---
title: California Institute of Technology — PickACampus
description: Explore California Institute of Technology: #11 rank, 3% acceptance rate, 3:1 student-faculty ratio, and a $132,140 median starting salary.
url: https://pickacampus.com/college/7
last_updated: 2026-06-03
---

# California Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology is a private institution located in an urban setting in Pasadena, California, with a total enrollment of 987 students. The university maintains a 3:1 student-faculty ratio and reports a 3% acceptance rate alongside a 94% graduation rate. Ranked #11 on PickACampus, the school features an out-of-state tuition of $65,898 and a median starting salary for graduates of $132,140.

## Overview
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- Type: Private
- Setting: urban
- Total enrollment: 987

## Admissions
- Acceptance rate: 3%
- Average GPA: 4.25

## Cost
- In-state tuition: $65,898
- Out-of-state tuition: $65,898
- Room and board: $20,283
- Fees: $705
- Average financial aid: $47,000

## Outcomes
- 6-year graduation rate: 94%
- 4-year graduation rate: 77%
- Freshman retention: 98%
- Employment rate: 94%
- Average starting salary: $132,140

## Academics
- Student-faculty ratio: 3:1
- Average class size: 10
- Classes under 20 students: 90%

## Notable
["Caltech has a strong honor code, allowing students to take unproctored exams.","The university manages NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).","Caltech has the smallest student body of any top-ranked university in the US.","The campus is home to the world's largest academic seismological laboratory."]

## Traditions
[{"name":"Ditch Day","description":"Seniors 'ditch' classes, leaving elaborate puzzles and challenges for underclassmen."},{"name":"Pumpkin Drop","description":"Pumpkins frozen in liquid nitrogen are dropped from Millikan Library."},{"name":"Interhouse Rivalry","description":"Friendly competitions and pranks between the undergraduate houses."},{"name":"Flea Market","description":"A monthly campus event where vendors sell various goods."}]

## Notable alumni
[{"name":"Frank Capra","description":"Oscar-winning director of 'It's a Wonderful Life'."},{"name":"Gordon Moore","description":"Co-founder of Intel and originator of Moore's Law."},{"name":"Kip Thorne","description":"Nobel laureate in Physics for gravitational waves."},{"name":"Harrison Schmitt","description":"Apollo 17 astronaut, last man to walk on Moon."},{"name":"Benoît Mandelbrot","description":"Mathematician, father of fractal geometry."}]

## Common questions

Q: What is California Institute of Technology's acceptance rate?
A: California Institute of Technology's acceptance rate is 3%.

Q: How much does California Institute of Technology cost?
A: Tuition at California Institute of Technology is $65,898 per year, before room and board and fees.

Q: Where is California Institute of Technology located?
A: California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, CA.

Q: What is the graduation rate at California Institute of Technology?
A: California Institute of Technology has a 6-year graduation rate of 94%.

Q: How big is California Institute of Technology?
A: California Institute of Technology enrolls 987 students in total.

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