California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology, better known as Caltech, is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, just outside Los Angeles. With only about 2,400 students, Caltech is one of the smallest top-tier universities in the world—but also one of the most powerful in terms of research and innovation. It is best known for its strengths in physics, engineering, and the natural sciences, and it manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, giving students unique opportunities to work on real space missions. The campus has a collaborative, close-knit feel, and its culture emphasizes curiosity, precision, and discovery. Often described as the “MIT of the West,” Caltech stands out for combining world-class science with an intimate academic community.