After Caltech: graduation, pay and debt
Pasadena, California · Private · 987 undergrads
93% of Caltech students finish within six years, the typical student earns $166,642 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $7,500 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$166.6k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
93%
finish within six years.
79%
finish in four years.
97%
of first-years come back for year two.
$7,500
median federal debt at graduation.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
79%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
93%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
97%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
94%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
93%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
234
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
95%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
3%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
240
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
3%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$124,285
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$166,642
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
81%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$7,500
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$12,000
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- GPA, early rounds and wait list: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Deadlines: admissions.caltech.edu, 2026-27 (checked Nov 5, 2026)
- Test rule: admissions.caltech.edu, fall 2027 (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Updated Nov 5, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers