Caltech vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Caltech based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 2,430 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
• California Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of Technology 3:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

Caltech vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or UCSC? 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 UCSC ($14,513 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 1.7% lower than at California Institute of Technology ($19,948 vs. $20,283).
• California Institute of Technology is 311.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $49,893 more per year; $65,898.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.3% higher at Caltech than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $15,693 more per year; $65,898.00 vs. $50,205.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at California Institute of Technology (57% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 217.8% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($72,373 vs. $22,774).

Caltech vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Caltech or UCSC? 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 UCSC and Caltech.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Institute of Technology (1560) is 300 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming Caltech students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Institute of Technology 1530/1580; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Institute of Technology 35/36; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Caltech - Required; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Caltech Jan 3, 2027; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Caltech (2.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.2% at Caltech vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

Caltech vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Caltech and UCSC? 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).

• California Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn a median of about $35,400 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,800 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Institute of Technology graduates have a $5,609 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($14,350 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, Caltech graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($148 vs. $206).

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.