With a 3% acceptance rate, admissions at California Institute of Technology are extremely difficult. A minimum GPA is not necessary for admission to the graduate program at California Institute of Technology. On the other hand, most of the accepted applicants are in the top 10% of their class or have a GPA of 3.5 (89–90%) on a 4.0 scale. A minimum of 75% aggregate and an IELTS score of 7.0 or TOEFL score of 100 are needed for admission to undergraduate programs.
At Caltech, 2401 students were enrolled for the class of 2025. 718 international graduate students make up the 29.94% of international students enrolled overall. The California Institute of Technology offers 28 undergraduate programs for entrance, and 30 graduate degree programs for acceptance. At Caltech, the most popular courses are in chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering. The following table lists the prerequisites for admission to some of the best postgraduate programs at California Institute of Technology.
Deadlines for California Institute of Technology Admissions
Deadlines for graduate programs at California Institute of Technology range from November 15 to January 1, depending on the program. The general deadlines for overseas students applying to Caltech’s undergraduate admissions program in 2024 are listed below:
California Institute of Technology’s Top Programs
Students at Caltech can offer courses in any of the six divisions. The university accepts applications from overseas students as long as they fulfill the official academic documentation criteria, deadlines, and admissions eligibility standards of California Institute of Technology. Caltech offers graduate courses in a number of disciplines, including computer science, physics, bioengineering, medicine, and aeronautics.
The prerequisites for admission to Caltech’s top postgraduate programs are listed here.
The Institute of Technology in California prerequisites for UG classes
For Caltech admissions, domestic and international applicants must submit similar applications; the only difference is that overseas applicants require additional supporting documentation.
Engineering and Applied Science, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Biology and Biological Engineering, and a few additional programs are offered as undergraduate courses at California Institute of Technology. The following are the fundamental criteria for California Institute of Technology undergraduate program admissions:
Common App or QuestBridge Application is the application portal.
Application Fee: $5,920 INR or $75 USD
Qualifications for Entrance:
official transcripts (straight from your high school; desirable but not needed) with an overall score of at least 75%
An inventory of extracurricular pursuits
a duplicate passport
An accounting statement
Individual Essay
A tutor in math or science and a tutor in the humanities or social sciences will evaluate the teacher.
Scores for English language proficiency: TOEFL iBT-100
ETS: 7.0
Decision Regarding Admission to California Institute of Technology Offers of admission are made when the faculty has had a chance to review each applicant, and the timeline for each academic option varies.
Notifications to applicants may be sent at any point between the April 1 deadline and the submission deadline. Offers are made as soon as feasible by the admissions committee of the California Institute of Technology to provide students the opportunity to weigh graduate education at Caltech against options at other universities.
Selection Criteria for California Institute of Technology
With an admittance rate of under 3%, California Institute of Technology is among the most competitive and selective universities in the United States. It is recommended that prospective graduate students maintain the high cumulative GPA and excellent undergraduate grades necessary for graduate admittance. After the deadlines, graduate applicants should anticipate hearing back from their application within two to three weeks.
It is advisable for graduate applicants to take the GRE and have outstanding results, even though certain graduate programs may not need it, because admissions to California Institute of Technology are extremely competitive. Students who get offers from the California Institute of Technology will receive an acceptance letter.
CalTech University Guide, Admissions Advice, and Application Requirements
Caltech, also referred to as the California Institute of Technology, is among the top technical universities in the world and in the United States. Check out these frequently asked questions to help you decide if Caltech is the best college for you if you want to study STEM in college.
Caltech is where?
Northeast Los Angeles’ Pasadena, California is home to four colleges, including Caltech. Being the sole technical university and the most esteemed institution in the city, Caltech stands out. The Tournament of Roses Parade and the yearly Rose Bowl Football game are the two events that make Pasadena famous. Outside of these occasions, Pasadena is usually a tranquil neighborhood that is easily accessible to the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States. You can take a virtual tour of Caltech’s campus to have a better visual understanding of the institution.
In what way may I apply to Caltech?
Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision are the two application rounds that Caltech accepts. Restrictive Early Action (REA) is a non-binding early admissions procedure for students who are enthusiastic about the prospect of attending Caltech, are certain that Caltech is their top university, and wish to find out as soon as possible whether they have been accepted. In addition, if applicants decide to apply to other universities during the Regular Decision process, they will not be forced to accept a Caltech REA offer and can instead weigh their financial aid choices. Students will be informed by mid-December of their admissions decision (admit, defer, or refuse) after applications close on November 1. After being admitted, students will have until May 1, 2023, to determine whether or not to accept Caltech’s admissions offer.
With the following exclusions, students who opt to apply REA to Caltech are not permitted to apply Early Action or Early Decision to any other university:
- an establishment that is not based in the US;
- any public university (like the University of California system) with a fall application deadline and a non-binding admissions policy;
- The non-binding rolling admissions process of an institution;
- After submitting a REA application to Caltech, if your admission is delayed, you can apply to the Early Decision II program at another university. You must withdraw your Caltech admissions application if you are accepted into the Early Decision II program at that university.
Furthermore, REA ought to be reserved for students who are ready to turn in their strongest application—complete with recommendation letters and the necessary coursework for admission—by November 1. See our page on Academic Preparation for further details on getting ready for Caltech. The CalTech normal decision application deadline is January 3rd, and admissions decisions are announced around the middle of March. By May 1st, both early and regular applicants must decide whether or not to accept their Caltech spot. Caltech accepts applications via the Coalition Application as well as the Common Application. You must compose the CalTech extra application essays in either case. Three brief (between 100 and 250 word) essay questions will provide information about your background as a student, scientist, and person. Low-income students who have been chosen as Finalists can apply to Caltech for free through Questbridge’s Regular Decision or National College Match programs because Caltech is a QuestBridge Partner. Additionally, CalTech provides a number of ways for students to receive fee waivers, such as an email from the school counselor.
Can I afford Caltech?
Caltech, like a lot of other elite universities, provides ample need-based financial aid. Furthermore, admissions are offered to US nationals without regard to necessity. Since there are fewer financial aid monies available for international students, admissions decisions are made based on the need of the admitted students in order to fully meet their demonstrated needs. The overall cost of attending CalTech without financial assistance is $83,598 for the 2022–2023 academic year. This amount covers books, housing, tuition, and expected personal costs. Furthermore, CalTech levies a $500 orientation fee to all freshman and provides a $4,251 health insurance coverage that is optional (as long as students can show confirmation of similar care). Even though this is an expensive college, many students will be eligible for financial assistance. Your proven need will be met by a standard Caltech financial aid package, which combines student loans, student employment, and grants and scholarships. Even after you’ve started attending Caltech, a few things may still have an impact on your financial aid. You have to maintain “satisfactory academic progress” in order to keep your financial help. Conversely, “underloading,” or enrolling in fewer classes than required, might lower your tuition and, as a result, your financial aid package. Your family’s circumstances may also affect financial aid (for instance, if one of your siblings starts or completes college). Students should always utilize the Net Price Calculator for any university they are seriously considering. You can estimate your anticipated family contribution (EFC) and financial assistance package here to see how much Caltech would cost you and your family.