California Institute of Technology

What Caltech's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2024-25.

All 4 insights at Caltech PRO

7 more things the data says PRO

1. Men were admitted at a lower rate: 4.3% for women against 1.8% for men.
2. The share of international students in the first-year class has risen from 6% to 15% since 2019-20, about 1.7 points a year.
3. Nearly every enrolled first-year sent a test score in 2025-26 (78%), after fewer did in earlier years: it has moved back toward requiring tests.
4. The admit rate has moved down steadily, from 6.6% in 2018-19 to 2.6% in 2024-25. If the trend holds, expect about 1.3% in 2025-26.
5. It reports meeting 100% of financial need for first-years who have need.
6. 171 students stayed on the waitlist and 41 were admitted from it (24.0%).
7. Applications rose 69% from 2018-19 to 2024-25 (8,208 to 13,856), faster than 78% of colleges here.

What students say PRO

From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.

• Of admits who named a round, most (17 of 24) applied Regular Decision; 7 applied Restrictive Early Action.
• Most admits (about 22 of 44) did real research, often with a professor or at a selective summer programme, and some had papers or presentations.
• Many admits (about 11) competed or led in STEM teams such as robotics, science olympiad, or math competitions.
• Most admits who shared scores reported an SAT of 1540 to 1600 (or ACT 34 to 36), with GPAs of about 3.9 to 4.0.
• Many admits (about 10) founded something: a startup, nonprofit, club chapter, or outreach programme, often in STEM.
• Students report Caltech waitlist offers are rare and vary by year, with 0 to 15 admitted from the waitlist in recent data, though one waitlisted student was called in May.
• Students say Caltech is not need-blind, so international applicants who need aid may be hurt, and high scores or medals do not guarantee admission.
• Students report CSS Profile fee waivers were denied or unavailable for some applicants, so budget for the fee.
• Students report Caltech emphasises research and STEM competitions and includes a research supplement, though one admit says they got in without them.
• Students report little merit aid at Caltech, since aid is need-based, and an international admit still expected about $30,000 a year.

Every number, year by year: California Institute of Technology on Open College Data.