Caltech vs. UChicago

Should I go to California Institute of Technology or University of Chicago? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Caltech or UChicago 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. University of Chicago comparison
California Institute of Technology University of Chicago College 3 College 4
California Institute of Technology University of Chicago
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Overview

Caltech UChicago
Location Pasadena, CA Chicago, IL
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 2,401 18,339
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #7
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu uchicago.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech UChicago
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $61,179
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $61,179
Room & Board $18,606 $18,396
Avg Net Price $20,755 $36,991
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $48,422
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 52%

Admission

Caltech UChicago
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 37,522
Admitted 448 2,039
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 5.4%
Enrolled % 50% 84.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.95
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 35/36 34/35
SAT Range 1530/1580 1500/1580
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

Academics

Caltech UChicago
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (38%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Mathematics (7%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)

Outcomes

Caltech UChicago
Graduation Rate 87% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $98,500
Making Student Loan Payments - 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $14,500
Median Loan Payment $148 $149

Diversity

Caltech UChicago
% Men 61% 54%
% Women 39% 46%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 45%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 8% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 10%

Students

Caltech UChicago
% In-State 29% 12%
% Out-of-State 58% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Chicago is larger than than Caltech based on total student enrollment (18,339 students vs. 2,401 students)

Caltech vs. UChicago Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or UChicago?

  • University of Chicago is 4.6% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($61,179.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at UChicago than California Institute of Technology ($61,179.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than UChicago ($20,755 vs. $36,991)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Chicago are 1.1% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($18,396 vs. $18,606)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Institute of Technology than University of Chicago (57% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 22.2% larger than aid received University of Chicago ($59,192 vs. $48,422)

Caltech vs. UChicago Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 38 points higher than at UChicago (1506)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at UChicago (34)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at UChicago (3.95)
  • UChicago has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. UChicago Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech or UChicago? 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 UChicago and Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at UChicago is higher than California Institute of Technology (92% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn on average $12,700 more per year than Caltech graduates after ten years. ($98,500 vs. $85,800)
  • California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $150 lower median federal student loan debt than UChicago graduates. ($14,350 vs. $14,500)
  • Caltech graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than UChicago graduates. ($148 vs. $149)

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