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Ria

July 10, 2025

Caltech 2025 Admission Statistics

Caltech Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025‑26)

“Bring insatiable curiosity, a tolerance for failure, and the math to back it up, and we’ll give you the universe.” —⁠Caltech admission rep, May 2025

Why read this?

You’re a rising senior aiming to join the Class of 2030. Caltech just dropped its May 2025 Common Data Set (CDS). Rather than slog through 100‑plus PDF pages, use this digest: a narrative, data‑rich roadmap—no tables, no fluff—that shows where you stand and exactly how to craft a Caltech‑worthy application.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

  • Application volume & admit rate. Caltech processed 13,856 first‑year applications (9,401 men, 4,446 women, 9 identifying beyond the binary) and admitted 356 students—an overall admit rate of 2.6 %.
  • Who enrolled? 218 said yes (107 men, 111 women), producing a yield of about 61 %—Caltech posts Ivy‑level commitment once the offer lands.
  • Test‑free policy lives on. Caltech remains SAT/ACT test‑free through at least fall 2027; the CDS records the policy but shows no score bands.
  • Retention & graduation. First‑year retention sits at a lofty 97 %; six‑year graduation reaches 94 % for the most recent cohort.

Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class

  • Course rigor is king. Every admitted student maxes out AP/IB/dual‑enrollment STEM where offered; the selection rubric ranks curriculum strength “Very Important” while class rank and GPA follow closely.
  • GPA context. Just 20 % of enrollees even reported a GPA—Caltech reads transcripts holistically—but virtually all sat in the top decile of their class.
  • Research chops. Admitted profiles skew toward published papers, Intel/ISEF medals, or original software/hardware builds. If you’ve shipped something, highlight the impact metrics (citations, GitHub stars, patents).

What Caltech Values (and How to Show It)

Caltech looks for three intertwined traits:

  1. Quantitative mastery. Multi‑variable calculus by senior fall is the norm, linear algebra or abstract algebra is a plus.
  2. Original inquiry. Admissions favors creator energy: designing a nanosatellite > acing AP Physics C.
  3. Collaboration + grit. Essays that own failure—exploding lab glassware, futile code loops—then show learning arcs tick boxes for both character and resilience.

Avoid essays that merely recount competition wins without reflection; readers already see the résumé.

The Money Question

  • Sticker price (’25‑26) tops $65,622 tuition plus $3,086 required fees and $20,991 standard food & housing—about $90 K all‑in.
  • Need‑blind, need‑met. Caltech is need‑blind for U.S. citizens/permanent residents and meets 100 % of demonstrated need with grants and campus jobs, keeping loans optional.
  • Merit aid? None. Every dollar is need‑based.
  • Deadlines. Submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA by January 6 2026 (same as the application) to guarantee full consideration.

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

  • Summer 2025
    • Finish multivariable calc or equivalent.
    • Draft the “fail → iterate → breakthrough” personal statement.
  • Early Fall 2025
    • November  1  2025 — Restrictive Early Action (REA) deadline.
    • Attend Caltech’s virtual open house; ask a question about research match to log demonstrated interest.
  • Winter 2026
    • Mid‑December 2025 — REA decisions.
    • January  3  2026 — Regular Decision application, transcripts, and aid forms due.
    • January  15  2026 — Last date to switch from REA defer to RD update.
  • Spring 2026
    • March 10‑15 2026 — Regular decisions post.
    • May  1  2026 — Deposit deadline.

Life on the Hill

  • 100 % first‑year residency. Every frosh lives in one of eight historic “houses,” forging a community that blends prank culture with problem‑set survival.
  • Out‑of‑state draw. Two‑thirds of freshmen hail from outside California; a further slice arrives from 60+ countries.
  • Clubs that pop. From the fabled Bad Grammer comedy troupe (intentional spelling) to JPL internships that start sophomore year, extracurriculars skew geeky but vibrant.
  • Pasadena‑to‑planet pipeline. Classroom breakthroughs leap to Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Palomar Observatory, and NASA fellowships within walking or shuttle distance.

How to Decide If Caltech Fits

Ask yourself:

  • Do I relish problem sets that spill past midnight because the proof finally clicks?
  • Am I excited by a 3‑to‑1 student‑fac‑ratio brainstorm rather than a huge lecture hall?
  • Can I thrive without letter‑grades inflation and with collaboration as the lifeline?

If you answered “yes” more than once, Caltech is likely your playground.

Quick‑Hit Checklist

  • Target academics: Multivariable calculus, calculus‑based physics, and advanced lab work.
  • Testing: Skip it—Caltech is test‑free.
  • Depth over breadth: One killer research project beats six club leadership titles.
  • Deadlines: REA Nov  1  2025 or RD Jan  3  2026; aid forms mirror the application.
  • Financial fit: Need‑blind + meets full need; run the Net Price Calculator before committing REA.

Final Word

Caltech compresses world‑class research, a microscopic student body, and sunny Pasadena into a pressure cooker that forges Nobel laureates. If you’re the type who measures weekends in CPU‑hours and solder fumes, this two‑percent window is worth every joule of effort.

Need an AI wingman? GoodGoblin ingests your transcript, research résumé, and Caltech’s real admit data, then recommends concrete next steps—whether that’s beefing up lab hours or cutting a redundant essay paragraph. Start a free trial today and move from applicant to admitted with data‑driven confidence.

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