Pasadena, CA

    How to get into California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

    TL;DR: California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a strong fit to research if you care about physics, mathematics, astrophysics and want a clearer picture of the admissions context before you apply.

    Acceptance rate

    0.04%

    Campus setting

    Suburban

    Undergraduate enrollment

    900

    Tuition

    $60,816

    What should students know about California Institute of Technology (Caltech)?

    Caltech is the most purely scientific university in the world. With only 900 undergrads, you will do real research from day one. If your dream is physics, astrophysics, or pure mathematics, Caltech is a serious alternative to MIT. Hungarian olympiad medalists are strongly considered.

    Strong programs

    Physics, Mathematics, Astrophysics, Engineering, Chemistry

    Notable facts

    • • Highest SAT scores of any university in the world
    • • Only 900 undergrads — extremely intimate
    • • Honor code — no proctored exams
    • • NASA JPL on campus

    What deadlines matter for California Institute of Technology (Caltech)?

    early action: November 1

    regular decision: January 3

    Explore deadline planning guides

    About Luna

    Admissions guidance built for students in motion

    Luna is an AI-powered university admissions platform for students applying to universities in Europe and the US. Founded by Daniel Gal, Luna helps students plan deadlines, shape their story, discover scholarships, and turn complex applications into a clear step-by-step path.

    Today, Luna supports hundreds of active beta users and is building alongside pilot partnerships with schools so students can get timely, practical guidance before key admissions milestones.

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