Caltech scholarships and merit aid
The short answer
We did not find a simple published award list to show for Caltech. Read our full reasoning before spending more time here.
1 school source to explore
Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.
Explore the aid policy
Start with the financial aid office
This research does not list a merit award. Explore the recorded policies below and ask Caltech's financial aid office about current options.
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What makes Caltech different
Caltech offers no merit scholarships — 'All scholarships and grants at Caltech are need-based, as the Institute does not have a merit aid program.' Even named/endowed scholarships are awarded on need, and Caltech meets 100% of demonstrated need.
Start with the aid policy
Find the right kind of aid.
This research does not list a merit award. Check the school's financial aid options and application requirements; an empty award list is not proof that no aid is available.
- Read the selection rules
Look for the school's stated criteria and whether an additional application is needed.
- Check the application dates
Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.
- Know what happens next year
Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.
The fine print / Three questions to carry forward
Before you count on it.
Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.
Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.
Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.
A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.
See what could change an award
What families often miss
Caltech states 'All scholarships and grants at Caltech are need-based, as the Institute does not have a merit aid program.' A near-perfect profile earns admission, not a price cut. A high-stat student with no demonstrated need pays full cost.
Caltech's named scholarships fund the same need-based packages: 'Named scholarships are also need-based, but some have a merit component.' The merit component is a selection nuance within a need-based award — it is not a stand-alone merit discount you can win without demonstrated need.
Caltech meets 100% of demonstrated financial need through grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. For a family with real need, the net price can be far below the published cost. Run Caltech's net price calculator before deciding it is unaffordable.
See costs and school data
Who this school may work for
Academically elite students from low- and middle-income families who will generate demonstrated need — Caltech meets 100% of it. Students hoping a perfect SAT/ACT or research record will convert into an automatic tuition discount should not count on it; Caltech runs no merit-aid program.
- Tuition & fees
- Housing & food
- Books
- Personal
Full-time undergraduate, on-campus, 9-month. Tuition & fees = $65,622 tuition + $2,586 fees; Housing & food = $12,105 housing + $8,886 food. Waivable health insurance and optional travel allowance excluded. Sums exactly to published $93,912.
Cost and graduation facts
Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Caltech, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.
| Family income | Average net price paid |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $0 — grants exceeded costs by $2,133 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $0 — grants exceeded costs by $2,886 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $431 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,753 |
| $110,001+ | $54,157 |
| All income levels (average) | $16,075 |
A net price shown as "$0 — grants exceeded costs" means average grant aid for students in that income bracket was greater than the full cost of attendance that year — a genuine reported outcome, not a data error.
Sticker price vs. what students actually pay
- Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
- $65,898
- Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
- $16,075
That works out to roughly a 81% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $86,886 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).
Outcomes for students who enrolled here
- Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
- 94%
- First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
- 97%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
- $128,566
- Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
- 21%
- Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
- 4%
See other scholarships and cost examples
More school data
From the Caltech Common Data Set 2024-2025 (school-estimated figures):
As filed in Caltech's CDS Section H2A: of 218 first-time, full-time degree-seeking freshmen, 0 had no financial need and received institutional merit (non-need) scholarship or grant aid. Across all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates: 0 of 987. Athletic awards are excluded per the CDS definition.
The 2024-2025 column is marked "estimated" in the school's own CDS filing — school-projected figures, not final audited counts.
Caltech merit aid FAQ
Does Caltech offer merit scholarships?
No. Caltech is explicit: 'All scholarships and grants at Caltech are need-based, as the Institute does not have a merit aid program.' There is no automatic or competitive merit scholarship for undergraduates — all institutional aid follows demonstrated financial need.
How is financial aid determined at Caltech?
Aid is need-based. Caltech evaluates a family's financial circumstances and meets 100% of demonstrated need through a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Academic merit gets you admitted; it does not by itself produce a discount.
Are Caltech's named or endowed scholarships merit awards?
No. Per Caltech, 'Named scholarships are also need-based, but some have a merit component.' These named funds pay for need-based packages; the merit component affects which fund a student is matched to, not whether a no-need student can win one.
Does Caltech meet full demonstrated need?
Yes. Caltech states it meets 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need, reflecting its commitment to low- and middle-income families. The package can include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
See sources and other schools
Sources used on this page
Every claim is checked against Caltech’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
- Cost of attendanceCaltech cost-of-attendance worksheet
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