California Institute Of Technology

California Institute of Technology admits approximately 3.1% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 32 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Caltech among the most selective institutions in the United States, comparable to Harvard, Stanford, and MIT.

The peer median admission rate of 75.6% highlights the extraordinary difference between Caltech's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, Caltech's acceptance rate falls at the most competitive end of the spectrum.

This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores, outstanding research experience, and exceptional mathematical ability—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would excel at Caltech do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for fewer than 250 spots.

For this reason, students considering Caltech should treat it as an extreme reach school regardless of qualifications and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable STEM outcomes. Students should expect the admission process to be highly unpredictable and focus on demonstrating genuine passion for scientific research and mathematical problem-solving.

California Institute of Technology's published cost of attendance is $83,598 per year—that's $63,255 in tuition, $19,503 for room and board, and $1,428 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $18,902 after financial aid, a savings of $64,696 annually.

This represents a 77% reduction from sticker price, indicating aggressive need-based aid policies designed to make the institution accessible despite premium pricing. The net price varies dramatically by family income, ranging from $1,667 for families earning under $30,000 to $56,275 for those earning over $110,000.

Compared to peer institutions with a median net price of $21,812, Caltech students pay $2,910 less on average, suggesting competitive financial aid relative to similar selective institutions. The substantial gap between published and actual costs reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though families should prepare for significant expenses at higher income levels.

Financial aid savings average nearly $65,000 annually, making this one of the more generous aid programs among elite private institutions. The cost structure indicates that admitted students from middle and lower-income backgrounds receive substantial support, while higher-income families pay closer to full cost.

Caltech graduates demonstrate unique earnings patterns reflecting the institution's specialized mission. Median earnings peak at $142,597 eight years after enrollment before settling at $128,566 at ten years, representing a 2.7% decline from the six-year mark of $132,140.

This pattern differs from typical career trajectories and may reflect graduate school pursuit or industry timing specific to STEM fields. These outcomes are based on small cohorts of 57-72 graduates across different time horizons, providing reasonable confidence despite the specialized student body.

Graduates earn $56,764 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Caltech at the 99.5th percentile for earnings uplift. The earnings distribution spans a 2.9:1 ratio from P25 to P75, reflecting varied career paths within technical fields.

Approximately 30% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating preparation for both advanced research and immediate workforce entry. Compared to peer institutions with median earnings of $50,412, Caltech graduates earn $78,154 more annually.

Caltech offers limited undergraduate program diversity, with only Computer Science meeting federal reporting thresholds for earnings data. Computer Science ranks #7 nationally and #2 in California, producing 72 graduates with median earnings of $173,344 and an exceptional value score of 96.7.

This program represents 100% of trackable graduates, reflecting the institution's specialized mission and small scale. The program's top-tier national ranking and extraordinary earnings outcomes demonstrate Caltech's focused excellence in technical education.

While federal data captures only this single program, it serves as the flagship offering that defines the institution's educational approach and career outcomes. The concentration of all graduates within this high-performing program explains the institution's exceptional earnings performance and return on investment metrics.