Quad

Head-to-head

California Institute of Technology
Claremont McKenna

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    California Institute of Technology grads earn $23.8K more ten years out than Claremont McKenna's ($128,566 vs. $104,736)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  2. 2

    California Institute of Technology costs about $15.4K less per year on average than Claremont McKenna ($48,523 vs. $63,885, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  3. 3

    California Institute of Technology is 3.7× more selective than Claremont McKenna

    Acceptance rate
  4. 4

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

    Aid generosity
  5. 5

    California Institute of Technology's yield is 10 pts higher than Claremont McKenna's

    Yield rate
  6. 6

    Claremont McKenna is a bit larger (1,388 vs. 987)

    Undergrads

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%, Claremont McKenna 9.4%; California Institute of Technology's yield is higher, at 61%.

Acceptance rate
California Institute of Technology2.6%
Claremont McKenna9.4%
Quad's selectivity
  • California Institute of TechnologyUltra selective
  • Claremont McKennaHighly selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1400–1600
California Institute of TechnologyTest-blind
Claremont McKenna
1480–1540
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • California Institute of TechnologySchool record required
  • Claremont McKennaRigor and GPA very important

Who's on each campus

Claremont McKenna is a bit larger than California Institute of Technology (1,388 vs. 987 undergrads); both have the same Pell share, 18%.

Undergrads
California Institute of Technology987
Claremont McKenna1.4K
Pell Grant share
California Institute of Technology18%
Claremont McKenna18%

Majors and faculty

Computer Science leads at California Institute of Technology, and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics at Claremont McKenna.

Students per faculty member
California Institute of Technology3 to 1
Claremont McKenna8 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • California Institute of TechnologyComputer Science35%
  • Claremont McKennaEconometrics and Quantitative Economics29%

What each costs

California Institute of Technology costs about $15.4K less a year than Claremont McKenna on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
California Institute of Technology$48.5K
Claremont McKenna$63.9K
Aid generosity
California Institute of Technology44%
Claremont McKenna26%

What each pays off

California Institute of Technology's former students earn more, a median $128.6K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 90% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
California Institute of Technology$128.6K
Claremont McKenna$104.7K
Graduation rate
California Institute of Technology95%
Claremont McKenna92%

How each has changed

Applications grew at California Institute of Technology but held steady at Claremont McKenna.

Applications, 10-year change
  • California Institute of TechnologyGrowing+112%
  • Claremont McKennaSteady+8%
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 2018;Claremont McKenna College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Claremont McKenna College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Claremont McKenna College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About 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