California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

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California Institute of Technology can be found in Pasadena, CA, a nonprofit private college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. Caltech has an enrollment of nearly 2,300 students.

The majority of students getting into California Institute of Technology got an SAT score in the range of 1530 to 1560, or got accepted with an ACT composite score within the range of 35 to 36. By applying sampled GPA data from over 150 schools, we are able to estimate that the Caltech average GPA ranges from 4 to 4 for accepted students. The acceptance rate of this school is considered highly competitive, with only 6 percent of those who applied applicants being accepted. You can get more information from the admissions office website at admissions.caltech.edu.

Overall Caltech Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

6.4%

The overall acceptance rate for California Institute of Technology was reported as 6.4% in Fall 2020 with over 8,370 applications submitted to this school. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • Caltech ACT Scores: 35 - 36
  • Caltech Average GPA: 4 - 4

How Hard Is It to Get into California Institute of Technology?

Applicant Selectivity: High

Caltech has a very competitive selection process for applicants, where most students accepted have a higher than average high school GPA and scored in the top percentiles on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT exam.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for California Institute of Technology has been on a downward trend over the past few years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 8.1%
  • 2017-2018: 7.7%
  • 2018-2019: 6.6%
  • 2019-2020: 6.4%
  • Projected Caltech Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 6.4%

How Does Caltech Compare?

6.4%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for California Institute of Technology is more than 100% lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
Art Center College of Design70.8%
Occidental College36.7%
Whittier College57.1%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Recommended
  • High School Class Rankings are Recommended
  • School Records are Required
  • College Prep Classes are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants8,36771.8%28.2%
Admitted53750.7%49.3%
Enrolled23556.2%43.8%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to Caltech (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading740 - 760
Math790 - 800
Total Score1530 - 1560
ACT®Score Range
English35 - 36
Math35 - 36
Composite Score35 - 36
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.