Yale University vs California Institute of Technology

Yale University and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) stand as two of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, each offering a unique educational experience. Yale, an Ivy League institution located in New Haven, Connecticut, boasts a rich history and a diverse student body, while Caltech, situated in Pasadena, California, is renowned for its exceptional strength in science and engineering. With acceptance rates of 6.3% and 7.7%, respectively, both universities are highly selective, attracting top students from around the globe. While Yale offers a wide range of undergraduate majors, including popular choices like history, economics, and English, Caltech focuses primarily on science and engineering disciplines, with majors such as physics, engineering, and computer science dominating the landscape. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed institutions and discover which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California Institute of Technology logo

California Institute of Technology

Yale University logo

Yale University

Overview

Location Pasadena, California New Haven, Connecticut
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
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

Admission

Acceptance rate 3.9% 5.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $100
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $105
SAT range N/A 1480 - 1580
ACT range N/A 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 54.0%
Students submitting ACT score 35.0%
Total number of applicants 13,026 47,240
Total number of admissions given out 510 2,509
Admitted students who chose to enroll 270 1,786
Yield rate 52.9% 71.2%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $82,122 $82,170
Average net price $30,162 $20,605
Tuition $56,364 $59,950
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,398

Meal plan: $7,350
Room/dormitory: $10,100

Meal plan: $7,700
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

54.0%
Average amount $47,556
58.0%
Average amount $58,715
Students receiving federal student loan 5.0%
Average amount $5,333
5.0%
Average amount $4,879
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $4,732
0.0%
Average amount $5,094

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 987
Men 55.3% Women 44.7%
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4%
Graduate students 1,410
Men 66.7% Women 33.3%
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 92.2% 93.6%
International students 29.4% 21.6%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,572 5,576
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 New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Physical Science
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 3:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.9% 96.9%
Dropout rate 4.6% 2.5%
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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,998
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $168,803
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,882
  • Year 2: $147,858
  • Year 3: $167,455
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,705
  • Year 2: $132,032
  • Year 3: $165,012
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $132,023
  • Year 2: $132,866
  • Year 3: $142,164
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,929
  • Year 2: $111,017
  • Year 3: $117,291
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,157
  • Year 2: $98,213
  • Year 3: $112,141
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,985
  • Year 2: $95,473
  • Year 3: $95,527
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,166
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $91,001
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,834
  • Year 2: $63,625
  • Year 3: $73,597
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,489
  • Year 2: $58,522
  • Year 3: $72,034

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