California Institute of Technology
On the 23rd of September 1891, local businessman Amos G. Throop founded a preparatory and vocational school in present-day Old Pasadena on Fair Oaks Avenue and Chestnut Street. The institution began as Throop University before evolving into Throop Polytechnic Institute and later Throop College of Technology. In 1904, solar astronomer George Ellery Hale established the Mount Wilson Observatory nearby to support scientific work. Hale joined Throop's board of trustees in 1907 and began transforming the school into a major scientific destination. He engineered the appointment of James A. B. Scherer as president in 1908 despite Scherer having no background in science. Scherer secured $25,000 from trustee Charles W. Gates to build Gates Laboratory, the first dedicated science building on campus. By 1910, the vocational and preparatory schools were disbanded and spun off to form the independent Polytechnic School. The remaining college assumed its current name, California Institute of Technology, in 1920. During World War I, Hale organized the National Research Council to coordinate military scientific problems while seeking private funding rather than federal appropriations for engineering research at land-grant colleges. Through this council, Throop received an additional research endowment of one hundred thousand dollars within three days. These new funds enabled the establishment of the Norman Bridge Laboratory which attracted experimental physicist Robert Andrews Millikan from the University of Chicago in 1917.
During World War II, Caltech scientists including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Richard Tolman, and Robert Bacher contributed critical aspects to atomic bomb development through the Manhattan Project. A group led by Charles Lauritsen developed high-explosive lenses used in the Fat Man implosion bomb crucial to both the Trinity Test and subsequent bombing of Nagasaki. Lauritsen's team created detonators later employed in atomic bombs. In November 1943, Caltech and the U.S. Navy established the Naval Ordnance Test Station in Inyokern, California near the Mojave Desert to work on aircraft ordnance and rocket development. One successful innovation was the 5-inch High-Velocity Aircraft Rocket commonly known as Holy Moses used against enemy fortifications and ships. By 1945, Caltech had essentially become an extension of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ordnance with rocket research providing important technology to combat capabilities. Early war efforts included work on various rocket designs at the Kellogg Radiation Laboratory including Tiny Tim and Mighty Mouse rockets used in naval engagements and land assaults. The Salt Wells Pilot Plant at Inyokern began producing high explosives just days before the Trinity Test in July 1945. From April to December 1951, Caltech hosted Project Vista, a federal classified study based at the Vista del Arroyo Hotel to improve tactical air support relationships during the Korean War. Under President Lee A. DuBridge, the university received about $750,000 compensation for its participation while more than a fourth of faculty and outside scientists staffed the project.
Caltech has produced 80 Nobel laureates affiliated with the institution making it the school with the highest number of Nobelists per capita in America. This includes 48 alumni and faculty members holding 49 prizes with chemist Linus Pauling being the only individual in history to win two unshared prizes. Pauling won both Chemistry and Peace awards while other notable winners include Carl D. Anderson who proved existence of positrons and muons and Edwin McMillan who synthesized the first transuranium element. Leo James Rainwater investigated non-spherical shapes of atomic nuclei while Douglas D. Osheroff studied superfluid nature of helium-3. Astronaut Harrison Schmitt was the only geologist to walk on Moon surface while Eugene Merle Shoemaker co-discovered Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 which crashed into Jupiter. Shoemaker became first person buried on Moon when his ashes were intentionally crashed into lunar south pole by NASA's Lunar Prospector spacecraft on the 31st of July 1999. George Ellery Hale established Mount Wilson Observatory in 1904 while Robert Andrews Millikan calculated electron charge through oil-drop experiment. Richard Chace Tolman contributed to cosmology and statistical mechanics while Charles Richter developed magnitude scale measuring earthquake power. Seismologist Clair Patterson accurately determined Earth age via lead:uranium ratio in meteorites as founder of geochemistry department. Michael Brown discovered dwarf planet Eris prompting International Astronomical Union to redefine term planet.
In 1917 Hale hired architect Bertram Goodhue to produce master plan for campus incorporating local climate character and educational philosophy. Goodhue designed physics building Dabney Hall and several other structures influenced by traditional Spanish mission architecture of Southern California. During 1960s Caltech underwent considerable expansion partly due to philanthropy from alumnus and professor Arnold O. Beckman who became board chairman in 1964. Beckman and wife Mabel shaped destiny of institution over following years. In 1971 a magnitude-6.6 earthquake in San Fernando caused damage to historic buildings including Throop Hall and Goodhue-designed Culbertson Auditorium which had cracked. New additions included Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics and Walter Leonore Annenberg Center for Information Science Technology opening 2009. Warren Katherine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry Chemical Engineering followed March 2010 while South Houses upgrading concluded 2006. Late 2010 saw completion of 1.3 MW solar array projected to produce approximately 1.6 GWh in 2011. The institute also operates Palomar Observatory Owens Valley Radio Observatory Submillimeter Observatory W.M. Keck Observatory at Mauna Kea Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Livingston Louisiana Richland Washington Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory Corona del Mar. Kavli Nanoscience Institute launched 2006 while Keck Institute for Space Studies established 2008.
