California Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate &
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a highly selective private research university in Pasadena, California, enrolling about 987 students. Admission is highly selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 2.57% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $128,566 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $65,898
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,075 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 2.57% Highly Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 987 100.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 94.37%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 14.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 91.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,024
- Applicants (IPEDS): 13,107
- Room & Board: $20,283 annual estimate
California Institute of Technology: what the data shows
Common questions about California Institute of Technology, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is California Institute of Technology?
California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, CA (ZIP 91125).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is California Institute of Technology public or private?
California Institute of Technology is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does California Institute of Technology cost?
Published tuition: $65,898.
Average net price after aid: $16,075.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $-2,133 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $-2,886 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $431 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,753 |
| $110,001+ | $54,157 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $263,592.
How hard is it to get into California Institute of Technology?
Admission rate: 2.57%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is California Institute of Technology?
Total enrollment: 987 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,024 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,443 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of Technology?
150%-time completion rate: 94.37%.
First-year retention: 97.4%.
What do graduates of California Institute of Technology earn?
Median earnings: $132,140 six years after entry; $128,566 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
17.99% of students receive Pell grants.
What is California Institute of Technology known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Computer Science (94 completions)
- Physics, General (58 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (55 completions)
- Chemistry, General (50 completions)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering (48 completions)
- Engineering Physics/Applied Physics (41 completions)
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering (29 completions)
- Chemical Engineering (20 completions)
- Materials Engineering (20 completions)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (20 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is California Institute of Technology a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 2.57%; completion rate 94.37%; median earnings $128,566 at 10 years; net price $16,075. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$65,898
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at California Institute of Technology was $65,898.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,075
2024 Value
In 2024 California Institute of Technology had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,075.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,300 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,075 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$263,592 4-Year Tuition
$20,283 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,428 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$87,609 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$350,436 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for California Institute of Technology.
Financial Aid by Income Level
17.99% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
4.30% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California Institute of Technology was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for California Institute of Technology in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $41,538 | $41,538 | $25,667 |
| 2014 | $43,362 | $43,362 | $25,308 |
| 2015 | $45,390 | $45,390 | $24,760 |
| 2016 | $47,577 | $47,577 | $24,702 |
| 2017 | $49,908 | $49,908 | $23,345 |
| 2018 | $52,362 | $52,362 | $23,820 |
| 2019 | $54,600 | $54,600 | $24,274 |
| 2020 | $56,862 | $56,862 | $26,542 |
| 2021 | $58,680 | $58,680 | $29,279 |
| 2022 | $60,864 | $60,864 | $16,550 |
| 2023 | $63,255 | $63,255 | $18,902 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
2.57% Acceptance Rate
13,107 Total Applicants
412 Students Admitted
266 First-Time Students Enrolled
64.56% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
California Institute of Technology reported total enrollment of about 987 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 55% male and 45% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Asian (35.9%), White (18.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (17.4%). About 17.99% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California Institute of Technology in 2024 is 987 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,024 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,443 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
97.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Asian at 35.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
77.06% 100% Completion Time
94.37% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 77.06% of students graduating from California Institute of Technology completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Computer Science: 55% male / 45% female
- Physics, General: 69% male / 31% female
- Mechanical Engineering: 76% male / 24% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for California Institute of Technology.
Return on Investment
$128,566 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
1899.47% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for California Institute of Technology.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 31 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Computer Science: 94 completions
2. Physics, General: 58 completions
3. Mechanical Engineering: 55 completions
4. Chemistry, General: 50 completions
5. Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 48 completions
6. Engineering Physics/Applied Physics: 41 completions
7. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering: 29 completions
8. Chemical Engineering: 20 completions
9. Materials Engineering: 20 completions
Most popular programs at California Institute of Technology.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for California Institute of Technology graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for California Institute of Technology from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 91.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $23,993
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $124,489
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
California Institute of Technology is a private non-profit institution located in Pasadena, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Science, Physics, General, Mechanical Engineering. Enrollment is approximately 987 students. Student body composition includes Asian (35.9%), White (18.7%), Hispanic or Latino (17.4%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 2.57%. The 150%-time completion rate is 94.37%. Approximately 17.99% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Pasadena, CA 91125
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 94.37% graduation rate, California Institute of Technology demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: California Institute of Technology graduates report median earnings of $128,566 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Caltech located?
California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, CA. The institution is also known as Caltech.
What is Caltech's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is 2.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 13,107 applicants and 412 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Caltech cost?
Reported tuition is $65,898 and average net price is $16,075 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,283 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Caltech?
California Institute of Technology reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,024 students, Asian (35.9%), White (18.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of California Institute of Technology earn?
Median earnings are $132,140 six years after entry and $128,566 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of Technology?
The 150%-time completion rate is 94.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is California Institute of Technology public or private?
California Institute of Technology is a private nonprofit institution located in Pasadena, CA.
Is California Institute of Technology an HBCU?
No. California Institute of Technology is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is California Institute of Technology a tribal college?
No. California Institute of Technology is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is California Institute of Technology a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, California Institute of Technology does not meet that proxy (reported share 17.4%).
Is California Institute of Technology religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for California Institute of Technology in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Pasadena, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.