1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [California Institute of Technology](/school/california-institute-of-technology/) 4. / 5. Career outcomes brief Career outcomes brief Copy linkPrint brief # California Institute of Technology Career Outcomes & Earnings Updated September 30, 2026 [Overview](/school/california-institute-of-technology/)[Cost & aid](/school/california-institute-of-technology/cost/)Outcomes[Admissions](/school/california-institute-of-technology/admissions/)[Majors](/school/california-institute-of-technology/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/california-institute-of-technology/similar/) **On this page**+ ## How much do California Institute of Technology graduates earn? The reported median is $152,843 four years after completion. Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $152,843. That is $96,928 above the $55,915 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). The median sits in the 99th percentile nationally, and Azimuth places the return pillar in the 99th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios estimated from the program mix range from $70,318 on the downside to $200,511 on the upside, with $152,843 as the typical scenario. These are scenarios, not observed groups of graduates. Only one program has published earnings data: Computer Science, which awards 77 degrees a year. Its graduates earn a median of $200,511 four years after completion. The upside scenario and the single program's median are the same figure. An estimated 25.8% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix rather than observed enrollment. Because four-year earnings cover completers who are working and not enrolled, those continuing their education are outside that earnings snapshot. **Median earnings · four years after completion** $152,843 Four-year median earnings against two benchmarks **California Institute of Technology reported median** $152,843 School and program earnings use pooled 2017–18 and 2018–19 completion cohorts, measured in 2022 and 2023 and expressed in 2024 dollars. [How the model works](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/). ## How could earnings differ from the median? Compare the lower scenario with [California Institute of Technology borrowing and monthly payments](/school/california-institute-of-technology/cost/) to see how a smaller income could change your plan. Modeled from the school’s program mix; not salary percentiles or a forecast for one graduate. Earnings four years after completion Planning rangeReported median **Lower estimate** Not reported **Median · reported** $152,843 **Higher estimate** Not reported Downside shows a lower-earning scenario based on the college’s mix of programs; upside shows a higher-earning scenario. Typical is the school’s reported median four years after completion. These are planning scenarios, not a forecast of your salary or percentiles of individual graduates. [Why the downside matters](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) explores the risk hidden by medians, using older ten-year entrant data. [Read about the move to four-year earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). ## Do California Institute of Technology graduates earn more than expected? Azimuth models what we would expect graduates to earn based on who the college enrolls, how selective it is and its local economy. The difference between that expectation and reported earnings is what Azimuth calls [value added](/methodology/#value-added). That comparison is not reported for California Institute of Technology. Unlike a peer comparison, it adjusts for who enrolls. The breakdown separates the contribution attributed to observed factors from the remaining difference. Neither component establishes how much attending California Institute of Technology caused a student to earn. [Read how expected earnings are estimated](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/). ## Which fields at California Institute of Technology report the highest earnings? California Institute of Technology awards nearly all of its bachelor's degrees in three technical families: Computer & Information Sciences at 40.9%, Engineering at 29.6%, and Physical Sciences at 18.7%. The earnings data reflects this concentration. Computer Science, the largest program with 77 degrees awarded, shows median earnings of $200,511 four years after completion. That is 1.87x the national median for the field. Because only one program has published earnings, the page cannot show the spread between higher- and moderate-earning fields that a broader program mix would reveal. A student considering California Institute of Technology should know that the earnings picture is drawn from a single field. Computer & Information Sciences accounts for 40.9% of bachelor's degrees awarded, with Engineering second at 29.6% and Physical Sciences third at 18.7%. The university has 1 program with published four-year earnings. Computer Science is the largest single program, at 77 degrees awarded. Its completers earn a median of $200,511 four years after completion. That figure is the highest among the school's programs with published data, and it sits well above the national median for the field. Highest reported four-year program earnings **Computer Science** $200,511 [Explore California Institute of Technology program cohorts and field ranks](/school/california-institute-of-technology/majors/#largest-cohorts) for more context. ## Further analysis Earnings scenarios estimated from the program mix range from a downside of $70,318 to a typical outcome of $152,843 and an upside of $200,511. These are scenarios, not observed groups. The spread is wide, showing variation between fields. Computer Science, the highest-earning program, matches the upside scenario at $200,511 four years after completion. California Institute of Technology has 1 programs with published earnings data. Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $152,843. That figure places the university in the 99th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings cohort is 153 completers. The typical earnings scenario is $152,843. The downside earnings scenario is $70,318 and the upside scenario is $200,511. These are scenarios, not observed groups of graduates. An estimated 25.8% of graduates continue to graduate study, based on the program mix. ## Data & methodology Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).