Application Process for Caltech and Federal Financial Aid for Entering Students (U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens)
Slightly different procedures and deadlines exist for each category of students applying for financial aid. Detailed descriptions of these procedures and priority due dates for prospective and continuing students may be found on the Caltech Financial Aid Office website at finaid.caltech.edu.
International Applicants
If you are applying for admission as a first-year student for the fall of 2026 and are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States at the time of your application for admission, you will need to refer to the Caltech Financial Aid Office website at finaid.caltech.edu/applying/international-students for instructions for applying for financial aid.
Applying for Admissions & Financial Aid
International students who want to apply for financial aid must do so as an incoming first-year. If you do not apply for aid as a first-year, or if you apply but do not qualify for aid as a first-year, you will not be permitted to apply for aid in subsequent years at Caltech. There is no financial aid available for international students who apply for admission as a transfer or 3/2.
If you are applying for aid as an international student, you must disclose that you are planning to apply for financial aid on your admissions application.
Federal Student Aid
International students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds. Therefore, they cannot receive the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) or Federal Work-Study, and they cannot apply for additional loan assistance through the Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct PLUS Loan programs.
Financial Aid Policies & Application
Aside from the restrictions listed above, financial aid policies are mostly the same for international students as for domestic students, so most of the information on this website is valid for international students as well. However, the financial aid application requirements for international students differ from those of domestic students. Use the links below to find out what documents to submit to apply for aid as an international student.
Application for incoming first-years (Restrictive Early Action)