Study in Pasadena, The United States

About Pasadena

Pasadena is a city in the San Gabriel Valley, in the Los Angeles area of Southern California. Pasadena City College describes it as a city with museums, libraries, shops and restaurants, close to beaches, mountains, downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport. Its landmarks include Old Town Pasadena, the Rose Bowl Stadium, the Huntington Library and the Norton Simon Museum, and it hosts the Rose Parade.

Pasadena combines three very different kinds of higher education: a small science and engineering university, a large community college that sends many students on to the University of California, and an art and design college. That makes it a good choice for students aiming at science, design or a lower-cost start to a U.S. degree.

Studying in Pasadena

Our directory lists four entries in Pasadena: three colleges and universities and IELTS, the English language test (which is not a school). The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private university with 2,430 students, 987 of them undergraduates, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, according to College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college search tool. Its six academic divisions cover biology and biological engineering; chemistry and chemical engineering; engineering and applied science; geological and planetary sciences; humanities and social sciences; and physics, mathematics and astronomy. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is also part of Caltech's research.

Pasadena City College (PCC), founded in 1924, is a community college with 24,841 credit students and 2,416 noncredit students in fall 2024. It offers more than 140 associate degree programmes and over 60 transfer majors, and the college states that it ranks in the top 10 community colleges for transfers to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. More than 500 international students from over 90 countries study there, with advisors for visa, housing and health questions.

ArtCenter College of Design has trained artists and designers since 1930 and has been in Pasadena since 1976, on its Hillside Campus and, since 2004, its South Campus downtown. Its undergraduate degrees include Entertainment Design, Film, Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design and Transportation Design, taught with what the college calls a conservatory-like approach. It has 2,308 students.

IELTS is one of the tests that international applicants use to show their English level. It has Academic and General Training versions and is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Cost of living for students

PCC publishes an estimated annual cost for international students starting in fall 2026: $11,624 for tuition and fees (at $481 per unit for 12 units a semester), $22,752 for housing and living expenses and $1,500 for mandatory health insurance, a total of $35,876. The application fee is $50.

At the private institutions, College Navigator lists 2024-25 tuition and fees of $65,898 at Caltech, plus $20,283 for food and housing on campus, and $54,170 at ArtCenter, which has no campus housing.

On LA Metro buses and trains, a one-way ride costs $1.75, with a daily cap of $5 and a weekly cap of $18 when paying by card. Community college students at participating colleges ride free with GoPass, and other participating colleges sell discounted U-Pass passes on campus.

Getting around and daily life

According to PCC, Pasadena is close to downtown Los Angeles and to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the region's main international airport. Public transport across Los Angeles County is run by LA Metro, whose bus and rail fares are given above.

Winters are mild and summers hot. At the Pasadena weather station, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 56.8 °F (about 14 °C) in January and 75.6 °F (about 24 °C) in July, when average daily highs reach 89.1 °F (about 32 °C).

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Pasadena?

Our directory lists the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena City College and ArtCenter College of Design.

How much does a year at Pasadena City College cost for an international student?

PCC estimates $35,876 a year for international students starting in 2026-27, including $11,624 in tuition and fees, $22,752 for housing and living expenses and $1,500 for health insurance.

Can I transfer from Pasadena City College to a university?

Yes. PCC offers more than 60 transfer majors and states that it ranks in the top 10 community colleges for transfers to the UC and CSU systems.

What is the weather like in Pasadena?

Mild in winter and hot in summer: NOAA normals give an average of about 14 °C in January and 24 °C in July, with average July highs of about 32 °C.