6 Videos,
California Institute of Technology Rankings 2026
- Private Institute
124 acre campus- Estd. 1891
Talk to Expert
Last updated on 30 Jul '25
- California Institute of Technology Ranking
- California Institute of Technology Course Ranking
- CalTech Ranking by US News and World Report 2025
- CalTech Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026
- CalTech Ranking by THE (Times Higher Education) 2025
- Caltech ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025
CaltechCalifornia Institute of Technology Ranking
California Institute of Technology located in USA. The university has been ranked by various ranking bodies globally for its academic excellence, student diversity, job outcomes, and teaching pedagogy.
The university is recognized by Shiksha Popularity Ranking in 2025, listing it at #9, among the top universities in the world. The Shiksha Popularity Ranking also ranks California Institute of Technology at #6 for the same year among universities in USA.
The global ranking of the university has showcased improved trend from 2025, moving from its previous rank of #12. In 2025, the California Institute of Technology also secured a rank of #10 from QS and a rank of #7 from THE (Times Higher Education).
Here are the three-year trends for California Institute of Technology rankings from various bodies:
| Ranking Body | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS | Not Ranked | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| THE | 6 | 7 | 7 | Not Ranked |
| US News | 9 | 23 | 23 | Not Ranked |
#7
World rank by different ranking providers
Shiksha
#9THE Ranking
#7ARWU Ranking
#9QS Ranking
#10US News Ranking
#23
Commonly asked questions On University Evaluation
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.
CaltechCalifornia Institute of Technology Course Ranking
The California Institute of Technology courses are popular all over the world. This reflects in the ranking recognition given to its courses in the field of Engineering and Science, among others. According to Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2025, the subject ranking of its Engineering courses is #11. In 2024, this ranking was of #10; recording declined trend.
University’s Science courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking, at #8. Interestingly, these courses have also been recognized by QS from past few years. In 2025, these courses have been ranked by QS at #18, showing improved trend from its 2024 rank of #20.
According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2025, here’s a quick look at how some of the most popular courses rank:| Course Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | #11 | #10 | #11 |
| Science | #9 | #8 | #8 |
MS
Shiksha
US News
ARWU
THE
QS
Specializations in MS Program
Shiksha
US News
Shiksha
US News
B.E. / B.Tech
Shiksha
US News
Specializations in B.E. / B.Tech Program
Shiksha
US News
Shiksha
US News
Engineering
Shiksha
US News
THE
QS
Specializations in Engineering Program
Shiksha
US News
Shiksha
US News
Commonly asked questions On Course Ranking
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 |
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 |
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.
CalTech Ranking by US News and World Report 2025
US News & World Report is among the top ranking publishers in the world. The ranking publisher is known for its National, Global, Subject-based, and Regional rankings. US News & World Report evaluates various factors when considering top university for rankings. Some factors are Best Colleges for Veterans, most innovative schools, top performers on social mobility, average 6-year graduation rate, etc.
According to US News & World Report National Rankings, California Tech ranks at #73
US News & World Report is among the top ranking publishers in the world. The ranking publisher is known for its National, Global, Subject-based, and Regional rankings. US News & World Report evaluates various factors when considering top university for rankings. Some factors are Best Colleges for Veterans, most innovative schools, top performers on social mobility, average 6-year graduation rate, etc.
According to US News & World Report National Rankings, California Tech ranks at #73 in 2025 and #67 in 2024 showing a decline in rankings. Check the ranking of California Institute of Technology under various categories that are given below:
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Universities | 23 | 23 | – / – |
| National University | 7 | 6 | 11 |
| Aerospace Engineering PG | 2 | 2 | – / – |
| Best UG Biomedical Engineering Schools | 18 | 24 | 25 |
| Biomedical Engineering PG | 17 | 19 | – / – |
| Chemical Engineering PG | 2 | 2 | – / – |
| Civil Engineering PG | 19 | 17 | – / – |
| Electrical Engineering PG | 6 | 4 | – / – |
| Mechanical Engineering PG | 3 | 3 | – / – |
| UG Computer Engineering | 10 | 8 | 11 |
| UG Electrical-Electronic and Communications Engineering | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| UG Mechanical Engineering | 6 | 8 | 7 |
CalTech Comparison with Other Universities: US News and World Report 2025
California Tech is one of the top ranked universities in the world. California Tech, Princeton, UCLA, and Michigan University are some of the most prominent universities in United States of America. Check the table listed below for the University ranking with top universities over the past years:
|
University Name |
2024 |
2025 |
|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | 23 | 23 |
| Princeton University | 18 | 16 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | 11 | 13 |
| University of Michigan | 19 | 216 |
US News and World Report: Ranking Criteria
The US News and World Report is one of the leading ranking bodies in the world. Since 2005, the body has been ranking global universities based on various parameters. The Parameters include: Research Reputation, Publications, Total Citations, International Collaborations, and Scientific Excellence Indicators, among others.
