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California Institute of Technology is a private national university located in Pasadena, California. California Institute of Technology is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at California Institute of Technology is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $112,166 10 years after enrolling, 2nd in California, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, California Institute of Technology bachelor students earn 62% more than the national average. California Institute of Technology is ranked 3rd in California.
California Institute of Technology’s median net annual cost of $26,542 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 2 programs at California Institute of Technology sorted by number of graduates - Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering - are shown below.
Annual net cost
$26,542
Average years to graduate
4.2
The average student at California Institute of Technology takes 4.2 years to graduate, with 94% graduating within 8 years. The graduation rate at California Institute of Technology is 27% more than the state average and 27% more than the average for all national universities in the country.
At California Institute of Technology, Pell Grant recipients represent 12% of the measured graduating class, 23% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at California Institute of Technology graduates within 4.4 years.
California Institute of Technology is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California Institute of Technology’s economic mobility score of 11.98 is calculated by adjusting the -0.01 economic score of lower-income students by the 12% pell grant recipients within the student body. California Institute of Technology’s EMS of 11.98 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at California Institute of Technology pays $26,542 a year, $51,176 less than the $77,718 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $26,542
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At California Institute of Technology, 54% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $26,542 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 18% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,240. This is 36% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,333
Pell grants
$4,557
State grants
$9,084
Institutional grants
$45,569
California Institute of Technology's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 4% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 13,026 applicants, of which 510 were admitted and 270 enrolled. California Institute of Technology doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
46%
59%
First time
97%
59%
In-state
41%
68%
1st generation
N/A
35%
White
23%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
18%
15%
Asian
40%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
17%
12%