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California Institute of TechnologyMove-In Guide

Pasadena, California

🏫 Private UniversityEst. 1891🔗 www.caltech.edu

Caltech places every first-year in its undergraduate housing, from the traditional student Houses to the suite-style Bechtel Residence, with temporary assignments that last through Rotation.

Enrollment

2,463

Total Students

Freshman Class

266

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Sep 19, 2026

Fall 2026

Acceptance Rate

3%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Fall 2026 Move-In Details

Temporary housing assignments and instructions are sent about a week before move-in. Student volunteers and staff help with unloading, check-in and finding your residence. Temporary assignments last through Rotation, the first couple of weeks of the term, before permanent house placement.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.

Move-in day logistics

Arrival window
9am-2pm

Move-in day tips

  • Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
  • Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
  • Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
  • Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.

Housing & Dorms

  • Bechtel Residence

    Suite-style · Coed

  • Avery House

    · Coed

  • Blacker House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Dabney House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Fleming House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Ricketts House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Lloyd House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Page House

    Traditional · Coed

  • Venerable House

    Traditional · Coed

Housing Links

Each available link goes directly to California Institute of Technology's own specific page, not just its general homepage.

Orientation

New Student Orientation Week

All new students are required to attend one orientation session.

September 19 - September 25, 2026

Orientation tips

  • Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
  • Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
  • Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.

Costs

Room & Board

—

Not available

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with California Institute of Technology's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

Nearby data coming soon.

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

More Links

Checklists

Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist

A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at California Institute of Technology.

Get the checklist

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