California Institute of Technology
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California Institute of Technology Rankings 2026

Shiksha popularity ranking
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#9 in World

#7 in USA

  • Private Institute
  • Institute Icon124 acre campus
  • Estd. 1891
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Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 30 Jul '25

Caltech
California Institute of Technology Ranking

#7

Country level
Shiksha Popularity Rank
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World rank by different ranking providers

Shiksha

#9

THE Ranking

#7

ARWU Ranking

#9

QS Ranking

#10

US News Ranking

#23
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Commonly asked questions
On University Evaluation
Q:   What is Quacquarelli Symonds World ranking for Caltech?
A: 

According to the Quacquarelli Symonds  World rankings, the Engineering and Technology domain is ranked #13 among the best in the world which is a downgrade from #9 in 2024

On the other hand, Engineering courses at Caltech are ranked at #5 by the US World and News ranking 2025 body among the best Engineering programs worldwide.  According to the rankings released by Shiskha Popularity, this school ranks at #3 in Aerospace Engineering, at #9 in BE/BTech, and #7 in Engineering.

Caltech
California Institute of Technology Course Ranking

Showing 3 Courses
#5
Shiksha popularity ranking

MS

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Shiksha

#5

US News

#2

ARWU

#5

THE

#7

QS

#7
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Specializations in MS Program

Aerospace Engineering

Shiksha

#2

US News

#2
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Chemical Engineering

Shiksha

#3

US News

#2
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#10
Shiksha popularity ranking

B.E. / B.Tech

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Shiksha

#10

US News

#6
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Specializations in B.E. / B.Tech Program

Mechanical Engineering

Shiksha

#6

US News

#7
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Electrical Engineering

Shiksha

#6

US News

#6
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#7
Shiksha popularity ranking

Engineering

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Shiksha

#7

US News

#6

THE

#7

QS

#13
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Specializations in Engineering Program

Aerospace Engineering

Shiksha

#2

US News

#2
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Chemical Engineering

Shiksha

#3

US News

#2
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Commonly asked questions
On Course Ranking
Q:   Does Caltech Engineering courses rank better than MIT?
A: 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Caltech are two of the best Engineering schools in the world, however MIT ranks better than Caltech consistently due to advanced research facilities, tech-driven approach, and other parameters. 

Below is the table showing rankings of the two best Engineering schools by the US World and Shiksha Popularity Rankings: 

Criteria

Caltech EAS

MIT Engineering

Ranking (US News & world rankings)

#4

#1–2 globally

Shiksha Popularity Ranking (Engineering)

#7

#1

Q:   Is MIT better than Caltech?
A: 

Based on the information given in the table, Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences or Massachusetts Institute of Technology are two of the best institutions to pursue Engineering from. They are ranked among the top ten in the world, however differ greatly depending on many parameters such as acceptance rate, average starting salary, tuition fee, and many more.

While the MIT acceptance rate stands at 6 to 7%, this rate stands at 2.3% for Caltech EAS making it a more selective school than MIT. With almost similar tuition fee, the average starting salary taken by MIT graduates is higher than Caltech Engineering grads.

The table compares these two best Engineering schools in depth:

Criteria

Caltech EAS

MIT Engineering

Location

Pasadena, California

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Average Starting Salary

USD 76,249 (Engineering UG) / median USD 110–119K overall

USD 83,400 early career / USD 143,100 mid-career

Acceptance Rate

2.3% (Fall 2024 UG)

·         Overall MIT 6–7%

·         Undergrad Engineering similarly 6%

Tuition (AY 2024–25)

·         Undergrad: USD 63K

·         Grad: USD 65.7K

·         Undergrad: USD 63K

·         Grad varies by programme (not official here)

ROI (20? year net)

USD 887,000 (Caltech overall)

MIT overall undisclosed here

Top Industries Hiring

Tech, aerospace, finance, research, academia

Tech, consulting, finance, biotech (MIT Sloan MBA data)

Ranking (US News & world rankings)

#4

#1–2 globally

Shiksha Popularity Ranking (Engineering)

#7

#1

Q:   Is Caltech number 1 Engineering school in the world?
A: 

Caltech is ranked as one of the top 10 best Engineering schools around the world, the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Caltech) upholds its reputation for being one of the top choices among the international students who are willing to enrol in Engineering programs. 

