National university
#10 Colleges with the best earnings for the price in AmericaCalifornia Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $16,075 a year
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for business in America#1 of 1,563
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#1 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#1 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#1 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#1 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#1 of 1,162
Show 19 more
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#1 of 1,116
- Best colleges in America#2 of 1,829
- Best colleges for economics in America#1 of 788
- Best colleges for computer science in America#1 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#1 of 749
- Best test-optional colleges in America#2 of 1,481
- Most selective colleges in America#1 of 683
- Best small colleges in America#2 of 906
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in America#1 of 430
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#2 of 704
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#3 of 704
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in America#1 of 197
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#5 of 690
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#5 of 598
- Best colleges in the Los Angeles area#1 of 69
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#10 of 681
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#34 of 1,829
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#44 of 693
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#85 of 690
In California
- Best colleges in California#1 of 128
- Best test-optional colleges in California#1 of 100
- Best colleges for business in California#1 of 88
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in California#1 of 69
- Best colleges for English in California#1 of 68
- Best colleges for history in California#1 of 68
Show 18 more
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in California#1 of 67
- Best colleges for mathematics in California#1 of 65
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in California#1 of 64
- Best colleges for chemistry in California#1 of 63
- Best small colleges in California#1 of 63
- Most selective colleges in California#1 of 57
- Best colleges for engineering in California#1 of 56
- Best colleges for computer science in California#1 of 54
- Best colleges for economics in California#1 of 54
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in California#2 of 64
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in California#4 of 128
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in California#2 of 63
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in California#2 of 62
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in California#2 of 54
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in California#1 of 17
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in California#1 of 13
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in California#9 of 63
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in California#12 of 63
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.97%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.3 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$124,489
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $86,886 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 1,023 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 55% · Women 45% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 63% |
| Total students | 2,463 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $16,075 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $86,886 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 94% |
| First-year retention | 97% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $128,566 |
| Admission rate | 3% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $75 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 18% |
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Applied mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biology, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Economics, Electrical engineering, Engineering (general), Engineering Physics, English, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Geology and earth science, History, Information science, Interdisciplinary studies, Managerial economics, Materials Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical engineering, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Political science.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Engineering | |
| Physical sciences | |
| Mathematics and statistics | |
| Biology |
Campus life
| Setting | City |
|---|---|
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $20,283 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 3 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 91%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $1,460,910IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Nearest major airport | Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)About 14 miles away |
| Town population | 136,969Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | Los AngelesAbout 18 miles away |
| Typical weather | 57°F in January · 76°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Pasadena, CA |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.41 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.82 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 1.23 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 8.23 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is California Institute of Technology’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 1% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does California Institute of Technology cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $16,075 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into California Institute of Technology?
- California Institute of Technology admitted 3% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do California Institute of Technology’s graduates do?
- 94% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $128,566.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 110404
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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