As per the ranking criteria of US News, the ranking body prioritizes peer assessment and graduation rates more than the rest of the factors. Students can check the table below for some crucial ranking criteria of US News along with the weightage they consider while determining rankings of CIT:
|
California Institute of Technology Ranking Criteria (US News) |
Weightage |
|---|---|
|
Average 6-year graduation rate |
16% |
|
6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell Grant |
5.5% |
|
6-year graduation rate of students who did not receive a Pell Grant |
5.5% |
|
Average first-year student retention rate |
5% |
|
Over performance (+)/Underperformance(-) |
10% |
|
Median federal loan debt for grad borrowers |
5% |
|
College grads earn more than an HS grad |
5% |
|
Student-Faculty Ratio |
3% |
|
Faculty salaries rank |
6% |
|
Percent of faculty who are full-time |
2% |
Also, check the US News Best College Rankings Methodology.
Commonly asked questions On Caltech US News & World Report Ranking
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 | 3 | 3 |
California Institute of Technology | 23 | 23 |
CalTech Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026
QS is one of the most famous and most followed ranking bodies around the world. It published University rankings for various global universities. The inital rankings had been published in 2024 along with THE ranking body.
According to QS, California Institute of Technology ranks at #10 in 2025 and 2024 under the “World University Rankings”. Check the comparison listed below for California Tech ranking by QS under various categories:
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World University | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| Biological Sciences | 20 | 18 | – / – |
| Engineering and Technology | 9 | 13 | – / – |
| Mathematics | 15 | 16 | – / – |
| Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering | 17 | 18 | – / – |
| Physics and Astronomy | 6 | 7 | – / – |
CalTech Comparison with Other Universities: Quacquarelli Symonds
The below Quacquarelli Symonds rankings of top universities suggest that there is a slight improvement in the rankings of the California Institute of Technology, Princeton University, University of California Los Angeles and University of Michigan. Students can check the table below for a comparison of Quacquarelli Symonds world university rankings among top universities:
|
University Name |
Quacquarelli Symonds WUR 2024 |
Quacquarelli Symonds WUR 2025 |
Quacquarelli Symonds WUR 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| Princeton University | 17 | 22 | 25 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | 29 | 42 | 46 |
| University of Michigan | 33 | 44 | 45 |
Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking 2026: Ranking Criteria
Quacquarelli Symonds University is one of the top popular ranking bodies and has a reputation for being transparent. Quacquarelli Symonds uses an extensive methodology that includes Research and Discovery, Employability and Outcomes, Global Engagement, Learning Experience, and Sustainability.
A detailed ranking criteria for the California Institute of Technology Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking is given below:
|
Caltech Quacquarelli Symonds University Ranking Indicator |
Score |
|---|---|
|
Academic Reputation |
98.3
|
|
Citations per faculty |
100 |
|
Employer Reputation |
99.2
|
|
Employment Outcomes |
49.1
|
|
International Faculty Ratio |
100 |
|
International Research Network |
61.8 |
|
International Student Ratio |
90.7 |
|
Sustainability |
79.2 |
Also, Read QS World University Ranking Methodology
CalTech Ranking by THE (Times Higher Education) 2025
Times Higher Education (THE) is highly renowned for its “World University Rankings” worldwide. A few major ranking released by THE annually include World University Rankings, Business & Economics Rankings, Computer Science Rankings, and Engineering & Technology Rankings. THE evaluates various essential parameters while allotting ranking to top universities around the world. Some important parameters include Reputation Survey, Research Income, Research Productivity, Institutional Income,
Times Higher Education (THE) is highly renowned for its “World University Rankings” worldwide. A few major ranking released by THE annually include World University Rankings, Business & Economics Rankings, Computer Science Rankings, and Engineering & Technology Rankings. THE evaluates various essential parameters while allotting ranking to top universities around the world. Some important parameters include Reputation Survey, Research Income, Research Productivity, Institutional Income, and more.
According to THE, the California Institute of Technology ranks at #401 in 2025 and the same rank in 2024 under the “World University Rankings 2025”. This shows that the university is holding the same positions over the past three years. Check the table listed below for California Tech University ranking under various categories:
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Engineering | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Life Sciences | 6 | 11 | 10 |
| PG Computer Science | 19 | 13 | 15 |
CalTech Comparison with Other Universities: THE Rankings
California Tech, Princeton, UCLA, and Michigan University are some of the most reputed universities in United States for higher education. Students can check the Times Higher Education rankings to Syracuse University with other top universities:
|
University Name |
2024 |
2025 |
|---|---|---|
| California Tech | 7 | 7 |
| Princeton University | 6 | 4 |
| UCLA | 18 | 18 |
| Michigan University | 23 | 22 |
Times Higher Education 2025: Ranking Criteria
Times Higher Education is one of the leading ranking bodies to rank global universities on various parameters. THE ranks universities based on Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry Standards, and International Outlook. A detailed weightage used by the THE is given below:
|
Category |
Score |
|---|---|
|
Teaching |
50.8 |
|
Research |
61.9 |
|
Citations |
87.8 |
|
International Outlook |
93.6 |
|
Industry Income |
99.7 |
|
Overall |
70.3 |
CaltechARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universities | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Mathematics | 47 | 29 | – / – |
| Physics | 6 | 5 | – / – |
Caltech
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?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
A
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
A
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
A
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
A
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
A
Contributor-Level 10
About the author
Caltech
Front View
Building
Campus
Caltech Popular & recent articles
CaltechLocation
| University City | Pasadena, California, USA |
| Size of city | Medium |
| Population of City | 1,43,000 |
CaltechContact Information
1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Pasadena ( California)
Comments