The Engineering courses at Caltech are ranked at #5 by the US World and News ranking 2025 body among the best Engineering programs worldwide.  According to the rankings released by Shiskha Popularity, this school ranks at #3 in Aerospace Engineering, at #9 in BE/BTech, and #7 in Engineering.

US News Icon

CalTech Ranking by US News and World Report 2025

Ranked by202420252026
Global Universities
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2323– / –
National University7611
Aerospace Engineering PG22– / –
Best UG Biomedical Engineering Schools182425
Biomedical Engineering PG1719– / –
Chemical Engineering PG22– / –
Civil Engineering PG1917– / –
Electrical Engineering PG64– / –
Mechanical Engineering PG33– / –
UG Computer Engineering10811
UG Electrical-Electronic and Communications Engineering666
UG Mechanical Engineering687

CalTech Comparison with Other Universities: US News and World Report 2025

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US News and World Report: Ranking Criteria

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Commonly asked questions
On Caltech US News & World Report Ranking
Q:   Which is better in US News rankings: Stanford University or California Tech?
A: 

Stanford University and California Institute of Technology are known to be some of the top ranked universities in the USA and globally. According to the US News Rankings 2025, both the universities have been ranked at #3 and #23 respectively. The comparative rankings of Stanford and California Tech are given in the table below:

University Name

US News National University Ranking 2024

US News National University Ranking 2025

Stanford University

33

California Institute of Technology

2323
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CalTech Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026

Ranked by202420252026
World University
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151010
Biological Sciences2018– / –
Engineering and Technology
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913– / –
Mathematics1516– / –
Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering1718– / –
Physics and Astronomy67– / –

CalTech Comparison with Other Universities: Quacquarelli Symonds

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Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking 2026: Ranking Criteria

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THE Icon

CalTech Ranking by THE (Times Higher Education) 2025

Ranked by202320242025
University
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677
Engineering
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677
Life Sciences61110
PG Computer Science
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191315

CalTech Comparison with Other Universities: THE Rankings

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Times Higher Education 2025: Ranking Criteria

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Shanghai Ranking Icon

Caltech
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025

Ranked by202320242025
Universities
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989
Mathematics4729– / –
Physics65– / –
qna

Comments

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Caltech

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a month ago

Yes, the Caltech acceptance rate stands at 3%. while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 4.52% giving students a marginally better chance of admission.

Interested applicants must stand out among their peers both academically and non-academically, across every level of studies

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The California Institute of Technology placement rate stood at 87% for the Class of 2023 graduates, according to the official Caltech website.

The likes of Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple were among the names known to have hired the services of Caltech graduates.

The median salary figure for Caltec

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Indian students seeking admission to Caltech are required to follow the steps mentioned below to secure their seats:

  • Register on the official Catltech application portal (Questbridge or Common App)
  • Choose a course and apply 
  • Make sure to upload all the required documents and fill in all mandatory field

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The university does not conduct an entrance exam of its own; however, it does consider valid scores in the SAT or ACT for admission to undergraduate courses. 

Students seeking admission to STEM courses are required to have completed their secondary school studies in the relevant fields. 

Source: Calif

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

While the course fees are subject to vary as per the specialisation and levels of study, according to the official Caltech website, the average California Institute of Technology Fees for Indian students is USD 65.622 (INR 56 L) per year.

Students must also take into account the costs associated with

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

About the author

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Kartik Bisht

Study Abroad Expert

A tech enthusiast, Kartik has graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Application from the IMS Ghaziabad 2023 batch. Kartik loves to learn about Cybersecurity and Cybercrime. Also, his hobbies are such as traveling, trekking, cooking, and more. Moreove...Read Full Bio
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Caltech
Location

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University CityPasadena, California, USA
Size of cityMedium
Population of City1,43,000

Caltech
Contact Information

Address

1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Pasadena ( California)

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