Caltech vs. Washington and Lee

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

Caltech Washington and Lee
Location Pasadena, CA Lexington, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,401 2,243
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #30
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $60,590
Room & Board $18,606 $16,920
Avg Net Price $20,755 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 61%

Admission

Caltech Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 7,224
Admitted 448 1,225
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 17%
Enrolled % 50% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 35/36 32/34
SAT Range 1530/1580 1410/1533
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 Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Caltech Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 87% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments - 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $148 $222

Diversity

Caltech Washington and Lee
% Men 61% 49%
% Women 39% 51%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 27% 82%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 8% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Caltech Washington and Lee
% In-State 29% 18%
% Out-of-State 58% 73%

Campus

Caltech Washington and Lee
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

  • California Institute of Technology is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (2,401 students vs. 2,243 students)

Caltech vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Washington and Lee?

  • Washington and Lee University is 3.6% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($60,590.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at Washington and Lee than California Institute of Technology ($60,590.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than Washington and Lee ($20,755 vs. $24,733)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington and Lee University are 10% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($16,920 vs. $18,606)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Washington and Lee University than California Institute of Technology (61% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 6.5% larger than aid received Washington and Lee University ($59,192 vs. $55,567)

Caltech vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 149 points higher than at Washington and Lee (1395)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Washington and Lee (32)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Washington and Lee (3.87)
  • Washington and Lee has a higher acceptance rate (17%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech or Washington and Lee? 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 Washington and Lee and Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than California Institute of Technology (91% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $3,200 more per year than Caltech graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $85,800)
  • California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $7,150 lower median federal student loan debt than Washington and Lee graduates. ($14,350 vs. $21,500)
  • Caltech graduates are paying $74 less per month on federal student loans than Washington and Lee graduates. ($148 vs. $222)

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