Caltech rose to fifth place in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list, tying Stanford University and posting its largest single-year climb in more than 25 years. The ranking was released Sept. 22 and also kept Caltech near the top in value, research opportunities and graduate earnings.
Key facts
- Caltech ranked No. 5 nationally in the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges list.
- The Institute tied Stanford University for the fifth spot.
- Caltech led all national universities in four ranking metrics and placed second in graduate earnings by major.
- Caltech also ranked fifth on the U.S. News Best Value Schools list.
- The ranking release followed changes to Caltech’s testing policy, with the Institute resuming standardized test score reporting this year.
What does the ranking mean for students and applicants?
For prospective students, the ranking points to both admissions selectivity and the price of attending Caltech. The Institute says students with family incomes below $200,000 and typical assets receive aid that fully covers tuition, while students with family incomes below $100,000 and typical assets receive aid that covers tuition, fees, housing and food.
It also signals the strength of Caltech’s undergraduate research environment. More than 90 percent of undergraduates conduct research before graduating, and hundreds participate each summer in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program on campus and at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech manages for NASA.
- Best Value ranking: No. 5
- Research recognition: No. 2
- Graduate earnings by major: No. 2
- Financial aid: tuition covered for students below $200,000 family income with typical assets
Why did Caltech move up?
Caltech credited the climb to strong showings across several ranking measures. It earned the top national placement in per-student financial resources, share of faculty publications in the top 25 percent of journals, graduate earnings relative to high school graduates and standardized testing scores. It also ranked second in the new earnings-by-major metric.
The Institute’s peer assessment ranking rose from ninth to seventh, and its faculty salary ranking moved from eighth to seventh. Peer assessment carries the largest weight in the U.S. News formula, at 20 percent of the total score.
How is Caltech performing on value and research?
Caltech placed fifth on the U.S. News Best Value Schools list, which is based on net price and student financial aid. The school says its aid policy has expanded in recent years to improve affordability and access.
In undergraduate research, Caltech ranked second for the second year in a row. The ranking reflects opportunities for intensive, self-directed research or creative projects that produce an original scholarly paper or other work. Caltech says close work with faculty and hands-on projects remain central to the student experience.
What changed in Caltech’s ranking profile this year?
One notable shift is that Caltech resumed reporting standardized test scores after ending its four-year test-blind admissions policy. The institute also said the ranking reflects the strength of its students, faculty and investments in undergraduate academic experience and long-term success.
Caltech enrolls roughly 1,000 undergraduate students and 1,400 graduate students, making it one of the most selective universities in the world.
