California Institute of Technology

Caltech, in Pasadena, California, is one of the smallest and most intense science and engineering schools in the world. Students share a demanding core in math and physics, then dive into research, and Caltech also manages NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory nearby. A student-run honor code is central to campus life, along with playful traditions like Ditch Day, when seniors stage elaborate puzzles for underclassmen. It is ideal if you want to be surrounded by people who love science as much as you do.