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