Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #109 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $152,843, placing California Institute of Technology in the 100.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #4 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for return on investment — with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $200,511, anchoring the institution's signature in applied science and engineering. Students at California Institute of Technology achieve earnings that place the institution among the highest-performing in the Azimuth coverage set, reflecting a concentrated program portfolio in computer science and engineering where graduate outcomes consistently rank at the top of the national distribution. Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #14 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, underscoring how the institution's focused academic mission translates into durable financial outcomes for graduates.
Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #109 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Pasadena, CA, California Institute of Technology enrolls roughly 987 undergraduates. Retention is 97.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 94.4%, placing the institution among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where California Institute of Technology performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #14 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $152,843, and the institution's earnings beyond expectations performance is among the strongest in the country. Computer Science anchors the degree portfolio, and the concentration in high-return technical fields helps explain why long-term financial outcomes consistently place California Institute of Technology near the top of the distribution. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. California Institute of Technology admits about 2.6% of applicants — a selectivity level that, by design, limits the size of each entering class and the number of low-income students the institution enrolls. 18.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. California Institute of Technology sits in the 47.9 percentile for access and the 70.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes are strong at the 61.5 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the fact that students who do enroll — regardless of background — tend to achieve strong post-graduation earnings.
California Institute of Technology's published cost of attendance is $86,886, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately −$2,133, while middle-income families pay around $431, and higher-income families pay approximately $54,157. Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #422 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Caltech's aid structure is need-based, with the institution committing to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the aid package typically combines grants, scholarships, and work-study. The gap between sticker price and net price is substantial for lower-income families — a pattern that reflects the depth of Caltech's institutional aid commitment, though the net price illusion is worth understanding before comparing published costs across institutions. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,881; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $152,843, the monthly payment under standard ten-year repayment on median federal debt is a manageable figure relative to those earnings — though outcomes vary by program and individual borrowing level. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California Institute of Technology is a strong fit for students with deep interest in Computer Science, engineering, and the physical sciences who want a small, research-intensive private university in CA — and who are prepared for a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of about 2.6%. The earnings case is among the strongest in the country. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $152,843, placing California Institute of Technology in the 100.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #14 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is narrow by design. Only 18.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, and the published net price for higher-income families runs to $54,157 annually — though Caltech's need-based aid program is designed to close the gap for admitted students with demonstrated financial need. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Computer Science and adjacent STEM fields, so students whose interests lie outside those areas will find limited breadth here, and the application process is among the most competitive in the country. Students whose academic interests align with Computer Science, physics, or engineering — and who can navigate that process — will find earnings trajectories and research opportunities that rank among the strongest available at any institution.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the California Institute Of Technology hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
California Institute of Technology's published cost of attendance is $86,886, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately −$2,133, while middle-income families pay around $431, and higher-income families pay approximately $54,157.
Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #422 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Caltech's aid structure is need-based, with the institution committing to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the aid package typically combines grants, scholarships, and work-study.
The gap between sticker price and net price is substantial for lower-income families — a pattern that reflects the depth of Caltech's institutional aid commitment, though the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth understanding before comparing published costs across institutions. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,881; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $152,843, the monthly payment under standard ten-year repayment on median federal debt is a manageable figure relative to those earnings — though outcomes vary by program and individual borrowing level. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of California Institute of Technology earn median earnings of $152,843 four years after enrollment, placing California Institute of Technology in the 100.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Azimuth ranks California Institute of Technology #14 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The strength of these outcomes reflects a program portfolio heavily weighted toward quantitative and technical fields, where employer demand and starting compensation remain consistently high across CA's labor market and nationally.
Computer Science combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a central driver of California Institute of Technology's overall return profile. The Computer Science program graduates 77 students and delivers median earnings of $200,511 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning 1.9× the national benchmark for the field.
The degree mix is concentrated: Engineering accounts for 30% of graduates and other STEM fields represents 20%, with Business adding another 92%. Beyond the largest programs, Mechanical Engineering (28 graduates), Physics (27 graduates), and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (15 graduates) round out the institution's core degree output — a compact, STEM-focused portfolio that channels graduates into high-compensation career paths.
Computer Science
77 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
28 graduates
California Institute of Technology's program mix is unusually concentrated for a research university of its stature — Engineering accounts for 30% of graduates, followed by other STEM fields at 20% and Business at 92%. This tight portfolio reflects the institution's identity as a small, deeply technical school rather than a broad liberal-arts or comprehensive university.
Computer Science is the largest program with 77 graduates, followed by Mechanical Engineering (28 graduates), Physics (27 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (15 graduates), and Chemistry (11 graduates). Across 11 programs serving roughly 203 students annually, 1 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
Computer Science carries the strongest earnings signal, with graduates earning median earnings of $200,511 four years after enrollment. Azimuth ranks the program #4 nationally [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer Science, the institution's highest aggregate-return program by virtue of combining the largest cohort with strong pay, delivers median earnings of $200,511 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #4 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. The small cohort sizes across all programs mean that individual graduates carry outsized weight in the earnings figures, but the consistency of strong outcomes across multiple STEM subfields reinforces the pattern rather than undermining it.
Nearly all of California Institute of Technology's ranked programs feed into high-mobility career pathways — computer science, engineering, and applied mathematics graduates enter national labor markets in technology, quantitative finance, and research with strong direct-to-workforce demand. A smaller share of graduates in fields like Physics and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering follow grad-school-dependent trajectories where four-year earnings undercount lifetime returns because many continue to doctoral programs.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these quantitative and engineering fields align with sustained national wage growth. ```
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Franklin W Olin College Of Engineering Higher acceptance rate (18.5 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | MA | 22% | $129,455 | Compare |
Bentley University Higher acceptance rate (45.3 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | MA | 48% | $120,959 | Compare |
Claremont Mckenna College Same state (24 miles away) (earnings difference: 18.5%); same institution type | CA | 11% | $104,736 | Compare |
Harvey Mudd College Same state (24 miles away) with similar earnings; same institution type | CA | 13% | $138,687 | Compare |
Stanford University Same state with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | CA | 4% | $124,080 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helene Fuld College Of Nursing Similar quality tier (#4223 ranked) | NY | 17% | $111,027 | #4223 | Compare |
Babson College Similar quality tier (#4320 ranked) | MA | 17% | $123,938 | #4320 | Compare |
Mount Saint Mary's University Similar quality tier in West (#4337 ranked) | CA | 73% | $72,379 | #4337 | Compare |
Illinois Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#4345 ranked) | IL | 55% | $82,592 | #4345 | Compare |
University Of Health Sciences And Pharmacy In St. Louis Similar quality tier (#4347 ranked) | MO | 90% | $137,047 | #4347 | Compare |
