How can international students study in the USA for free?

International graduate students can study in the USA for free through Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA), and institutional fellowships. These awards provide a 100% full tuition waiver plus an annual living stipend ranging from $22,000 to $38,000 USD.

Do graduate assistantships cover health insurance and living expenses?

Yes, standard GTA/GRA appointments (typically 20 hours/week) at major US universities (such as Purdue, UIUC, Georgia Tech, and UC Berkeley) include comprehensive university health insurance coverage and bi-weekly living stipends.

Do I need a GRE score to get a fully funded scholarship in the USA?

Many US universities have made GRE scores optional or waived them entirely for Fall 2026 admissions. Check our Fall 2026 Fee Waiver and GRE Exemption directory for specific departmental policies.

Verified Institutional Funding Guide (2026)

California Institute of Technology Fully Funded Assistantships & Scholarships

Complete statutory funding guide for international graduate students at California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California). Learn how to secure full tuition waivers, $44,000 - $48,000 / year living stipends, and application fee waivers.

Institutional Rank

#1 Student-to-Faculty Research Ratio in the Nation

Average Stipend

$44,000 - $48,000 / year

International Cohort

45% of Grads

Funding Guarantee

100% PhD / STEM MS

Featured Fully Funded Programs & Fellowships

PhD Only

Caltech Graduate Fellowship & Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)

Annual Value

$44,000 / year ($3,666/month)

Coverage: 100% Full Tuition + Health Insurance + Living Stipend

Application Deadline: December 1 - December 15

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

Exceptional aptitude in mathematics, physics, computing, or chemistry
Transcripts, 3 letters of reference, and Statement of Purpose

Visit Department Admissions

Graduate Assistantship Types & Benefits (GTA / GRA)

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

20 hours/week

Conduct cutting-edge research in Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) or Caltech campus labs.

Statutory Benefits: 100% tuition remission and competitive Pasadena cost-of-living stipend.

Application Fee Waiver Guide

Standard Fee: $100

Fee waivers available via online form for applicants demonstrating financial need.

View 20+ University Fee Waiver Codes

Frequently Asked Questions (Caltech)

Do all admitted international PhD students at Caltech receive funding?

Yes. 100% of admitted doctoral students at Caltech receive full tuition remission, comprehensive health insurance, and a living stipend for the entire duration of their degree.

Local Living Cost Summary

Pasadena offers beautiful California living with Caltech-owned graduate housing (Catalina Apartments) guaranteeing rent rates well below market ($900 - $1,300/month).

💡 Tip: Half-time assistantship stipends at Caltech are calibrated to cover housing, health insurance, and local living costs without personal loans.

Check Your Acceptance & Assistantship Odds

Use our free statutory predictor to evaluate your GPA, GRE, publications, and funding eligibility.

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Other Fully Funded Universities

Purdue University

$24,000 - $34,000 / year • West Lafayette, Indiana

Stanford University

$45,000 - $52,000 / year • Stanford, California

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

$42,000 - $48,000 / year • Cambridge, Massachusetts

Georgia Institute of Technology

$26,000 - $36,000 / year • Atlanta, Georgia