Head-to-head comparison
University of California-San Diego vs California Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A La Jolla, CA
University of California-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $12,470
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,943
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
Option B Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $16,075
- Earnings, 10 years
- $128,566
- Payback
- 0.8 yrs
California Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $64,300 in 0.8 years versus 1.4 years at University of California-San Diego, on median earnings of $128,566 vs $84,943 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-San Diego | California Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,470 | $16,075 |
| Total net cost | $49,880 | $64,300 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,943 | $128,566 |
| Median debt | $15,500 | — |
| Payback | 1.4 yrs | 0.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $681,780 | $1,539,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-San Diego or California Institute of Technology?
University of California-San Diego, at $12,470 a year after aid versus $16,075 — a gap of $3,605 a year, or $14,420 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of California-San Diego or California Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
California Institute of Technology graduates report a median $128,566 ten years after entry, $43,623 more than the $84,943 at University of California-San Diego. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at California Institute of Technology, against 86% at University of California-San Diego. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.