Caltech Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees & Aid Guide

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🎓 Caltech tuition 2026-2027 guide

Caltech Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees, Aid, Scholarships and Payment Guide

Caltech tuition searchers usually need the real number first. For 2026-2027, Caltech undergraduate tuition is $68,574, tuition and fees are $71,229, and the on-campus cost of attendance is $98,622 before financial aid.

This guide answers Caltech tuition, tuition per term, tuition per year, in-state vs out-of-state, room and board, health insurance, financial aid, FAFSA code, payment plan, due dates, Bursar contact and campus map in a scan-first format.

💰 Cost table 🔎 Popular answers 💳 Pay tuition
$68,574

2026-2027 undergraduate tuition for the academic year.

$71,229

Tuition and mandatory fees before housing and food.

$98,622

On-campus undergraduate cost of attendance before aid.

001131

Caltech undergraduate FAFSA federal school code.

Quick answer: how much does Caltech cost in 2026-2027?

A full-time undergraduate living in Caltech-owned housing should plan around $98,622 before financial aid. That includes direct billed costs plus estimated books and personal expenses.

Caltech’s direct billed cost for tuition, fees, on-campus housing and food is $93,225. Health insurance is separate and can add $5,388 for the year unless waived with comparable coverage.

Net price matters: Caltech says it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and its grants/scholarships are need-based. There is no Caltech merit aid program.

Caltech tuition guide quick navigation

💰 Tuition, fees and housing 🔎 Popular search answers 📦 Full cost of attendance 🏛️ In-state vs out-of-state 🎁 Need-based aid and FAFSA 💳 Payment plan and billing 📅 2026-2027 due dates ☎️ Contacts and map

Caltech undergraduate tuition and fees 2026-2027

Caltech uses a three-term academic year: fall, winter and spring. Tuition and fees are divided across the terms.

Caltech undergraduate on-campus cost: 2026-2027
Cost item Per term Annual amount What it means
Tuition $22,858 $68,574 Main Caltech tuition number for undergraduate students.
Mandatory fees $885 $2,655 Required student fees, not including health insurance.
Tuition and fees $23,743 $71,229 Best answer for “Caltech tuition and fees.”
Housing / room $4,237 $12,711 On-campus Caltech-owned housing budget.
Food / meals $3,095 $9,285 On-campus food/meal budget.
Room and board $7,332 $21,996 Housing + food for room-and-board searches.
Total direct costs $31,075 $93,225 Costs Caltech bills before aid, insurance and optional items.
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment Estimate $1,428 Indirect estimated academic supplies.
Personal expenses Estimate $3,969 Estimated personal spending.
Total indirect costs Estimate $5,397 Not usually billed directly by Caltech, but used for aid planning.
Total on-campus cost of attendance Full estimate $98,622 Best full-year planning number before financial aid.

Health insurance and first-year charges

Caltech extra charges to check on the student account
Charge Amount When it matters
Health insurance $1,796 per term / $5,388 annual Applies unless waived with comparable coverage.
Dental insurance $135 Listed as a one-time fall charge in the undergraduate account estimator.
Vision insurance $30.96 Listed as a one-time fall charge in the undergraduate account estimator.
Orientation fee $600 One-time charge for entering undergraduate students.
General deposit $100 Refundable at separation if no unpaid balance remains.
Official sources: Caltech On-Campus Cost of Attendance · Caltech Undergraduate Accounts

Caltech cost of attendance: on campus, off campus and living with parents

Cost of attendance is not the same as the bill. It includes direct billed costs plus estimated indirect costs used for financial aid planning.

Caltech undergraduate cost of attendance comparison: 2026-2027
Budget item On campus Off campus Living with parents
Tuition $68,574 $68,574 $68,574
Fees $2,655 $2,655 $2,655
Housing $12,711 $16,677 Included in living expenses
Food / meals $9,285 $7,884 Included in living expenses
Books, materials and supplies $1,428 $1,428 $1,428
Living expenses N/A N/A $12,537
Personal expenses $3,969 $5,706 $4,563
Total direct costs $93,225 $71,229 $71,229
Total indirect costs $5,397 $31,695 $18,528
Total cost of attendance $98,622 $102,924 $89,757
Estimated Caltech net cost = cost of attendance − Caltech scholarship/grant aid − federal/state grants − outside scholarships + work-study/loans accepted
Official sources: Caltech On-Campus Cost · Caltech Off-Campus Cost

Caltech in-state vs out-of-state tuition: private institute answer

Caltech is private, so tuition is not split into California resident and nonresident rates.

