California Institute of Technology

If you are considering submitting an application to Caltech, the regular decision application deadline is January 3 and the fee for the application is $75.

Students who submit their applications to Caltech for fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than March 15.

Caltech Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of Caltech's admissions stats.

Caltech 2022	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	90%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are not considered
Waitlist	Yes

California Institute of Technology Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for California Institute of Technology.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 15
Regular Decision	Yes	January 15	March 15

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Want to Apply Early to Caltech?

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Caltech does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Caltech will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 15.

➡️ Find a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on California Institute of Technology Admissions

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Transferring to California Institute of Technology

Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Caltech

In 2022, Caltech waitlisted 268 students and 213 accepted a place on the waitlist.

What Does Caltech Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Caltech

Wondering what factors are considered by Caltech during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Academic GPA	Important
Class Rank	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with Caltech for more information on admission factors.

Caltech 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Caltech, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Caltech's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Caltech?

Caltech has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 24% submitted a class rank. At Caltech 90% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 100% were in the top 25%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At California Institute of Technology, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	––
3.75 and 3.99	––
3.50 and 3.74	––
3.25 and 3.49	––
3.00 and 3.24	––
2.50 and 2.9	––
2.00 and 2.49	––

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Caltech directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Caltech does not consider ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

Caltech does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

More Information on Transferring to California Institute of Technology

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Caltech.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by May 1.

Transfer students can enroll in Caltech during the following terms:

• Fall Term

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Caltech Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Caltech?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Caltech.

Does Caltech accept transfer credits?

✅ Caltech accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Do I have to submit test scores to Caltech?

✅ Caltech is not test optional. Test scores will not be considered during the admissions process, even if you submit them.

What is Caltech's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Caltech is 4%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Caltech?

❌ Caltech does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About Caltech?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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