Quad

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA
Known forUltra-selectiveVery small student-faculty ratioBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 39 applicants admitted

California Institute of Technology admits about 1 in 39 applicants (2.6%). That puts it in the "Most selective" tier, more selective than 100% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

2.6%

2.6%

acceptance rateMost selective

Applied

13,856

Admitted

356

Yield

61%

of admits enroll

Applications +112% since fall 2014 · admit rate 8.8% → 2.6%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 987 undergrads, where 18% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

987

undergrads · larger than 36% of colleges

Diversity index

0.78

Pell Grant

18%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-III · Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.70 → 0.78 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (35% of graduates). 3 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 99% of colleges. 91% of faculty are full-time. Spends $124,489 a year on instruction per student.

3 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 99% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Science

35% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$200.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

91%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$124.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $48,523 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $24.2K more than the national median. The 53% who received grants paid $14,513 on average; the other 47% paid the full sticker price of $86,886.

44%

$48.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $24.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$86,886 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
None
all grants are need-based
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 44% of full price

Federal loans

4%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $128,566 ten years after enrolling, more than at 100% of colleges; 95% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

95%

95%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$128.6K

10 years after entry

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 92% → 94% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 12% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 11%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 112% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 8.8% to 2.6%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −11% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +112%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 9% → 3%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.70 → 0.78

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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12% admit · SAT 1535 · 921 undergrads

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Samuel Merritt University

718 undergrads

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Claremont McKenna College

9.4% admit · SAT 1510 · 1.4K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso WestAlso private
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California Institute of the Arts

32% admit · 860 undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    California Institute of Technology (2025–26)

    California Institute of Technology · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    California Institute of Technology (2026)

    California Institute of Technology · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110404 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything