UC Irvine vs Southern California Institute of Technology

Envision yourself pursuing higher education at two prestigious institutions in California: University of California-Irvine (UCI) and Southern California Institute of Technology (Caltech). While both offer exceptional academic opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. UCI, a public research university, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like biological sciences, social sciences, and engineering. Caltech, a private research university, is renowned for its rigorous academics and strengths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. With UCI's higher acceptance rate and Caltech's lower student-to-faculty ratio, the choice between these esteemed universities hinges on your academic aspirations, preferred campus environment, and desired post-graduate outcomes. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discern which institution aligns best with your educational goals and personal preferences.
Southern California Institute of Technology logo

Southern California Institute of Technology

University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Overview

Location Anaheim, California Irvine, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (For Profit) Public
Calendar system Non Traditional Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 81.0% 93.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.6% 28.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 166 107,950
Total number of admissions given out 99 31,110
Admitted students who chose to enroll 90 6,489
Yield rate 90.9% 20.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $40,348
In state: $35,033

Out of state: $64,787
Average net price $27,298 $11,633
Tuition $16,590
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board $16,869
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

94.0%
Average amount $7,413
78.0%
Average amount $16,868
Students receiving federal student loan 76.0%
Average amount $10,279
18.0%
Average amount $4,696
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $10,397
2.0%
Average amount $7,702

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 521
Men 95.8% Women 4.2%
29,449
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Graduate students N/A 7,056
Men 49.8% Women 50.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 13.5%
International students N/A 18.0%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 15,493
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Washington Hawaii Texas New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Construction Trades
  • Engineering
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 30:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 78.5% 83.7%
Dropout rate 21.0% 6.4%
Transferred out 0.5% 9.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,237
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $61,340
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,708
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $60,326
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $45,872
  • Year 2: $43,426
  • Year 3: $49,297
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $35,873
  • Year 2: $35,345
  • Year 3: $41,355
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $33,935
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $38,552
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $45,529
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,124
  • Year 2: $190,536
  • Year 3: $178,048
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,708
  • Year 2: $90,983
  • Year 3: $109,642
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,417
  • Year 2: $115,339
  • Year 3: $102,324
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,451
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $101,335
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,618
  • Year 2: $81,929
  • Year 3: $95,882
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $95,654
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,796
  • Year 2: $73,128
  • Year 3: $86,654
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,841
  • Year 2: $65,332
  • Year 3: $85,004
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,056
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $80,300
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,396
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $80,210

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