Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Caltech's 3.1% acceptance rate, most applicants—even those with exceptional STEM credentials—will need backup options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission or different program focus.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar outcomes with better admission odds, consider Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (21.7% acceptance, $129,455 median earnings) in Massachusetts, which offers exceptional engineering education with more realistic admission. Bentley University admits 48.4% of applicants while producing graduates earning $120,959, though with a business rather than pure STEM focus.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students wanting to stay in California should consider Harvey Mudd College (13.1% acceptance, $138,687 earnings) just 24 miles away, which offers comparable STEM outcomes with somewhat better admission odds. Stanford University (3.9% acceptance, $124,080 earnings) provides similar selectivity 321 miles north with broader program options beyond pure STEM.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Other highly selective STEM options include MIT (4.7% acceptance, $143,372 earnings) for students prioritizing engineering breadth, or UC Berkeley (11.7% acceptance, $92,446 earnings) for those seeking public research university advantages. These schools compete for similar applicant pools with strong technical preparation.
Stronger graduate earnings at comparable price points.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
