California Institute of Technology vs NorthWestern
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Northwestern University stand out as two of the most prestigious academic institutions in the United States, each offering a unique educational experience. Caltech, renowned for its exceptional strength in science and engineering, boasts an acceptance rate of just 7.3%, making it one of the most selective universities in the country. Northwestern, on the other hand, offers a more diverse range of academic programs, including strong liberal arts and business schools, and has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 9.1%. While both universities attract highly talented students, Caltech's student body is predominantly male (62%) and Asian (42%), while Northwestern's student body is more evenly distributed across gender (51% female) and ethnicity (39% White, 15% Asian, 10% Black or African American). With graduation rates of 94% for Caltech and 91% for Northwestern, both universities ensure that their students receive
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![]() California Institute of Technology |
![]() Northwestern University |
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Overview |
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Location | Pasadena, California | Evanston, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 99.0% | 99.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 7.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$100
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | N/A | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | N/A | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 13,026 | 47,636 |
Total number of admissions given out | 510 | 3,321 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 270 | 2,086 |
Yield rate | 52.9% | 62.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $82,122 | $83,838 |
Average net price | $30,162 | $29,999 |
Tuition | $56,364 | $60,276 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,398
Meal plan:
$7,350
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Room/dormitory:
$11,271
Meal plan:
$6,993
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
54.0%
Average amount $47,556 |
57.0%
Average amount $51,087 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,333 |
23.0%
Average amount $4,625 |
Students taking out private loans |
15.0%
Average amount $4,732 |
2.0%
Average amount $38,595 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
987
Men 55.3% Women 44.7% |
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
Graduate students |
1,410
Men 66.7% Women 33.3% |
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 92.2% | N/A |
International students | 29.4% | 17.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,572 | 4,409 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Georgia Maryland Florida | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 3:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.9% | 95.2% |
Dropout rate | 4.6% | 4.2% |
Transferred out | 1.7% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
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