Caltech graduates land jobs, build networks and advance into leadership at rates that place the Pasadena institution among the top 31 colleges in the country for long-term career success, according to LinkedIn's second annual Top Colleges list published Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The ranking, which tracks how alumni careers unfold over time, puts Caltech ahead of crosstown rival USC (No. 33) and alongside four other California schools, according to Colorado Boulevard: Stanford University (No. 10), UC Berkeley (No. 29) and Claremont McKenna College (No. 40). Princeton, Duke and Harvard claimed the top three spots nationally.

Unlike traditional rankings that weigh selectivity or endowment size, LinkedIn's list is built on five indicators drawn from its platform data: job placement, internship and recruiter demand, network strength, career advancement and knowledge breadth.

"Our goal is to give students and families another lens to help inform one of life's biggest decisions," Laura Lorenzetti, LinkedIn's vice president and executive editor, said in the announcement.

What it means for Pasadena families

For local students weighing a Caltech education, the numbers behind the ranking are concrete. Graduates' median earnings 10 years after enrollment reach $128,566, according to U.S. Department of Education data (2023 College Scorecard). The school's 3-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and a culture where roughly 90% of undergraduates participate in research help explain why employers seek out its alumni.

Caltech enrolled 971 undergraduates in fall 2025, with each entering class numbering about 230 students. Competition is fierce. The Class of 2029 admitted just 427 of 11,285 applicants, a 3.78% acceptance rate.

Cost and financial aid

The sticker price is steep. Caltech's 2026-27 total cost of attendance runs approximately $98,622, including $68,574 in tuition. But through its Caltech Promise program, the school meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted U.S. students without loans. Families earning under $100,000 with assets under $100,000 pay zero tuition.

New leadership

The ranking arrives weeks after Ray Jayawardhana took office July 1 as Caltech's 10th president. Jayawardhana called Caltech "a singular place with a close-knit community whose commitment to excellence is relentless" in his inauguration remarks that day.

Prospective students eyeing Caltech's next entering class face a Restrictive Early Action deadline of Nov. 1.