Campus life thrives on Caltech’s 124 acres. Housing is available, with 95% of students staying on campus (the dorms can hold 1572). Meal plans are available and students should be ready to use them! Every House actually has a fully stocked kitchen, holding everything from pasta to ice cream.
Although Caltech is, of course, known for its technology focus, the university is nearly as well known for its pranks and traditions. Some jokes included changing the Hollywood sign to read “Caltech” or the Great Rose Bowl Hoax, which saw the scoreboard changed to read “Caltech 38, MIT 9.” Recently, in 2011, students traveled to New York where they redesigned The Cube sculpture to resemble the companion cube from Portal.
The Caltech-MIT rivalry has gained steam in recent years, including mugs that originally read “MIT” and “The Institute of Technology.” However, when the cups became hot, they changed to the Caltech color of orange reading “Caltech The Hotter Institute of Technology.”
Traditions also weigh heavily on the campus with students attending events such as the Millikan pumpkin-drop experiment, where they hope to see the spark from the liquid nitrogen, or cookie Thursdays where physicists and students take a cookie break. Also expect the cannon! Caltech will not give warning before they set it off.
Of course, Caltech is also home to many learning opportunities including the Millikan Library, named for the school’s first Nobel Prize winner, academic/career counseling services, placement services for completers, employment services for students, and an on campus day care for parents. Students can also participate in clubs, including several in performance and visual arts.
The California Institute of Technology has approximately 261 athletes on campus, with a focus on Basketball, Soccer, and Tennis. Part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athletic conference, students can root for the Beavers, named so to honor nature’s engineer.
Campus Housing - Dorms and Meal Plans
Provides on campus housing
Yes
Residence hall capacity
1,572
Does college offer a meal plan?
Yes, number of meals per week can vary
Must all students live on campus?
No
Residence halls on campus:
/ S Chester, Avery House, Bechtel Residence, Blacker House, Braun, Catalina, Cordova, Dabney House, E Del Mar, Fleming House, Lloyd House, Marks, Page House, Ricketts House, S Catalina, S Chester, S Michigan, S Wilson, Venerable House
Sports Programs & Athletics
Athletic conferences
Basketball - Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Baseball - Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Cross Country/Track - Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Number of Varsity Athletes by Sport in 2025
| Sport | # of Men | # of Women |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 27 | 0 |
| Basketball | 12 | 15 |
| Cross Country | 18 | 13 |
| Soccer | 27 | 27 |
| Swimming and Diving (combined) | 24 | 21 |
| Tennis | 12 | 12 |
| Track and Field (Outdoor) | 27 | 25 |
| Volleyball | 0 | 13 |
| Water Polo | 11 | 13 |
Data from 2022 |
Athletic Association
Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Athletic Classification
NCAA Division III without football
Athletic Summary
Total # athletes
261
Male Athletes 141
Female Athletes 120
Total sports revenue
$3,359,844
Total sports expenses
$3,200,242
Avg. head coach salary - Women
(# full-time equivalents)
(# full-time equivalents)
$74,287 (5.5)
Avg. head coach salary - Men
(# FTE)
(# FTE)
$74,035 (5.5)
Campus Services and Programs
Services
Academic/career counseling service
Employment services for students
Placement services for completers
Library facilities
Access to digital/electronic resources
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
Established library hours
Organized collection of printed materials
Physical facilities
Staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Hospital on campus?
No
Other
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% of students with registered disabilities
9.22%
|
Nearby Restaurants
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Nearby Social Spots
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