The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution, where extraordinary faculty and students seek answers to complex questions, discover new knowledge, lead innovation, and transform the future.

Caltech has six academic divisions with a strong emphasis in science and technology teaching and research. The university has a competitive admissions process ensuring that only a small number of the most gifted students are admitted. 

Caltech has a high research output and alongside many high-quality facilities, both on campus and globally. This includes the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Caltech Seismological Laboratory and the International Observatory Network. 

The alumni and faculty of Caltech have been awarded 35 Nobel Prizes, one Fields Medal, six Turing Awards and 71 United States National Medal of Science or Technology. Four chief scientists of the US Air Force have also attended the institution.

The campus is located in Pasadena, California, approximately 11 km away from downtown Los Angeles. The school's official mascot is a beaver, paying tribute to nature's engineer. 

Caltech students are also well-known for playing pranks, with one of the most famous pranks including changing the "Hollywood" sign to read Caltech, by covering up parts of the letters.