California Institute of Technology: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Pasadena, California · Private nonprofit · Most selective · CDS 2024-2025
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California Institute of Technology is a private nonprofit university in Pasadena, California that admits about 3% of applicants, making it a most selective school. The average family pays about $16,075 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Physics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 94% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 32.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
California Institute of Technology is a private institution located in Pasadena, California and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, California Institute of Technology admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 3%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,075 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about California Institute of Technology right now
Caltech, founded September 23, 1891 in Pasadena, is the smallest school on this list and one of the most selective universities in the world, with 987 undergraduates and 1,443 graduate students enrolled in 2024-2025. The admit rate for the Class of 2028 was 2.6 percent, the lowest in the country, with admitted students typically scoring in the 1530 to 1570 SAT and 35 to 36 ACT middle 50 percent. The most important recent policy change for parents is testing: Caltech ended its pandemic-era test-blind moratorium and reinstated the SAT or ACT requirement effective for the Class of 2029 (students applying for fall 2025 admission and beyond), with no ACT writing or science subscores required for fall 2026 applicants. The university notes that more than 90 percent of applicants were already submitting scores voluntarily before the change. Caltech focuses almost entirely on STEM, with particular distinction in physics, chemistry, and engineering, and 80 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with the institution. Caltech is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets full demonstrated need; for 2021-2022, undergraduate tuition was $56,394, total annual cost was estimated at $79,947, and the average financial aid package for eligible students was $38,756. About 95 percent of undergraduates live on campus through the residential house system, and the honor code permits take-home examinations, both indicators of the tightly knit, trust-based culture parents often ask about.
What GPA does my child need for California Institute of Technology?
Successful applicants to California Institute of Technology typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.
What does California Institute of Technology weight in admissions?
California Institute of Technology reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Extracurricular activities
SAT and ACT scores California Institute of Technology typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Policy detail: Required
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 86.4% |
| Top 25% of class | 97.7% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 20.2% |
How much does California Institute of Technology actually cost?
Published tuition is $65,898 for in-state students and $65,898 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,283 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,075 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $65,622 |
| Room and board | $20,991 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,075 |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for California Institute of Technology
| Regular deadline | 01/03 |
| Notification date | 03/15 |
| Reply deadline | 05/01 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes (Restrictive) |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from California Institute of Technology?
These predict outcomes at California Institute of Technology better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at California Institute of Technology
The most popular undergraduate programs at California Institute of Technology, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Physics. Across all programs, California Institute of Technology confers roughly 184 bachelor's degrees a year. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 77 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 28 | — |
| Physics | 27 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 15 | — |
| Chemistry | 11 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 10 | — |
| Biology, General | 8 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 8 | — |
Is California Institute of Technology safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), California Institute of Technology disclosed 32 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 32.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at California Institute of Technology?
About 90% of undergraduates at California Institute of Technology live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
- San Francisco State University96% acceptance
- California State University-Long Beach46% acceptance
- California State University-Fullerton91% acceptance
- California State University-Northridge93% acceptance
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo31% acceptance
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona75% acceptance
Next steps for California Institute of Technology
Common questions parents ask about California Institute of Technology
What GPA do I need for California Institute of Technology?
Successful applicants to California Institute of Technology typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.
What SAT or ACT score does California Institute of Technology typically admit?
California Institute of Technology does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does California Institute of Technology actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at California Institute of Technology after grants and scholarships is $16,075 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $65,898. Budget against the net figure.
Is California Institute of Technology realistic for my child?
California Institute of Technology admits 3% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $16,075 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at California Institute of Technology?
California Institute of Technology accepts about 3% of applicants out of roughly 13,856 who apply each year. That makes it a most selective school.
Is California Institute of Technology test-optional?
No. California Institute of Technology requires SAT or ACT scores as part of a standard application.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of Technology?
About 94% of students at California Institute of Technology graduate within six years. 97% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does California Institute of Technology look for in applicants?
California Institute of Technology rates course rigor, test scores, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is California Institute of Technology a public or private school, and where is it located?
California Institute of Technology is a private nonprofit institution located in Pasadena, California.
What are the most popular majors at California Institute of Technology?
The largest undergraduate majors at California Institute of Technology by annual graduates are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Physics. The school awards about 184 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is California Institute of Technology safe? What is its campus crime rate?
California Institute of Technology reported 32 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 32.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at California Institute of Technology?
At California Institute of Technology, 90% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by California Institute of Technology, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers