Caltech Admission Requirements
Pasadena, CaliforniaChances of getting into California Institute of Technology
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
6.6%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Caltech and can I get accepted? The school has a 7% acceptance rate ranking it #2 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 543 out of 8,208 applicants were admitted making Caltech an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 1 percent. California Institute of Technology typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 43% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesCaltech SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1530-1580Applicants Submitting SAT
68%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 740 |
| SAT Math 25th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1530 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 780 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1580 |
| Average SAT Score | 1560 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to California Institute of Technology?
California Institute of Technology typically requires applicants to be in the top 1 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1530 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1500. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1560 out of 1600. The school ranks #1 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 68 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1580 and Above | Good | >11% |
| 1555 to 1580 | Avg + | 7%-11% |
| 1530 to 1555 | Avg - | 4%-7% |
| 1505 to 1530 | Reach | 3%-4% |
| Less than 1505 | Low | <3% |
Caltech ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
35-36Applicants Submitting ACT
52%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 35 |
| ACT Math 25th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 35 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 36 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 36 |
| Average ACT Score | 35 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Caltech?
Admission data indicates that Caltech regularly accepts students with ACT's of 35 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 1 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 34 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 36 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 36 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 52 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California Institute of Technology.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 36 and Above | Good | >18% |
| 35 to 36 | Avg + | 7%-18% |
| 35 to 35 | Avg - | 7%-7% |
| 35 to 35 | Reach | 7%-7% |
| Less than 35 | Low | <7% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.97*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need exceptionally good grades to get into California Institute of Technology. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at California Institute of Technology was 3.97 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #5 in California for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Caltech extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.97 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.97 GPA.
High School Class Rank
99% of California Institute of Technology freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 99% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 2,342 | 5,866 | 8,208 |
| Accepted | 284 | 259 | 543 |
| Acceptance Rate | 12% | 4% | 7% |
| Enrolled | 107 | 124 | 231 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 38% | 48% | 43% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 3, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 3, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California Institute of Technology and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Neither required nor recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | No |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110404 IPEDS survey data for California Institute of Technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California Institute of Technology prefer SAT or ACT?
68% of students submit their SAT scores to Caltech. 52% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into California Institute of Technology?
7% of those who apply are granted admission to Caltech. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for California Institute of Technology?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1530 and 1580. 68% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for California Institute of Technology?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 35 and 36. 52% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
