Overview of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Caltech is one of the most selective institutions in the United States. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 2,233 (948 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 55 percent male/45 percent female
• 100 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $54,600
• Books: $1,428
• Room and Board: $16,644
• Other Expenses: $2,091
• Total Cost: $74,763

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 64 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 49 percent
  • Loans: 21 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $39,500
  • Loans: $5,701

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Engineering; Physical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Mathematics and Statistics

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 98 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 81 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 92 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Water Polo
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo

The Caltech Beavers play in the NCAA Division III SCIAC, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Overview of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Admissions

As one of the nation’s most selective institutions, Caltech is looking for applicants with grades and test scores that are well over mean. Applicants must complete an online application, and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

Throughout the 2018-18 admissions phase, Caltech had an acceptance rate of 7%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, seven students gained admission, making Caltech’s admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Caltech requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 68% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

Caltech’s students fall within the top 7% on the SAT. For the reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Caltech scored between 740 and 780, while 25% scored below 740, and 25% scored over 780. 50% of students scored between 790 and 800 on the math section, while 25% scored below 790, and 25% scored a perfect 800. Students with a cumulative SAT score of 1580 or higher will have competitive chances at Caltech.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Caltech requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 52% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

Many of Caltech’s students fall within the top 1% on the ACT. 50% of admitted students received a cumulative ACT score between 35 and 36, while 25% scored a perfect 36, and 25% scored below 35.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Caltech, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Caltech is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

University of Pennsylvania

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Caltech, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Brown University, Yale University, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Caltech. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

Harvey Mudd College

Applying to Caltech

Application Deadline: January 3

Undergraduate Admissions Website: http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/

Undergraduate Application Link(s): http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply

Graduate Admissions Website: http://www.gradoffice.caltech.edu/admissions

Graduate Application Link(s):

http://www.gradoffice.caltech.edu/admissions/applyonline