California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California · Private Nonprofit · 2.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 84/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Caltech earns an ROI score of 84 (Strong Value), at 987 undergraduates. That is a research university compressed to the size of a liberal arts college, and the data reflects it: a 2.2-year payback period, median 10-year earnings of $128,566, and no reported median debt, so our debt measure gets a neutral middle score. The completion rate of 94.4% is exceptional for a technically demanding program. The only program with sufficient data in the Scorecard is Computer Science (67 graduates), where median 1-year earnings hit $173,344 and 4-year earnings reach $200,511 - reflecting placement into software engineering and research roles. Caltech's admission rate is 2.57%. Low-income students who are admitted pay essentially nothing: the 0-30k net price is negative (-$2,133), meaning financial aid exceeds direct costs for that bracket.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 2.2 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
California Institute of Technology
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $65,898/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $65,898/yr |
| Average net price | $16,075/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,300 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $128,566 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $68,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | N/A |
| Estimated payback period | 2.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 94.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 987 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $65,898/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,075/year, or roughly $64,300 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of -$2,133/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $54,157/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
The Department of Education does not report a median debt figure for this school, usually because too few students borrow federal loans for the figure to be published. Our ROI score gives this measure a neutral middle value rather than treating it as zero debt.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | -$2,133 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | -$2,886 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $431 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,753 |
| $110,001+ | $54,157 |
Low-income students may receive more in grants than the cost of attendance, resulting in a negative net price.
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 receive more in aid than they owe in direct costs: the net price is -$2,133, meaning the school pays families to send their students. This reflects Caltech's no-loan financial aid policy and full-need-met commitment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket also shows a negative net price (-$2,886) - generosity extends through lower-middle income. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $431 per year, still essentially free. The 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $18,753, a significant jump that reflects aid taper for upper-middle-income families. Families in the $80,000-$110,000 range should use Caltech's net price calculator carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $54,157 per year - approaching sticker, at roughly $216,000 over four years all-in. Against 10-year median earnings of $128,566 and a 2.2-year payback period, even the full-pay scenario is defensible for a student entering a high-earnings major. The school's earning power is real enough that high-income families are not overpaying relative to outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at California Institute of Technology with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $200,511 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is the only Scorecard-reported program at Caltech with earnings data. Sixty-seven graduates earned a median $173,344 at one year out - a figure that reflects placement into senior software engineering, machine learning research, and quantitative roles at technology companies and financial institutions where Caltech's brand carries significant weight. By year four, the median climbs to $200,511. Debt data is not available at the program or institution level, which usually means few students borrow federal loans. For context: the Caltech CS graduate cohort is small (67 graduates), so these figures reflect a highly filtered group of outcomes from a hyper-selective institution.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California Institute of Technology’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 2.6% |
| Enrollment | 987 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $23,993 |
Caltech does not report admissions test data to the Scorecard. What the data confirms: a 2.57% admission rate. The process evaluates research experience, mathematical depth, and scientific ambition alongside academic records. Students without a documented record in STEM beyond coursework face steep odds. The school does not report selectivity by test band.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Caltech's payback period is 2.2 years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology (this school) | 84 | $16,075 | $128,566 |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | 94 | $13,269 | $83,847 |
| Bowdoin College | 92 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| Swarthmore College | 92 | $23,149 | $80,257 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
Caltech admits fewer than 3% of applicants. SAT and ACT ranges are not reported in the Scorecard, but the student body is self-selected for the highest level of math and science ability. Students who thrive here are deeply committed to STEM research from day one. The campus culture is collaborative but technically intense. This is not a school for students exploring interests; it is for students who already know they want to build, compute, or discover.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California Institute of Technology pays off. You'd pay about $16,075 a year after aid ($64,300 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $128,566 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 2.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 94.4% graduation rate.
California Institute of Technology: Common Questions
Is California Institute of Technology worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California Institute of Technology pays off. It scores 84/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $16,075 a year after aid ($64,300 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $128,566 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 2.2 years to earn back.
How much does California Institute of Technology cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,075 a year, or roughly $64,300 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California Institute of Technology graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $128,566 ten years after enrolling, roughly $86,766 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California Institute of Technology?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 2.2 years for California Institute of Technology. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of Technology?
The six-year graduation rate is 94.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.