California Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private non-profit institution located in Pasadena, California, with an enrollment of approximately 987 students, making it one of the smaller research-focused universities in the country.

Caltech is highly selective: its acceptance rate of 2.6% means that fewer than 3 in 100 applicants are admitted. Among those who enroll, retention and completion rates are notably high — 97.4% of first-year students return for their second year, and 94.4% of students go on to complete their degree.

Tuition is $65,898 per year regardless of residency, but the average annual net price — the total estimated cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $16,075. That figure suggests substantial aid is available to many students. About 18% of students receive Pell Grants, a federal need-based aid program typically awarded to lower-income students. Notably, only 4.3% of all enrolled students take out federal student loans, which is low compared to most institutions.

On earnings, the median income 10 years after enrollment is $128,566. This figure is measured across all federally aided students who enrolled at Caltech — including those who did not complete a credential — so it reflects a broad picture of financial outcomes rather than graduates alone.

For career-focused students, Caltech offers programs in fields such as biomedical engineering and environmental engineering, reflecting its emphasis on technical and scientific disciplines.