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Master of Science in Civil Engineering 

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#17 in Civil Engineering in USA

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  • Institute IconDepartment of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
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Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Overview

Duration

2 years
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Tuition & Fees

58.19 Lakh
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Course Level

PG Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Fees

icon1st year tuition fees
Fees componentsAmount (for 1 year)
Tuition & feesINR 58,18,703
iconOther expenses in 1st Year
Fees componentsAmount (for 1 year)
Hostel & MealsINR 6,65,025
InsuranceINR 4,43,173
Info IconCalculated at the exchange rate of 1 USD = INR 88.67 | Tuition & expenses were last updated on 12ᵗʰ March 2025

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Curriculum

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Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Entry Requirements

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Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
 
Frequently Asked Questions

Q:   Is Caltech harder to get into than MIT?
A: 

Yes, the Caltech acceptance rate stands at 3%. while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 4.52% giving students a marginally better chance of admission.

Interested applicants must stand out among their peers both academically and non-academically, across every level of studies and submit a standout application to have the best possible chance of admission.

Q:   Does Caltech provides immigration support to international students?
A: 

Yes, Caltech provides all-round support to all its international students, as part of its International Student Program (ISP). 

The Caltech ISP program provides guidance on visa acquirement, employment authorization, travel guidance, visa delay assistance, community building & support with taxes in the US among other things.

International students can contact university officials via its official website for the same.

Q:   How much does California Institute of Technology cost for international students?
A: 

California Institute of Technology cost vary by housing and living type for international students. Applicants can select either on-campus or off-campus housing to study at the university. The table bleow includes the Catalina Apartments monthly rates:

Type of Housing

Cost for 2025-26

Four-bedroom Quad - Furnished

USD 750 or INR 65,344 per bed

Two-bedroom Double - Furnished

USD 895 or INR 77,977 per bed

One-bedroom Single - Furnished

USD 1,510 or INR 1.31 L per bed

Mentioned below is the Off-Campus housing monthly rates:

Type of Housing

Cost for 2025-26

Studio Apt. Single - Furnished

USD 1,140 or INR 99,322 per apt.

One-bedroom Apt. - Unfurnished

USD 1,250 or INR 109 L per apt.

Two-bedroom Apt. - Unfurnished

USD 1,680 or INR 1.46 L per apt.

(USD 1 = INR 87.13)

Q:   Is Caltech an Ivy League?
A: 

Caltech is not an Ivy League school but it tends to enjoy a similar reputation and social status. In regards to Math / Science / Engineering education, Caltech is one of the best institutes to attend. In terms of the quality of the student body and the raw IQ, then also Caltech is a top institute for studies. According to unofficial sources, Caltech trumps every other college in the nation including MIT and Harvard. The sources also claim that students must be smart and clever enough in Math / Science to survive at Caltech.

Q:   Which is better in US News rankings: Stanford University or California Tech?
A: 

As per U.S. News ranking, Stanford ranks better than Caltech. Both these universities are the top-ranked universities globally and in the U.S. 

University Name

2024 Ranking

2025 Ranking

Stanford

33

CalTech

2323

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Application Process

Step one
Prepare documents for application
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SOP
  • Statement of purpose must:
    • Provide a brief statement of your scientific and professional interests and objectives and explain why you are interested in graduate studies at Caltech.
    • Include a description of your past accomplishments that are not evident from the examination of other documents submitted, including research in progress.
    • Discuss the most influential science or engineering experience you have had. 
LOR
  • Three letters of recommendation are required 
    • Letters should be requested from those individuals who know you best and can attest to your academic capabilities or training
    •  individuals writing recommendation letters should be able to address the following information:

