Caltech vs. Colby College

Should I go to California Institute of Technology or Colby College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Caltech or Colby College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Institute of Technology vs. Colby College comparison
California Institute of Technology Colby College College 3 College 4
California Institute of Technology Colby College
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Overview

Caltech Colby College
Location Pasadena, CA Waterville, ME
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 2,401 2,299
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #44
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu colby.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech Colby College
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $60,840
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $60,840
Room & Board $18,606 $16,330
Avg Net Price $20,755 $16,951
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $61,714
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 41%

Admission

Caltech Colby College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 16,890
Admitted 448 1,286
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 7.6%
Enrolled % 50% 52.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 35/36 32/34
SAT Range 1530/1580 1430/1540
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 3, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Caltech Colby College
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Caltech Colby College
Graduation Rate 87% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $73,400
Making Student Loan Payments - 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $19,345
Median Loan Payment $148 $200

Diversity

Caltech Colby College
% Men 61% 48%
% Women 39% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 27% 62%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

Caltech Colby College
% In-State 29% 7%
% Out-of-State 58% 79%

Campus

Caltech Colby College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Institute of Technology is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (2,401 students vs. 2,299 students)

Caltech vs. Colby College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Colby College?

  • Colby College is 4% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4% higher at Colby College than California Institute of Technology ($60,840.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Caltech ($16,951 vs. $20,755)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 13.9% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($16,330 vs. $18,606)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Institute of Technology than Colby College (57% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 4.3% larger than aid received California Institute of Technology ($61,714 vs. $59,192)

Caltech vs. Colby College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Caltech or Colby College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Colby College or Caltech .

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 181 points higher than at Colby College (1363)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Colby College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Colby College (3.86)
  • Colby College has a higher acceptance rate (7.6%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. Colby College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech or Colby College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Colby College and Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than California Institute of Technology (91% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn on average $12,400 more per year than Colby College graduates after ten years. ($85,800 vs. $73,400)
  • California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $4,995 lower median federal student loan debt than Colby College graduates. ($14,350 vs. $19,345)
  • Caltech graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Colby College graduates. ($148 vs. $200)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/