Residency and Caltech tuition
Search query Direct answer What actually changes the cost?
Caltech in-state tuition No separate in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Financial aid, housing, insurance, travel and family contribution.
Caltech out-of-state tuition No separate out-of-state undergraduate tuition rate. Travel allowance, housing choice, need-based aid and insurance.
Caltech international tuition No public-style residency split. International aid application rules, travel, insurance, visa costs and payment timing.
Practical answer: For Caltech, compare net price after need-based aid, not residency discount.

Caltech financial aid: need-based scholarships, FAFSA, CSS Profile and deadlines

Caltech aid is built around demonstrated financial need. Grants and scholarships are gifts that do not need to be repaid, while work-study must be earned and loans must be repaid.

001131

Caltech undergraduate FAFSA federal school code.

100%

Caltech says it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

No merit aid

Caltech scholarships and grants are need-based.

March 16, 2026

Priority deadline for new Regular Decision aid applicants.

Caltech aid items students should know
Aid item What Caltech says Student action
Caltech scholarships Need-based institutional scholarship funds. Complete the financial aid application every year.
Merit scholarships Caltech does not have a merit aid program. Do not plan around merit discounts.
FAFSA Required for domestic federal aid review. Use undergraduate federal code 001131.
CSS Profile Used for institutional aid review for many applicants. Submit by the applicable priority deadline.
Work-study Earned by working on campus or eligible institutions. Use it as planned income, not upfront bill payment.
Loans Borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Review grants and outside scholarships before borrowing.
Outside scholarships Can reduce self-help first, such as work-study and loan funds. Report outside resources to Financial Aid.
Health insurance aid Aid recipients who enroll in Caltech insurance may request that the expense be added to COA. Submit the proper request form if using Caltech health insurance.

2026-2027 financial aid priority deadlines

Caltech undergraduate financial aid priority deadlines
Applicant type Priority deadline What to prepare
New applicant, Restrictive Early Action December 15, 2025 Complete required aid forms for early aid review.
New applicant, Regular Decision March 16, 2026 FAFSA, CSS Profile, IDOC documents and Caltech forms as applicable.
Continuing students May 20, 2026 Renew FAFSA and required Caltech/IDOC documents.
Official aid sources: Caltech Grants & Scholarships · Caltech FAFSA Instructions · Caltech Financial Aid Deadlines · Affording Caltech

How to pay Caltech tuition: Transact, ACH, payment plan and authorized users

Caltech undergraduate bills are online through Transact/CASHNet. Students can add parents or other authorized users to view and pay bills.

Open access.caltech.edu Students log in and select the Bursar Billing and Payment link for Transact.
Review the term bill Check tuition, fees, room, board, health insurance, orientation fee, deposit and accepted financial aid.
Add authorized users Parents or payers need Transact access from the student before they can view or pay the bill.
Use ACH if paying online Caltech lists ACH electronic check payment through Transact with a $0.50 service fee.
Do not plan on card payment Caltech states that credit and debit cards are not accepted for domestic online student account payment.
Use payment plan if needed The undergraduate Transact/CASHNet plan splits a term balance into three monthly installments.
Caltech student account payment methods
Payment method Official detail Practical note
ACH / electronic check $0.50 non-refundable service fee through Transact. Use U.S. checking or savings account details carefully.
Returned ACH $15 returned ACH fee through Transact. Confirm routing/account number before submitting.
529 payment Some 529 plans work through Transact with a $10 service fee. Check whether your 529 vendor is supported.
Credit/debit card Not accepted for domestic online student account payment. Use ACH, check, wire or other accepted options instead.
Check / money order Mail to Caltech Bursar’s Office, MC 120-87, Pasadena, CA 91125. Include student name and UID.
International payment PayMyTuition and Flywire are listed for international payments. Plan early for bank, currency and processing delays.

Caltech payment plan 2026-2027

Undergraduate Transact/CASHNet payment plan dates and fees
Term Enrollment window Installment due dates Fees
Fall 2026 September 11-24, 2026 1st due at enrollment, 2nd October 9, final November 9 $35 enrollment, $10 late, $15 NSF
Winter 2027 December 11-24, 2026 1st due at enrollment, 2nd January 9, final February 9 $35 enrollment, $10 late, $15 NSF
Spring 2027 March 11-24, 2027 1st due at enrollment, 2nd April 9, final May 9 $35 enrollment, $10 late, $15 NSF
Official payment sources: Caltech Undergraduate Accounts · Caltech Undergraduate Payment Plans · Caltech Domestic Payments

Caltech tuition due dates, late fees and registration holds

Tuition, fees, room and board are due on the first day of each term. Payment plan due dates are separate.

Caltech 2026-2027 undergraduate billing dates
Term Statement available Tuition and fees due Late fee / hold timing
Fall 2026 September 11, 2026 September 28, 2026 Late fee and winter registration hold can apply October 8.
Winter 2027 December 11, 2026 January 4, 2027 Late fee and spring registration hold can apply January 8.
Spring 2027 March 11, 2027 March 29, 2027 Late fee and fall registration hold can apply April 8.
Late payment penalty

Caltech catalog lists a $50 late penalty for failure to clear a past-due account at the beginning of each term.

