Pasadena, CA · 987 students
Trajecta score
+6.3 since '20Ranked #4 of 2,375
5-year trend
83.5 · #10
2020
84.8 · #23
2021
89.5 · #3
2022
88.5 · #7
2023
89.8 · #4
2024
Academic Profile
100/ 100
Career Outcomes
97/ 100
Student Success
94/ 100
Affordability
76/ 100
Academic Investment
100/ 100
Access & Equity
54/ 100
Academic Profile
100
Career Outcomes
97
Student Success
94
Affordability
76
Academic Investment
100
Access & Equity
54
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$87k / $16k
SAT Avg
—
Retention
97%
Grad Rate
94%
Admissions
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$65,898
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$65,898
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
18%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
4%
students borrowing
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what California Institute of Technology reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Very Important | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2025-26
school's admissions site ↗Your STEM Future - STEM Academic Interests
Required200 wordsIf you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected 'other', what topics are you interested in pursuing?
Your STEM Present - STEM Curiosity
Required150 wordsRegardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into.
Your STEM Past - STEM Experiences (Option 1)
RequiredChoose 1200 wordsTell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or for a particular STEM topic, and how you have pursued or developed your interest or passion over the last few years.
Your STEM Past - STEM Experiences (Option 2)
RequiredChoose 1200 wordsTell us about a meaningful STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity.
Creativity in Action
Required200 wordsHow have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life?
Short Answer (choose two of four)
RequiredChoose 2249 wordsWhat is an interest or hobby you do for fun, and why does it bring you joy?
Short Answer (choose two of four)
RequiredChoose 2249 wordsIf you could teach a class on any topic or concept, what would it be and why?
Short Answer (choose two of four)
RequiredChoose 2249 wordsWhat is a core piece of your identity or being that shapes how you view and/or interact with the world?
Short Answer (choose two of four)
RequiredChoose 2249 wordsWhat is a concept that blew your mind or baffled you when you first encountered it?
Optional Academic Short Answer
OptionalNo stated limitHave you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application?
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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