Caltech vs. Brown

Deciding between California Institute of Technology and Brown University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Institute of Technology
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Caltech Pasadena, CA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Caltech Midsize City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Caltech 2,430
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Caltech Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Caltech #7
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Caltech -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Caltech Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Caltech
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Caltech $65,898
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Caltech $65,898
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Caltech $20,283
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Caltech $14,513
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Caltech $72,373
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Caltech 53%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Caltech 13,856
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Caltech 356
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Caltech 2.6%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Caltech 61.2%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Caltech 1560
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Caltech 35
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Caltech 3.97
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Caltech A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Caltech Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Caltech Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Caltech 35/36
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Caltech 1530/1580
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Caltech Required
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Caltech Jan 3, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Caltech 3:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Caltech
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Physical Sciences (25%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
    • Mathematics (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Caltech 87%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Caltech $85,800
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Caltech -
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Caltech $14,350
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Caltech $148
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Caltech 60%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Caltech 40%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Caltech Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Caltech No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Caltech 27%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Caltech 45%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Caltech 2%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Caltech 12%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Caltech 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Caltech 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Caltech 5%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Caltech 8%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Caltech 0%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Caltech 32%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Caltech 52%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Caltech Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Caltech No
  • Brown Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Caltech Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Caltech No
  • Brown No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Caltech Yes
  • Brown No

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Caltech based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,430 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • California Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of Technology 3:1; Brown University 6:1.

Caltech vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Brown? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than Brown ($14,513 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 14% lower than at California Institute of Technology ($17,444 vs. $20,283).
  • Brown University is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Caltech (about $5,514 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,898.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Brown than at California Institute of Technology (about $5,514 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,898.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of Technology than at Brown University (53% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($72,373 vs. $61,392).

Caltech vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Caltech or Brown? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Brown and Caltech.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Institute of Technology (1560) is 10 points higher than at Brown (1550).
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Brown).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Institute of Technology 1530/1580; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Institute of Technology 35/36; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Caltech - Required; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Caltech Jan 3, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • Brown has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Caltech (2.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.2% at Caltech vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Caltech vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Caltech and Brown? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than California Institute of Technology's (87%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Caltech graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $85,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Institute of Technology graduates have a $650 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($14,350 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Caltech graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($148 vs. $155).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.