California Institute of Technology vs Notre Dame

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and University of Notre Dame stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. Caltech, renowned for its rigorous STEM programs and groundbreaking research, boasts an acceptance rate of 7.7%, making it one of the most selective universities in the nation. Notre Dame, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive curriculum with strengths in both the liberal arts and professional fields, and an acceptance rate of 18.6%. While Caltech's student body is predominantly male (62%) and international (22%), Notre Dame fosters a more diverse community with a 50:50 gender ratio and a smaller international student population (10%). Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Caltech's 94% rate slightly edging out Notre Dame's 92%. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table
California Institute of Technology logo

California Institute of Technology

University of Notre Dame logo

University of Notre Dame

Overview

Location Pasadena, California Notre Dame, Indiana
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 3.9% 15.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $100
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A 1410 - 1550
ACT range N/A 32 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 33.0%
Students submitting ACT score 36.0%
Total number of applicants 13,026 23,642
Total number of admissions given out 510 3,562
Admitted students who chose to enroll 270 2,059
Yield rate 52.9% 57.8%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $82,122 $78,347
Average net price $30,162 $30,513
Tuition $56,364 $58,336
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,398

Meal plan: $7,350
$16,304
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

54.0%
Average amount $47,556
57.0%
Average amount $46,306
Students receiving federal student loan 5.0%
Average amount $5,333
30.0%
Average amount $4,134
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $4,732
12.0%
Average amount $8,564

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 987
Men 55.3% Women 44.7%
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4%
Graduate students 1,410
Men 66.7% Women 33.3%
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 92.2% 93.1%
International students 29.4% 12.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,572 6,919
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 Illinois California Texas Indiana New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Physical Science
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 3:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.9% 95.9%
Dropout rate 4.6% 3.9%
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $124,439
  • Year 2: $123,601
  • Year 3: $135,572
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,269
  • Year 2: $89,674
  • Year 3: $126,773
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,074
  • Year 2: $108,092
  • Year 3: $123,182
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,638
  • Year 2: $85,243
  • Year 3: $110,135
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,593
  • Year 2: $89,968
  • Year 3: $105,831
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,224
  • Year 2: $80,273
  • Year 3: $99,815
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,618
  • Year 2: $86,375
  • Year 3: $95,904
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,178
  • Year 2: $74,307
  • Year 3: $92,866
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,118
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $87,393
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,070
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $85,821

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