Caltech Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

The California Institute of Technology, or Caltech, was established as a USA-based private research university in Pasadena, California, in 1891. The university has six divisions with a strong emphasis on Science & Engineering, offering many California Institute of Technology degrees.

When it comes to CalTech Ranking, it ranked #6 in National University, #7 in Best Value Schools, and #10 in World University Rankings 2026. 

International students are compelled to apply to California Institute of Technology admissions due to its excellent academic programs, small class size, reputation, and rankings.

California Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate 

CalTech received over 13,800 applications for 2024-25, of which around 350 students were offered the opportunity to enroll at the university. This suggests that the CalTech acceptance rate 2025 is a mere 2.57%, making the criteria for CalTech admissions extremely selective. 

Of the 350+ students accepted, the number of students who decided to enroll on the CalTech campus amounted to over 200, making the university’s yield rate around 61.2%. 

Particulars	Class of 2027	Class of 2028
Student Applications Received	13,107	13,856
Students Admitted	412	356
Acceptance Rate	3.14%	2.57%
Students Enrolled	266	218
Yield Rate	64.6%	61.2%

California Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate for International Students

CalTech currently houses over 670 international graduate students. Whereas the international (nonresident) UG students enrolled at the California Institute of Technology were recorded to be almost 140 as of Fall 2024. The UG student demographics for the university are as follows: 

Ethnic/Racial Group	Headcount
American Indian/Alaska Native	1
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	1
Race and/or ethnicity unknown	1
Black/African American	46
Two or more races	88
Nonresidents	139
Hispanic/Latino	172
White	185
Asian	354
Total	987

California Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate Trends

CalTech has been receiving an increased number of applications since Fall 2020.  Whereas the number of students enrolled at the university each year has remained rather consistent, usually above 200.

A decreasing trend in the CalTech acceptance rate indicates increased competition for securing a seat at the university. Students can refer to the table below for enrollment statistics: 

Year	Application Received	Students Enrolled	CalTech Acceptance Rate
2024-2025	13,856	218	2.57%
2023-2024	13,107	266	3.14%
2022-2023	16,626	224	2.69%
2021-2022	13,026	270	3.92%
2020-2021	8,007	225	6.69%

CalTech Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate: Early Decision vs Regular Decision 

As per official sources, CalTech’s admit rate for both Regular Decision as well as Early Action stands under 5%. The general California Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 2.5% for the class of 2028. The number of students admitted under the Early Action plan by the university can be checked from the table given below: 

Particulars	Class of 2027	Class of 2028
EA Students Admitted	315	412

California Institute of Technology Requirements for International Students

International students must fulfill the basic university requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate programs to be admitted to Caltech. The basic entry requirements for UG and PG programs are given below:

Undergraduate requirements:

• ACT and SAT scores
• Transcripts of your high school.
• Students need to provide a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR).
• A minimum score of 6.5 and above in IELTS
• SOP
• Portfolio

Postgraduate requirements:

• Transcripts of your degree.
• A minimum score of 7.5 and above in IELTS
• SOP
• LORs
• Creative portfolio (As per the chosen course)
• Resume/ CV
• Entrance exam like GRE or GMAT, LSAT, MCAT

English Requirements

The minimum score required to fulfill the basic English language requirements is given below:

English Language Tests	Minimum Score for Admission
IELTS	7.0 or higher (minimum of 7 in each area)
TOEFL	100, minimum 25 in each area
Duolingo	130 or higher

Also check California Institute of Technology cost

Tips to get selected at the California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 2.5%. This shows tough selection criteria during the Caltech admission process. However, international students who adhere to the tips below to get selected for the university still have higher chances:

• Work on extracurricular activities: International students must take part in extracurricular activities, especially those relevant to the course. The university prefers those students over those who only do well academically.
• Brush up your English: Students whose first language is not English must brush up on their language and try to score well in English proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, and more. It will be extremely helpful not only for a resume but also for residing abroad.
• Start early: Students must do their preparation before enrolling in the program. The preparation includes preparing to score high in academics, making a list of all the required documents, and applying early as the university follows a first-come, first-served basis.

California Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate Vs University of Chicago Acceptance Rate

The Caltech acceptance rate is 2,5%, whereas the University of Chicago acceptance rate is around 5%. Both universities have low acceptance rates, which shows that the universities are highly stringent during admissions.

International students looking to be admitted to any of the two universities must fulfill certain eligibility requirements, such as scoring a high GPA, standardized scores, English language requirements, and many more.