Quad

Head-to-head

California Institute of Technology
California Institute of the Arts

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    California Institute of Technology grads earn $87.4K more ten years out than California Institute of the Arts's ($128,566 vs. $41,198)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  2. 2

    California Institute of Technology is 12.6× more selective than California Institute of the Arts

    Acceptance rate
  3. 3

    California Institute of Technology's yield is 33 pts higher than California Institute of the Arts's

    Yield rate
  4. 4

    California Institute of Technology graduates 24 pts more of its students than California Institute of the Arts (95% vs. 71%)

    Graduation rate
  5. 5

    California Institute of Technology's grants cover 44% of its full price on average, vs. 26% at California Institute of the Arts

    Aid generosity
  6. 6

    California Institute of Technology costs about $8.5K less per year on average than California Institute of the Arts ($48,523 vs. $56,987, all students)

    Average cost, all students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

California Institute of Technology admits 2.6%, California Institute of the Arts 32%; California Institute of Technology's yield is higher, at 61%.

Acceptance rate
California Institute of Technology2.6%
California Institute of the Arts32%
Quad's selectivity
  • California Institute of TechnologyUltra selective
  • California Institute of the ArtsVery selective
SAT middle 50%
California Institute of TechnologyTest-blind
California Institute of the ArtsTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • California Institute of TechnologySchool record required
  • California Institute of the ArtsSchool record required

Who's on each campus

California Institute of Technology is a bit larger than California Institute of the Arts (987 vs. 860 undergrads).

Undergrads
California Institute of Technology987
California Institute of the Arts860
Pell Grant share
California Institute of Technology18%
California Institute of the Arts24%

Majors and faculty

Computer Science leads at California Institute of Technology, and Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects at California Institute of the Arts.

Students per faculty member
California Institute of Technology3 to 1
California Institute of the Arts7 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • California Institute of TechnologyComputer Science35%
  • California Institute of the ArtsAnimation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects24%

What each costs

California Institute of Technology costs about $8.5K less a year than California Institute of the Arts on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
California Institute of Technology$48.5K
California Institute of the Arts$57K
Aid generosity
California Institute of Technology44%
California Institute of the Arts26%

What each pays off

California Institute of Technology's former students earn more, a median $128.6K ten years after enrolling.

Median earnings, 10 years
California Institute of Technology$128.6K
California Institute of the Arts$41.2K
Graduation rate
California Institute of Technology95%
California Institute of the Arts71%

How each has changed

Applications grew at California Institute of Technology but held steady at California Institute of the Arts.

Applications, 10-year change
  • California Institute of TechnologyGrowing+112%
  • California Institute of the ArtsSteady−7%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why