Financial Aid

Caltech believes that qualified students who wish to attend the Institute should not be prevented from doing so for financial reasons. Although the Institute expects students and families to finance the cost of education to the fullest extent possible, the Institute will make every effort to assist those who need help.

Demonstrated financial need is the difference between the annual cost of attending Caltech and the amount the student and parents can reasonably be expected to contribute toward those costs. Costs include actual tuition, student fees, housing, food/meals, books and supplies, and personal expenses. For U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens who reside in the United States, Canada, Mexico, or Guam, costs include a travel allowance designed to (partially) offset the cost (airfare) of two round-trips from a student’s home during the academic year. Caltech’s estimate of a family’s ability to contribute is determined annually in accordance with nationally established guidelines.

Eligibility for each type of assistance varies, depending upon the source of funds. Assistance offered by Caltech includes federal, state, and institutional grants, subsidized part-time jobs, and loans. U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens (as defined in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]) may apply for state and federally funded programs. International students may apply for institutionally funded programs.

Applications for admission are evaluated separately from requests for financial aid. Students with complete financial aid applications on file will be considered for all applicable types of need-based assistance. A renewal application must be submitted each year. In addition to direct financial assistance, information is available, upon request, about education payment plans and financial-planning resources. (Learn about non-need-based scholarships and prizes under Prizes and Awards.)

All students who believe they will need assistance to attend Caltech are encouraged to submit a financial aid application. The final day to complete a financial aid application or request a loan is one day after the beginning of the registration period for the term following your last term of enrollment for the year. Please use the table below to determine which deadline applies to you.

The Financial Aid Office staff is happy to talk with students and their families at any time to explain the application process, Caltech’s computations, and available programs. For further information on the determination of financial need and on application procedures, as well as on financial aid awards and programs, contact the Financial Aid Office, California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 20-90, Pasadena, CA 91125; call (626) 395-6280; or visit the Caltech Financial Aid Office website at finaid.caltech.edu.