A
Excellent
Score: 79/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
98/100 · earnings-weighted

California Institute of Technology

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Pasadena, California 91125
🌐 www.caltech.edu/
California Institute of Technology — acceptance rate 3%, tuition $60,816
California Institute of Technology — acceptance rate 3%, tuition $60,816
California Institute of Technology campus, Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology campus, Pasadena, CA. Photo: Canon.vs.nikon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
96/100
Affordability
F
26/100
Resources
A+
94/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
A
85/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

2,463
Total Enrollment
93%
Graduation Rate
98%
Retention Rate
3.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
3%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at California Institute of Technology, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$128,566
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$132,140
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
94.4%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
18%
Students receiving Pell grants

Earnings rank: 100th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at California Institute of Technology

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$173,344$200,511+87%#12 of 349#13—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The California Institute of Technology Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 91101 (3.0% cap, Pasadena)

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🏆 Where California Institute of Technology Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥉
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
of 9 schools
#23
Physics, General
of 100 schools
#27
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
of 100 schools
#30
Chemistry, General
of 100 schools
#30
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $60,816 $60,816
Room $11,247
Board $8,256
Total Cost (On-Campus) $86,886 $86,886

Financial Aid

68%
Receive Any Aid
20%
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

2,463
Total Students
39%
Women
98%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 24%
Hispanic 12%
Black 2%
Asian 22%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 32%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 98%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at California Institute of Technology?
California Institute of Technology has an acceptance rate of 3%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend California Institute of Technology?
Tuition at California Institute of Technology is $60,816 for in-state students and $60,816 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of Technology?
The graduation rate at California Institute of Technology is 93%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is California Institute of Technology a good school?
California Institute of Technology has a Repit College Score of 79/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend California Institute of Technology?
California Institute of Technology has a total enrollment of 2,463 students. Most students (98%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for California Institute of Technology — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to California Institute of Technology

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B+
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · 1,664 students
B+
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · 1,384 students
B+
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · 949 students
B+
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · 1,204 students
B
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA · 1,854 students
B
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · 1,103 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology