
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is one of the few schools in the US that is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students, just like it does for domestic students. This means that Caltech does not consider an applicant's ability to pay when making admissions decisions, and they commit to covering all demonstrated financial need for all four years. However, international students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds and therefore cannot receive certain grants or apply for additional loan assistance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Financial aid for international students | Caltech is need-aware for international students as the total amount of financial aid funds for them is limited. |
| Application process | International students must disclose that they are planning to apply for financial aid on their admissions application. |
| Requirements | International students must submit English Proficiency Exam scores unless their native language is English or it is the primary language of instruction in their secondary school. |
| Fee waivers | Caltech offers fee waivers for applicants whose families face financial hardship. |
| No-loan policy | Caltech meets students' demonstrated needs with grants and on-campus employment instead of loans. |
| Federal student aid | International students are not eligible for federal student aid funds, including grants and work-study programs. |
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What You'll Learn
- Caltech offers need-blind financial aid to international students, covering 100% of demonstrated need
- Financial aid packages are typically composed of grants, not loans or work-study
- International students must apply for financial aid as incoming first-years
- International applicants must submit English Proficiency Exam scores, unless exempt
- Fee waivers are available for certain application requirements

Caltech offers need-blind financial aid to international students, covering 100% of demonstrated need
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) offers need-blind financial aid to international students, covering 100% of demonstrated need. This means that Caltech does not consider an applicant's ability to pay during the admissions process and commits to covering all demonstrated financial need for all four years. This is the same for both domestic and international students.
International students applying for financial aid must disclose this on their admissions application. They are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds, so they cannot receive grants or apply for loan assistance through federal programmes.
Caltech's financial aid packages are composed of grants, which do not need to be repaid, rather than loans or work-study. The university has a “No-Loan Policy”, meaning that a student's demonstrated need is met with grants and on-campus employment.
International applicants must submit either SAT or ACT test scores as part of their application. If a student could not take a standardised exam because it was not available in their country, they will be given an opportunity to explain in the Caltech-specific application. If the application fee presents a financial hardship, Caltech offers fee waivers.
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Financial aid packages are typically composed of grants, not loans or work-study
Caltech is one of the few schools in the US that is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need for international students, just like it does for domestic students. This means that Caltech does not consider your ability to pay when making admissions decisions and commits to covering all demonstrated financial needs for all four years.
Financial aid packages at Caltech are typically composed of grants, which do not need to be repaid, rather than loans or work-study. The university has a "'No-Loan Policy'", which means that a student's demonstrated need is met with grants and on-campus employment instead of loans. International students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds, so they cannot receive the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), or Federal Work-Study. They also cannot apply for additional loan assistance through the Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct PLUS Loan programs.
If you are an international applicant and plan to apply for financial aid during your undergraduate career, you must apply for it when you apply for admission. If Caltech offers you financial aid for the first year, you may reapply for aid in subsequent years. However, if you do not apply for or receive financial aid for your first year, you may not apply for aid for any other academic period.
If you are applying for financial aid and the application fee presents a hardship for your family, Caltech offers fee waivers. Additionally, if the cost of the required InitialView conversation and writing sample is prohibitive, fee waivers are also available for this.
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International students must apply for financial aid as incoming first-years
International students applying to Caltech must apply for financial aid as incoming first-years. This is a crucial step, as failing to do so will result in the loss of any opportunity to apply for financial aid in subsequent years. Caltech is one of the few schools in the US that is need-blind and meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for international students, just like it does for domestic students. This means that Caltech does not consider an applicant's ability to pay during the admissions process and commits to covering all demonstrated financial needs for all four years.
To apply for financial aid, international students must disclose their intention to do so on their admissions application. It is important to note that international students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds and, therefore, cannot receive certain grants or apply for additional loan assistance through federal loan programs. However, Caltech's financial aid policies are mostly the same for international students as they are for domestic students.
When applying for financial aid, international students may be required to submit SAT or ACT test scores, as well as AP or IB examination scores if available. If a student was unable to take a standardised exam due to accessibility issues or technical challenges, Caltech provides an opportunity to explain these circumstances in the Caltech-specific application. Additionally, international applicants who have not taken a humanities or social science course in their final two years of secondary school may substitute the required teacher evaluation with a letter from a teacher in a different core subject.
To demonstrate English proficiency, international applicants are required to submit English Proficiency Exam scores unless their native language is English or it is the primary language of instruction in their secondary school. Caltech accepts the Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS, or the TOEFL. International students are also encouraged to provide an InitialView conversation and writing sample, with fee waivers available if the cost is prohibitive.
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International applicants must submit English Proficiency Exam scores, unless exempt
International applicants to Caltech must submit English Proficiency Exam scores unless they are exempt. This is to ensure that international students are able to thrive in Caltech's classrooms and community.
Caltech accepts the Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS, or the TOEFL iBT. The TOEFL iBT is the world's most trusted and accepted English proficiency test, and students can take it at home or in a test centre. The IELTS Academic Test is also accepted in person and online. The Duolingo English Test is a popular choice for many applicants as it can be taken online.
Exemptions are generally granted to applicants whose native language is English or whose secondary school education was conducted in English. Applicants who have received a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution or an institution within an approved country within five years of the proposed admission term may also be exempt.
Additionally, students who have completed certain English courses or examinations with high scores may be considered exempt. For example, a minimum score of 53 is required for regular admission at Michigan State University, while a score of 46 is the minimum for provisional admission. Caltech may have different requirements, so it is important to check with the institution directly.
It is worth noting that financial aid policies at Caltech are mostly the same for international students as they are for domestic students. However, international students must apply for financial aid as incoming first-year students, and there is no financial aid available for those who apply as transfers.
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Fee waivers are available for certain application requirements
International students applying to Caltech are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds. 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. However, Caltech is one of the few schools in the US that is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students, just like it does for domestic students. This means that Caltech does not consider your ability to pay when making admissions decisions and commits to covering all demonstrated financial needs for all four years.
International students applying to Caltech must apply for financial aid in their first year. If they do not apply for aid as a first-year or do not qualify for aid as a first-year, they will not be permitted to apply for aid in subsequent years. Caltech offers need-based financial aid, and financial aid packages are typically composed of grants, which do not need to be repaid, rather than loans or work-study. There is also a “No-Loan Policy” at Caltech, which means that a student's demonstrated need is met with grants and on-campus employment, and not loans.
Caltech offers fee waivers for certain application requirements. For instance, if the cost of the InitialView conversation and writing sample is prohibitive, fee waivers are available. International students are encouraged to provide an InitialView conversation and writing sample, but this does not replace the English proficiency exam requirement. English proficiency scores are required of all international applicants unless their native language is English or English is the primary language of instruction in their secondary school.
Additionally, if the application fee presents a financial hardship for an applicant's family, Caltech offers fee waivers. If a student could not take a standardized exam because the exam was not available or easily accessible in their country or due to technical challenges, Caltech will give students an opportunity in the Caltech-specific application to explain the situation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Caltech gives financial aid to international students. However, international students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid funds, loans or work-study.
If you are an international applicant and plan to apply for financial aid, you must apply for it at the time that you apply for admission. You must disclose that you are planning to apply for financial aid on your admissions application.
International students must submit English Proficiency Exam scores unless their native language is English or English is the primary language of instruction in their secondary school. They must also submit SAT or ACT test scores.
Caltech is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need for international students. Financial aid packages are typically composed of grants, which do not need to be repaid. There is also a "No-Loan Policy", where demonstrated need is met with grants and on-campus employment.





























