California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Pasadena, CA that costs an average of $8,509 a year after financial aid, admits 2.6% of applicants and graduates 90% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$8,509
Acceptance rate
2.6%
Graduation rate
90%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$166,642
Private nonprofitMidsize city987 undergraduates
Cost of Caltech
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $90,822 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $68,208 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $20,991 |
| Books and supplies | $1,428 |
| Average net price after aid | $8,509 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $7,553 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $11,452 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $4,144 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $29,762 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Caltech's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 2.6% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 90% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 97% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $124,285 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $166,642 |
| Rank in California (earnings) | 1st of 129 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $7,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $85 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 23% |
| Students with federal loans | 9.0% |
Majors and programs at Caltech
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (25)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 161 | $160,167 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 24 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 6 | — | — |
| Biology | 11 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 28 | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 2 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 17 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 14 | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 29 | — | — |
| Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | — | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 4 | — | — |
| History | 1 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 19 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 74 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 15 | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Physics | 48 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (23)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 20 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 26 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 1 | — | — |
| Biology | 1 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 17 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 16 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 1 | — | — |
| Economics | 17 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 44 | — | — |
| Engineering Mechanics | — | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 40 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 29 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 19 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 2 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 1 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 20 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 5 | — | — |
| Physics | 34 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 2 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (26)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 21 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 7 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 14 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 15 | — | — |
| Biology | 24 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 31 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 74 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 2 | — | — |
| Economics | 14 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Engineering Mechanics | 1 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 29 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Genetics | 3 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 21 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 11 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 3 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 9 | — | — |
| Physics | 46 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 10 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | — | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in California
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California College of the Arts | San Francisco | $41,109 | 91% | $58,957 |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont | $39,347 | 13% | $164,248 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | $25,018 | — | $99,540 |
| Scripps College | Claremont | $29,998 | 38% | $84,025 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | $35,567 | 84% | $90,053 |
| La Sierra University | Riverside | $22,767 | 92% | $65,403 |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia | $49,996 | 32% | $45,380 |
| Simpson University | Redding | $28,219 | 86% | $62,250 |
About Caltech
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Pasadena, CA |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 987 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 3 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Website | caltech.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Caltech's acceptance rate?
California Institute of Technology admits 2.6% of applicants, making it highly selective.
How much does Caltech cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $90,822 a year (tuition and fees: $68,208). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $8,509 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,553.
How much do Caltech graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $166,642 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 1st of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer science ($160,167 a year after graduation).
What is Caltech's graduation rate?
90% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 97% of first-year students return for a second year.