The mission of the California Institute of Technology is to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education. We investigate the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere, while educating outstanding students to become creative members of society.
Caltech Fact Sheet 2011-2012 (pdf)
2011 Caltech Overview Brochure
- Location
- Academic Organization
- Student Body Profile
- Degrees Awarded
- Faculty in Residence
- Other Employees
- Living Alumni
Location Top
Caltech's 124-acre campus is situated in Pasadena, California, a city of 141,000 at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, approximately 30 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and 10 miles northeast of the Los Angeles Civic Center.
The Institute is an independent, privately supported university.
Academic Organization Top
Caltech has six academic divisions:
- Biology
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Engineering and Applied Science
- Geological and Planetary Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Beneath this apparently simple organization lie some 40 areas of concentration in science, mathematics, engineering, and the humanities and social sciences.
Student Body Profile Top
Fall Enrollment 2010-2011
Undergraduate Students:
Total: 967
Men: 585
Women: 382
Graduate Students:
Total: 1,208
Men: 857
Women: 351
Office of the Registrar 2010-2011 Enrollment Profile
2010 Freshman Class
- There were 4,859 applications for the 2010 freshman class; 610 offers of admission were made, and 222 students matriculated. 133 men; 89 women.
- 70 percent of 2010 freshmen attended public high schools; 15 percent attended private schools; 11 percent attended international schools and 1% were home schooled.
- 31 percent are from California; 5 percent from the Northeast; 16 percent from the Midwest; 12 percent from the South; 8 percent from the West (excluding California); 4 percent from the Southwest; 9 percent are international students.
- Their most popular extracurricular activities were science/math teams (74%); volunteering/community service (81%); music (52%); scientific research (53%); and sports (36%).
- Their SAT mid-50% scores were 2200-2330 ACT mid-50% composite scores were 33–35.
- 99 percent of those ranked were in the top 10 percent of their class.
- Fifty-eight percent of undergraduates receive need-based financial assistance.
Degrees Awarded, June 2010 Top
BS 192 MS 119 Engineer 2 PhD 179
Overall graduate rate: 90%
(full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates; graduation rates are within 150% of normal time to program completion)
(as of December 2010)
Professorial faculty 294 Emeriti 100 Research faculty 74 Other faculty 57 Visiting faculty 208 Visitors 112
Caltech also employees 621 Postdoctoral scholars and 35 Senior Postdoctoral scholars who work with professors in existing research programs.
Employees Top
(as of December 2010)
Campus (excluding faculty and students) 3,800 JPL (excluding contractors) 5,000
Living Alumni Top
(as of January 2010)
Total 22,433
BS 11,417 MS 7,787 Engineer 366
Certificate 71 PhD 6,975 Ex student 626 Total 27,242
(The total number of degrees is greater than the number of living alumni because many graduates have multiple Caltech degrees.)