How to Get Into Caltech: Acceptance Rate & Admissions Strategies (2024)

A popular filming location for shows/movies about brilliant young scientists (Big Bang Theory, Numb3rs, Real Genius, and countless others), the California Institute of Technology is a magnet for the most accomplished STEM minds in the country. You might think of Caltech as “MIT-West”—in many ways that would be an accurate moniker—but the school is far smaller, catering to just under 1,000 undergraduates compared to MIT’s 4,600+. Undoubtedly, the 16,000+ applicants each year would qualify as “geniuses” by sheer IQ and traditional academic achievement, yet the Caltech acceptance rate is currently the lowest in the country.

Every successful Caltech applicant possesses a sparkling transcript, perfect or near-perfect standardized test scores, and prodigious talents that extend outside of the classroom. Unfortunately, these attributes are necessary but often not sufficient as Caltech rejects valedictorians every single day of the admissions cycle. The intent of this article is to give those considering applying to Caltech:

Caltech acceptance rate
SAT, GPA, and class rank of accepted Caltech applicants
Admissions trends from the Class of 2027
Caltech’s system for rating applicants
Math & science preparedness
A look at the demographics of Caltech undergraduates
Caltech’s yield rate
Tips for applying to Caltech
Caltech’s sizable array of supplemental essays and responses
How to assess whether applying to Caltech is worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Acceptance Rate — Class of 2028

Official Class of 2028 numbers have yet to be released but we do know that fewer students were accepted than last year, and the number accepted was the lowest in 30 years. However, a comparable number of applications were received—about 13,000. This indicates that the acceptance rate for the 2024-25 incoming freshman class was most likely around 2-3%, slightly lower than the previous year.

For the Class of 2027, there were 13,326 applications—several thousand less than the Class of 2026—and 412 were accepted. That works out to an acceptance rate of 3%.

Historical Caltech acceptance rates are as follows:

	Applicants	Admits	Acceptance Rate
Class of 2026	16,626	448	2.7%
Class of 2025	13,026	510	3.9%
Class of 2024	8,007	536	6.7%

What GPA do you need to get into Caltech?

While Caltech does not release information on average GPA, it is fair to say that most Caltech students have an unweighted 4.0 (or very close to it) earned within a full roster of AP/IB courses.

What class rank do you need to get accepted to Caltech?

Among enrolled 2022-23 first-year students (most recent data available), an outstanding 96% hailed from the top 10%, while 100% earned a place in the top quarter.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for Caltech?

Caltech has not reported any standardized testing stats for the past few years because they were operating as test-blind, meaning they did not consider SAT or ACT scores.

However, Caltech has reinstated its testing policy for the Class of 2029 after finding that over 95% of students were submitting scores anyway, which the admissions office was not allowed to take into account when reviewing a student’s application.

Accordingly, if you are applying during the 2024-25 admissions cycle, you will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores alongside your application.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Acceptance Rate — Continued

Admissions Trends & Notes —Class of 2027

Applications dropped by about 18% between the Class of 2026 and Class of 2027. This corresponds with when the school switched from regular Early Action to Restrictive Early Action.
64% of the admitted Class of 2027 attended public schools.
17% are first-generation students.
International students accepted hailed from 31 countries, and US-based students came from 39 states.
One-third of students submitted a portfolio or maker work.
20% are scholar-athletes.
45% presented materials related to past research.

How Caltech Rates Applicants

Back in 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Caltech announced two major changes to its admissions process:

Elimination of SAT Subject Test scores requirement.
A two-year moratorium on the requirement of and consideration of the SAT/ACT. This moratorium went on for four years, but has now ended.

Caltech has always utilized a holistic process, but this was made even more so by the impact of the pandemic and the accompanying changes made by the committee. The Dean of Admissions stated that: “If you continue to consider applying to Caltech, I promise that we will take great care of the story you share through an application. We have always reviewed students within the context of the opportunities available to them, and we will hold true to that practice. Additionally, we will be flexible and understanding of extenuating circ*mstances that may surround your college application process.”

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Acceptance Rate — Continued

Four factors are cited by Caltech as being “very important” to the admissions process: the rigor of your high school course load, application essays, recommendations, and character/personal qualities. Class rank, GPA, and extracurricular involvement are deemed “important” to the committee. For advice about how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog entitled How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?

Math and Science Preparedness

On the academic front, the Caltech admissions committee wants to see evidence of success in courses covering rigorously proof-based, abstract math. They want to see four years of math and a mastery of calculus that will ready students to study the following subjects:

Set Theory & Logic
Differential & Integral Calculus
Linear Algebra
Ordinary Differential Equations

Science expectations are similarly high. A year of chemistry and physics are required, and a year of biology is recommended.

Who Actually Gets Into Caltech?

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown for all undergraduates in 2023-24 was as follows (note—these do not add up to 100% as some individuals belong to more than one category):

White: 22%
Asian: 37%
Hispanic: 11%
Black or African American: 5%
Two or More Races: 5%

The gender breakdown was as follows:

Men: 59%
Women: 41%

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Acceptance Rate — Continued

Students hail from the following locations:

California: 28%
Mid-Atlantic: 13%
Midwest: 10%
New England: 3%
South: 10%
Southwest: 8%
West: 9%
International: 18%

Caltech’s Yield Rate

Caltech’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted to Caltech—is 64%. This has increased by 22% over the past several years, which may help explain why Caltech is accepting fewer students.

Tips for Applying to Caltech

If you plan on joining the 13,000+ Caltech hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

We repeat—Caltech has reinstated its testing policy, effective for anyone applying to the school in fall 2024.
Caltech gives students the option of using the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Unlike rival MIT, they do not use their own separate application form.
Caltech does not consider “demonstrated interest” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
There are no undergraduate interviews at Caltech. Your essays and teacher recommendations are the best way to forge a personal connection with an admissions officer.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Acceptance Rate — Continued

Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the litany of supplemental essays and short answers required by Caltech. In the 2024-25 cycle, they are as follows:

Caltech Essay Prompts

Required Academic Essay:

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)

Required Short Answer Essays:

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describetwoSTEM-related experiencesfrom your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further?(Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)
The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have wonNobel Prizesand putrovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life?(Min: 200 / Max: 250)
Caltech’smission– to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracingfundamental Caltech values:
- Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged
- Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we’ve had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal
- Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (Min: 200 / Max: 400)

Optional Short Answer Essays:

We know, we know … you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. But in this section, we truly do! See these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality.

Optional. We promise.

If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below.(Max: 150 words)
When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy?(Max: 100 words)
Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest!(Max: 50 words)

Optional Academic Short Answer Essays:

OPTIONAL: Have you had any extenuating circ*mstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.
Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, or internationally (eg., AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads). If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (with scores, if applicable).

Should I apply to Caltech?

If you are at the very top of your class, have taken an exceptionally rigorous STEM curriculum, have near-perfect test scores, and possess demonstrated STEM talent/interest (particularly of the project, research, or competition variety), you could have a fighting chance of acceptance at this excellent institution.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts

If you are academically qualified, there is no harm in filling out a Caltech application, but—as with all uber-elite colleges in 2024-25—even the best and brightest applicants need to have a rock-solid backup plan. All college-bound teens need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. You’ll definitely want to do this in conjunction with an admissions professional (including your own high school counselor).

Ready to fill out your application? You may appreciate the following resources:

Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
What is Demonstrated Interest?
Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
College Fair Advice for High School Students
How to Complete the Common App Activities List
Common App Essay Prompts