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.

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