California Institute of Technology vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) are two highly regarded universities with distinct characteristics. Caltech, a private research university in Pasadena, California, is renowned for its exceptional strength in science and engineering, while UNC, a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, offers a wide range of academic programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. With acceptance rates of 7% and 24%, respectively, both universities are highly selective. Caltech's student body is predominantly male (62%) and international (22%), while UNC's student body is more evenly distributed between genders (50% male, 50% female) and has a lower percentage of international students (10%). Caltech's most popular majors are in the fields of engineering and physical sciences, while UNC's most popular majors are in the fields of business, social sciences, and biological sciences. Both universities

	California Institute of Technology	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Overview
Location	Pasadena, California	Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Quarter	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	99.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	3.9%	20.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $100	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95
SAT range	N/A	1140 - 1380
ACT range	N/A	22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score		2.0%
Students submitting ACT score		12.0%
Total number of applicants	13,026	50,729
Total number of admissions given out	510	10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll	270	4,690
Yield rate	52.9%	45.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$82,122	In state: $24,770 Out of state: $52,633
Average net price	$30,162	$11,508
Tuition	$56,364	In state: $7,019 Out of state: $34,882
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $10,398 Meal plan: $7,350	Room/dormitory: $6,878 Meal plan: $5,004
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	54.0% Average amount $47,556	42.0% Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan	5.0% Average amount $5,333	17.0% Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans	15.0% Average amount $4,732	3.0% Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	987 Men 55.3% Women 44.7%	19,845 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students	1,410 Men 66.7% Women 33.3%	11,796 Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	92.2%	16.2%
International students	29.4%	6.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	1,572	9,984
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	California Texas Georgia Maryland Florida	North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Physical Science Computer and Information Science Biological and Biomedical Sciences Mathematics and Statistics	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio	3:1	15:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	92.9%	90.5%
Dropout rate	4.6%	3.7%
Transferred out	1.7%	5.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $155,297 Year 3: N/A Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $129,693 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $83,177 Year 3: N/A Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $59,996 Year 2: $89,875 Year 3: N/A	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $168,979 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $238,213 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $135,965 Year 2: $127,836 Year 3: $150,089 Dentistry (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $116,248 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $128,102 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $67,961 Year 2: $103,078 Year 3: $117,488 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $89,271 Year 2: $86,036 Year 3: $96,602 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,162 Year 2: $72,083 Year 3: $95,204 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,938 Year 2: $73,823 Year 3: $89,917 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $71,557 Year 2: $57,770 Year 3: $87,057 Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,899 Year 2: $67,660 Year 3: $86,155 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $68,205 Year 2: $68,666 Year 3: $82,520

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary academic strengths of Caltech and UNC-Chapel Hill?

Caltech excels in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It's renowned for its rigorous curriculum, groundbreaking research, and small class sizes, fostering close interaction with faculty. UNC-Chapel Hill, a public research university, offers strong programs across a wide range of disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, business, and STEM. It's particularly well-regarded for its journalism, public health, and business programs, and provides a more comprehensive academic experience with a broader range of majors and research opportunities.
How do the campus cultures and student life differ between the two universities?

Caltech has a highly focused and intense academic culture, with a strong emphasis on research and intellectual pursuits. Student life is often centered around academic clubs, research projects, and a close-knit community. UNC-Chapel Hill offers a more traditional college experience with a vibrant social scene, a strong emphasis on athletics (particularly basketball), and a diverse student body. The campus is known for its school spirit, Greek life, and a wide array of extracurricular activities.
What is the typical class size and student-to-faculty ratio at each institution?

Caltech boasts a very low student-to-faculty ratio, typically around 3:1, and small class sizes, often under 20 students. This allows for personalized attention and close mentorship from professors. UNC-Chapel Hill has a higher student-to-faculty ratio, around 13:1, and class sizes can vary significantly depending on the course. While some introductory courses may be larger, upper-level courses and seminars tend to have smaller class sizes.
How does the research focus and opportunities compare at Caltech and UNC-Chapel Hill?

Caltech is a research powerhouse, with a primary focus on cutting-edge scientific and technological research. Undergraduate students have significant opportunities to participate in research from their first year. UNC-Chapel Hill is also a major research university, with extensive research opportunities across all disciplines. Students can engage in research through various centers, institutes, and individual faculty projects. UNC-Chapel Hill offers a broader range of research areas, including humanities and social sciences, in addition to STEM fields.
What are the admission requirements and selectivity of each university?

Both Caltech and UNC-Chapel Hill are highly selective institutions. Caltech is known for its extremely rigorous admission standards, requiring exceptional academic records, standardized test scores, and demonstrated interest in STEM fields. UNC-Chapel Hill is also highly selective, considering academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. Admission to UNC-Chapel Hill is often more accessible than Caltech, but still very competitive, especially for out-of-state applicants.
How do the tuition and overall costs compare?

Tuition and fees at Caltech are generally higher than at UNC-Chapel Hill. However, financial aid packages are available at both institutions to help offset the cost of attendance. UNC-Chapel Hill, as a public university, offers lower tuition rates for in-state residents. Out-of-state students will pay significantly more. Both universities provide information on their websites regarding estimated costs and financial aid opportunities.
What are the career prospects for graduates of Caltech and UNC-Chapel Hill?

Caltech graduates are highly sought after in STEM fields, often pursuing careers in research, academia, engineering, and technology. They are well-prepared for graduate studies and leadership roles in their respective fields. UNC-Chapel Hill graduates have diverse career prospects, with strong opportunities in various fields, including business, law, medicine, journalism, and public service. The university's strong alumni network and career services support graduates in their job searches and career development.
What is the location and surrounding environment like for each university?

Caltech is located in Pasadena, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The area offers a pleasant climate, access to cultural attractions, and proximity to the entertainment industry. UNC-Chapel Hill is situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a college town with a vibrant atmosphere, a strong sense of community, and access to the Research Triangle Park, a major hub for technology and innovation.
How does the availability of extracurricular activities and student organizations differ?

Caltech, while smaller, offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including academic clubs, research groups, and student-run organizations. The focus is often on STEM-related activities, but there are also opportunities for arts, sports, and social engagement. UNC-Chapel Hill has a vast array of extracurricular activities, including a large number of student organizations, sports teams (including a nationally recognized basketball program), Greek life, and arts and cultural events. The options are much more extensive at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Which university is better suited for a student interested in a specific field, such as engineering or journalism?

Caltech is the clear choice for students primarily interested in engineering, physics, and other STEM fields. UNC-Chapel Hill is an excellent choice for students interested in journalism, public health, business, and a broader range of disciplines. While both offer strong STEM programs, Caltech's focus is more specialized. UNC-Chapel Hill provides a more well-rounded academic experience with a wider variety of programs.

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

California Institute of Technology

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott