Chances of getting into California Institute of Technology
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into Caltech and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Caltech is 4%. It ranks #1 in California and #1 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Caltech is extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Last year, 510 out of 13,026 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 1 percent (SAT 1530/1580 ACT 35/36). California Institute of Technology typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.97. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. Of those applicants who were admitted, 53% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by California Institute of Technology is a prized outcome for many students.
The Caltech application fee is $75 and applications are due by Jan 1.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to California Institute of Technology you should:
- Have a high school GPA of 3.97 or better
- Earn A- grades in high school
- Score 1560 on the SAT
- Score 35 on the ACT
- Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class
- Submit letters of recommendation from your teachers
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. California Institute of Technology is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
Caltech SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| 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?
Students who get into California Institute of Technology score in the top 1 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 1530-1580. The school consistently admits 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 average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1560 out of 1600. Caltech ranks #1 in California and #1 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. 0 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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Caltech ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| 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?
Caltech regularly accepts students who score 35 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 1 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 35-36. We estimate the school accepting a minimum ACT composite score 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 and #1 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 0 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California Institute of Technology.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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Caltech GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into California Institute of Technology?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Caltech. 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 #4 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.
Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements
*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.97 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
High School Class Rank
90% 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 | 90% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 3,967 | 9,059 | 13,026 |
| Accepted | 250 | 260 | 510 |
| Acceptance Rate | 6% | 3% | 4% |
| Enrolled | 121 | 149 | 270 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 48% | 57% | 53% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to California Institute of Technology is $75.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California Institute of Technology and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | 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.
FAQs
What is my chance of getting into California Institute of Technology?
4% 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. 0% 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. 0% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.