California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California · Private, a midsize city · 987 undergraduates
Is it hard to get into Caltech?
The middle half of admitted students scored in these ranges: a quarter scored lower, a quarter higher. Fall 2024 admissions, from the College Scorecard.
- What they look at
- High school GPAConsidered
- Class rankConsidered
- Courses takenRequired
- College-prep programConsidered
- RecommendationsRequired
- EssayRequired
- PortfolioConsidered
How much does Caltech cost?
Sticker prices and what students actually paid after grants, by family income. A year means tuition, fees, room, board, books and other costs.
What a year cost, by family income
| Family income | Average paid after grants |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $7,553 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,452 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $4,144 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $29,762 |
| Over $110,000 | Not published |
- Room and board on campus
- $20,991 a year; $22,752 off campus
- Books and supplies
- $1,428 a year
- The school's own grants
- 55% of full-time first-years get one, averaging $56,342
Tuition over the years
Tuition and fees for a year, as reported to the federal government.
How much do Caltech students borrow?
Federal student loans only, for students who borrowed.
What do Caltech graduates earn?
Typical yearly pay of everyone who started here with federal aid, whatever they studied and whether or not they finished.
Do Caltech students finish?
Of the students who started full time, first time.
Who goes to Caltech?
- Background
- White 19%, Hispanic 17%, Black 5%, Asian 36%, Two or more 9%, International 14%
- Housing
- Campus housing, 1,575 beds
What do Caltech graduates earn, by program?
Every bachelor's program the school awards, with what its graduates earn and owe. The government hides pay for small programs, so some rows have no figure.
Computer science
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 161 | $160,167 | $248,772 | Hidden |
| Information Science/Studies | 6 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Engineering
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 28 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Chemical Engineering | 17 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 29 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Engineering Physics | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Engineering, General | 1 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Materials Engineering | 8 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Mechanical Engineering | 74 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Business and commerce
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Managerial Economics | 2 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Life sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 11 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 15 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Math and physical sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | 24 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 6 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Chemistry | 14 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 4 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Mathematics | 19 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Physics | 48 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Arts and humanities
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| History | 1 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Philosophy | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
General arts and science (major chosen later)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Compare Caltech with other universities
Side by side: acceptance rates, scores, costs and pay.
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Test policy: the school's page (opens in a new tab). Tuition history, housing and the school's own grants: the federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) survey.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with California Institute of Technology. Figures describe past students; check the school's own pages before you apply.
Social sciences