      • How well the applicant is known and in what capacity
      • If the applicant has the intellectual capability, experimental ability, fundamental training, creativity, and motivation to be successful as a student at Caltech
      • Whether the applicant would be encouraged to do doctoral research under the reference writer's supervision
      • If English is not the native language, how well does the applicant read, write, and converse in English?
      • How does the applicant compare to any previous students who have come to Caltech for their graduate work?
ESSAYS
  • The personal essays provide admissions committees an opportunity to learn about an applicant's background,
    goals and aspirations. They also serve as an example of aptitude in scientific exposition.
CV
  • Attach a CV or resume that includes the following, if applicable:
    • Teaching, professional, and vocational experience (include military service, but omit summer or part-time
      work not relevant to your professional goals)
    • Research experience
    • Major academic recognitions, honors, and memberships in scientific, professional and honorary societies
    • Professional activities
    • Significant extracurricular activities
    • Conference presentations
    • Titles of publications,major papers, or theses authored or co-authored; if published provide citation

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Rankings

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Placements

ParticularsStatistics (2022)
Internship AvailableYes

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
 
Students also asked

Q:   What are the housing options at Caltech?
A: 

Caltech has 11 residence halls on campus with a variety of living arrangements: singles, doubles, triples, and suite-style living. There are 8 traditional UG houses as well as 3 unaffiliated (non-house) halls. There are common areas for students to socialize, mingle, dine, and work on problem sets together. Furthermore, the university’s residence halls also provide a strong support system. Each has peer advisors, health advocates, a resident associate, etc. Also, there is always someone to talk to when students need any kind of assistance or just want to chat. Furthermore, the housing system also offers a lot of opportunities to join student leadership.

Q:   Does Caltech host any parties?
A: 

Caltech students can choose to opt into the house system, where they are placed into one of the eight UG houses. Each house has a family-style dinner every weeknight during which they sit together in their dining hall and are served by paid student waiters. Each UG house has its unique customs. For example, Dabney House stages a liquid nitrogen pumpkin drop from the top of the Caltech Hall every Halloween. Furthermore, these houses host one ‘inter-house’ party during the year. These are elaborate events, where members of the house plan food, music, décor, and other parts of the party for the UG student body.

Q:   What are some popular student events that take place at Caltech?
A: 

TEDx, Science Tuesdays at KML, Founding & Investing in the Technologies of Tommorrow, Stargazing & Americana Music Nights are among the popular student events at Caltech.

These events aim to bring together students to understand the complexities of today & tommorrow & develop the skills necessary to deal with them, with experts of different fields guiding them over this journey.

Also, a great opportunity to grow your network & build meaningful connections.

Q:   Who are the notable faculty members of CalTech?
A: 

CalTech is one of the top universities in the world. Known for its state of the art research facilities and engineering program, Caltech ranks among the top 10 universities in the world as per THE 2024 Rankings. Some of the notable faculty members of the university are:

Faculty NameDetails
Thomas F Rosenbaum,  Ph.D.President; Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair; Professor of Physics
John N Abelson,  Ph.D.George Beadle Professor of Biology, Emeritus
Yaser Abu-Mostafa,  Ph.D.Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Rana Adhikari,  Ph.D.Professor of Physics
Jess F Adkins,  Ph.D.Smits Family Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science
Q:   What is the entrance exam for Caltech?
A: 

The university does not conduct an entrance exam of its own; however, it does consider valid scores in the SAT or ACT for admission to undergraduate courses. 

Students seeking admission to STEM courses are required to have completed their secondary school studies in the relevant fields. 

Source: California Institute of Technology Official Website

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Highlights

  • Aim of the program is to prepare students for research and professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary technology
  • The program combines individual depth of experience and competence in a particular chosen major specialty, with a strong background in the basic and engineering sciences
  • It develops professional independence, creativity, leadership, and the capacity for continuing professional and intellectual growth

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
Scholarships

Scholarship information is not available. You can apply to non-college specific scholarships available for USA.
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About the author

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Loveleen Sharma

Study Abroad Expert

Loveleen is a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for Shiksha. When he is not writing and helping students, he can be found at the movies, reading fiction, and learning a new language.

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
 
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Master of Science in Civil Engineering
 at 
Caltech 
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