Undergraduate admissions statistics show Caltech ranked hardest college America to gain acceptance to by admit rate reaching all-time low 2.7% for Class of 2028 entering 2024. For freshmen enrolled 2019 Class of 2023 middle 50% range SAT scores were 740-780 evidence-based reading writing and 790-800 math totaling 1530-1570. Middle 50% ACT Composite score ranged 35-36 with SAT Math Level 2 middle 50% range 800-800. In June 2020 Caltech announced test-blind policy not requiring nor considering test scores next two years though moratorium extended twice starting July 2021 before cancellation beginning Class of 2029. The institute is need-blind domestic applicants receiving 13,136 applications accepting 412 applicants for 3.14% admit rate in Class of 2027. For Class of 2028 reduced seats almost hundred accepting 315 applicants out approximately 13,000 total applications. Undergraduates complete core curriculum consisting 108 units typically finished first two years providing rigorous foundation science mathematics humanities physical education. Requirements include three terms mathematics three terms physics two terms chemistry one term biology menu course computer science scientific writing physical education eleven terms humanities social sciences. Prior entering class 2013 required five terms mathematics five terms physics two terms chemistry one term biology two lab courses scientific communication three terms physical education twelve terms humanities social sciences. Since 2013 only three terms each mathematics physics required remaining two terms certain options. Typical class worth nine academic units students average 40.5 units per term more than four classes graduate four years.
Every Halloween Dabney House conducts infamous Millikan pumpkin-drop experiment from top Millikan Library highest point campus claiming shattering frozen liquid nitrogen pumpkin might produce triboluminescent spark. On Ditch Day seniors ditch school leaving elaborately designed tasks traps doors rooms prevent underclassmen entering groups design stack solved handful underclassmen faculty cancel all classes day making highlight academic year. Another tradition playing Wagner Ride Valkyries 7:00 morning finals week largest loudest speakers available offender dragged showers drenched cold water fully dressed. Two most famous pranks changing Hollywood Sign read Caltech covering parts letters and changing scoreboard read Caltech 38 MIT 9 during 1984 Rose Bowl Game. Most famous occurred 1961 Rose Bowl where students altered flip-cards stadium attendees display Caltech several unintended messages now Great Rose Bowl Hoax. In December 2011 students went New York pulled prank Manhattan Greenwich Village making Cube sculpture look Aperture Science Weighted Companion Cube video game Portal. Rivalry with MIT includes 2005 group pulling string pranks during Campus Preview Weekend covering Massachusetts word Massachusetts Institute Technology engraving main building facade banner reading That Other Institute of Technology. MIT hackers responded altering banner inscription read The Only Institute of Technology. April 2006 MIT students posing Howe Ser Moving Company stole 130-year-old 1.7-ton Fleming House cannon moved over 3,000 miles campus Cambridge Massachusetts for 2006 Campus Preview Weekend repeating similar prank performed nearby Harvey Mudd College 1986. Thirty members Fleming House traveled MIT reclaimed cannon the 10th of April 2006.
As October 2025 Caltech has 48 Nobel laureates name awarded 26 alumni five postdocs 17 non-alumni professors. Twenty-six alumni include five Caltech professors Carl D. Anderson Linus Pauling William A. Fowler Edward B. Lewis Kip Thorne. Among 17 non-alumni professors 14 residence at Caltech time award David Baltimore shared Prize Physiology Medicine 1975 became Caltech President 1997. Renato Dulbecco shared Prize Physiology Medicine 1975 credited Prize time spent Caltech John Hopfield won Prize Physics 2024 Dickinson Professor Emeritus Caltech. Eight faculty alumni received Crafoord Prize Royal Swedish Academy Sciences while 58 awarded U.S. National Medal Science 11 received National Medal Technology. One alumnus Stanislav Smirnov won Fields Medal 2010. Other distinguished researchers affiliated postdoctoral scholars Barbara McClintock James D. Watson Sheldon Glashow John Gurdon visiting professors Albert Einstein Stephen Hawking Edward Witten. Donald Knuth PhD 1963 father analysis algorithms wrote Art Computer Programming created TeX computer typesetting system commonly used scientific community. Bruce Reznick BS 1973 mathematician noted contributions number theory combinatorial-algebraic-analytic investigations polynomials. Narendra Karmarkar MS 1979 known interior point method polynomial algorithm linear programming Karmarkar algorithm.
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Common questions
When was the California Institute of Technology founded and what was its original name?
The California Institute of Technology traces its founding to the 23rd of September 1891 when Amos G. Throop established a preparatory and vocational school named Throop University.
Who led the development of the Manhattan Project at the California Institute of Technology during World War II?
Caltech scientists including J. Robert Oppenheimer Richard Tolman and Robert Bacher contributed critical aspects to atomic bomb development through the Manhattan Project.
How many Nobel laureates are affiliated with the California Institute of Technology as of October 2025?
As of October 2025 Caltech has 48 Nobel laureates affiliated with the institution comprising 26 alumni five postdocs and 17 non-alumni professors.
What is the acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 entering in 2024 at the California Institute of Technology?
The California Institute of Technology achieved an all-time low admit rate of 2.7% for the Class of 2028 entering in 2024.
When did the California Institute of Technology receive its current name from previous institutions?
The remaining college assumed its current name California Institute of Technology in 1920 after disbanding its vocational and preparatory schools by 1910.