California Institute of Technology

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Pasadena, CA

$54,570

Avg tuition

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.

Search All Programs

Work here? Claim your school's profile

About California Institute of Technology

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

California Institute of Technology is a small private institution located on an urban campus in Pasadena, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 901, and admissions are extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of 7%. The institution offers 29 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 92%, and a student-faculty ratio of 3:1. Tuition and fees for students are $54,570.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a highly selective acceptance rate.

This school is very selective about its students. Selective schools welcome 1-14% of all applicants.

7% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

94% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

92% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Required

High school GPA Recommended

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Implied no

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Implied no

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 35-36

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1530-1580

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of fewer than 5,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

The student-to-faculty ratio at this school is lower than other schools.

This means there are more faculty for each student, which can create an opportunity for more individualized attention and support in your studies.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

2k

Students enrolled

Information not available

Online student enrollment

3:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

On-campus Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

Non-U.S. Citizen

30%

White

29%

Asian

23%

Hispanic

11%

Two or more races

5%

Black

1%

Unknown

0%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

37%

Socio-economic diversity

11% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students in 2022

View School

Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Soka University of America

Aliso Viejo, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in Best Occupational Therapy Programs of 2022

View School

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Psychology Programs of 2022

View School

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $54,570 $54,570
Graduate $54,570 $54,570

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,428
On-campus room and board $17,337
On-campus other expenses $2,091
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $16,578
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $4,641
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,164

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $75,426 $75,426
Off-campus without family $77,217 $77,217
Off-campus with family $60,162 $60,162

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

16%

State Grant Aid

2%

Institution Grant Aid

57%

Pell Grant

11%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $6,129
State Grant Aid $9,084
Institution Grant Aid $46,163
Pell Grant Aid $4,507

Financial Outlook

$11k

Average student debt after graduation

$69k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division III without football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track Field Outdoor
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Baseball
  • Basketball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

4

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

5

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

6

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

7

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

8

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

Explore Rankings

Explore More Resources

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.