Registration hold

Undergraduate accounts with an outstanding Bursar balance of $300 or more can receive a registration hold.

Hold release timing

Hold release after Transact/CASHNet payment can take 3-5 business days once payment clears.

ID card charges

If an undergraduate owes more than $300, ID card charging privileges may be deactivated.

Official dates source: Caltech Bursar Deadlines 2026-2027 · Caltech Undergraduate Expenses Catalog

Caltech graduate tuition quick guide

Graduate tuition uses a separate budget. For 2026-2027, the Graduate Studies Office lists tuition and mandatory fees by term.

Caltech graduate tuition and mandatory fees 2026-2027
Graduate cost item Fall 2026 Winter 2027 Spring 2027 Annual total
Tuition $22,858 $22,858 $22,858 $68,574
Mandatory fees $816 $816 $816 $2,448
Total tuition and mandatory fees $23,674 $23,674 $23,674 $71,022
Official graduate source: Caltech Graduate Estimated Budget

Caltech tuition contacts, address and map

Use the Bursar for student billing, payment, Transact, payment plans, refunds and student account holds. Use Financial Aid for FAFSA, CSS Profile, need-based aid, grants, scholarships, work-study and loans.

Bursar’s Office

Best for: tuition bill, payment, Transact, authorized users, payment plan, refunds, account holds.

Phone: (626) 395-2988

Email: bursar@caltech.edu

Check mailing address: Bursar’s Office, MC 120-87, Pasadena, CA 91125

Campus address: California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125

Financial Aid Office

Best for: aid application, FAFSA, CSS Profile, Caltech scholarships, grants, work-study, loans, special circumstances.

Phone: (626) 395-6280

Email: finaid@caltech.edu

Document email: finaiddoc@caltech.edu

Office: 383 S. Hill Ave., behind the Holliston parking structure

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM

Before contacting Caltech: Keep student UID, term, bill screenshot, financial aid offer, FAFSA year, CSS Profile/IDOC status, insurance waiver status and payment confirmation ready.

Caltech campus map

Student and parent checklist before paying Caltech tuition

Start with the correct full cost Use $98,622 for on-campus undergraduate cost before aid, not only the $68,574 tuition line.
Check health insurance Health insurance can add $5,388 unless waived with comparable coverage.
File aid with Caltech code 001131 Caltech aid is need-based. Submit FAFSA, CSS Profile and IDOC documents by your deadline.
Add authorized users early Parents need Transact access before they can view and pay the bill.
Choose payment method carefully ACH has a small service fee; credit/debit cards are not accepted for domestic online student account payments.
Watch term due dates Fall tuition is due September 28, 2026; winter January 4, 2027; spring March 29, 2027.

FAQs about Caltech tuition 2026

How much is Caltech tuition in 2026-2027?

Caltech undergraduate tuition is $68,574 for the year, or $22,858 per term.

What are Caltech tuition and fees?

For 2026-2027, Caltech undergraduate tuition is $68,574 and mandatory fees are $2,655, making tuition and fees $71,229.

What is Caltech cost of attendance?

Caltech’s 2026-2027 undergraduate cost of attendance is $98,622 on campus, $102,924 off campus and $89,757 living with parents.

Does Caltech have in-state tuition?

No. Caltech is private, so it does not have a separate in-state tuition rate for California residents.

Does Caltech have out-of-state tuition?

No separate out-of-state undergraduate tuition rate is listed. Nonresident cost differences usually come from travel, housing, insurance and financial aid.

How much is Caltech room and board?

For on-campus undergraduates, housing is $12,711 and food/meals are $9,285, making room and board $21,996 for 2026-2027.

What is Caltech’s FAFSA code?

Caltech’s undergraduate FAFSA federal school code is 001131.

Does Caltech offer merit scholarships?

No. Caltech states that all scholarships and grants are need-based, and it does not have a merit aid program.

Can Caltech tuition be paid monthly?

Caltech offers a Transact/CASHNet undergraduate payment plan that splits the term balance into three monthly installments. The enrollment fee is $35 per term.

When is Caltech tuition due for 2026-2027?

Caltech lists undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board due September 28, 2026 for fall, January 4, 2027 for winter and March 29, 2027 for spring.

Bottom line: Caltech tuition for 2026-2027 is $68,574, tuition and mandatory fees are $71,229, and the on-campus undergraduate cost of attendance is $98,622 before aid. Caltech is private, so there is no in-state/out-of-state tuition split. The most important family number is the net price after need-based Caltech scholarships, grants, work-study, loans and any outside scholarships.

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