California State University-Los Angeles vs California Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
California Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $64,300 in 0.8 years versus 1.5 years at California State University-Los Angeles, on median earnings of $128,566 vs $59,211 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Los Angeles | California Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,967 | $16,075 |
| Total net cost | $15,868 | $64,300 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,211 | $128,566 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | — |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | 0.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $201,152 | $1,539,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California State University-Los Angeles or California Institute of Technology?
California State University-Los Angeles, at $3,967 a year after aid versus $16,075 — a gap of $12,108 a year, or $48,432 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California State University-Los Angeles or California Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
California Institute of Technology graduates report a median $128,566 ten years after entry, $69,355 more than the $59,211 at California State University-Los Angeles. 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.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at California Institute of Technology, against 53% at California State University-Los Angeles. 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.