California Institute of Technology vs United States Naval Academy (USNA)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and United States Naval Academy (USNA) stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique path to success. Caltech, a private research university, boasts an acceptance rate of 8.4%, while USNA, a federal service academy, maintains a highly selective acceptance rate of 9%. Caltech's student body is predominantly male (63%), while USNA's student body is predominantly male (80%). Both institutions excel in STEM fields, with Caltech renowned for its strength in engineering and physical sciences, and USNA offering a strong focus on engineering, mathematics, and naval science. While Caltech's graduates enjoy a 94% graduation rate, USNA's graduates all commission as officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and career goals.
California Institute of Technology logo

California Institute of Technology

United States Naval Academy logo

United States Naval Academy

Overview

Location Pasadena, California Annapolis, Maryland
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 3.9% 8.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $100
SAT range N/A 1200 - 1420
ACT range N/A 26 - 32
Students submitting SAT score 69.0%
Students submitting ACT score 48.0%
Total number of applicants 13,026 16,265
Total number of admissions given out 510 1,374
Admitted students who chose to enroll 270 1,183
Yield rate 52.9% 86.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $82,122
Average net price $30,162
Tuition $56,364
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,398

Meal plan: $7,350
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

54.0%
Average amount $47,556
Students receiving federal student loan 5.0%
Average amount $5,333
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $4,732

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 987
Men 55.3% Women 44.7%
4,528
Men 71.3% Women 28.7%
Graduate students 1,410
Men 66.7% Women 33.3%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 92.2% 92.6%
International students 29.4% 1.3%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,572 4,667
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Georgia Maryland Florida California Texas Maryland Virginia Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Physical Science
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Military Technologies
  • Physical Science
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 3:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.9% 91.3%
Dropout rate 4.6% 8.7%
Transferred out 1.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $155,297
  • Year 3: N/A
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $129,693
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: N/A
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,996
  • Year 2: $89,875
  • Year 3: N/A
N/A

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