Pasadena, CA
加州理工
Caltech
3%
Overall admit rate
极端理工导向，USAMO/USAPhO 这类硬通货最有用
Data last verified: 2026-05
Hardware Thresholds
Overall admit rate
3%
Freshman applications (not transfer)
GPA threshold
3.90
Unweighted 4.0 scale (25th percentile of admits)
SAT range
1530 - 1580
25-75 percentile, middle 50% of admits
APs expected
10
Average AP count of admitted students
Flagship Majors and Admit Data
| Major | Admit rate | vs overall | One-liner |
|---|---|---|---|
物理 Physics | ≈ overall 3% | 1.0× | Caltech 招牌学科之一，诺奖教授多 |
计算机科学 Computer Science | ≈ overall 3% | 1.0× | 本科 300 来人总数，CS 占比小但深度顶尖 |
应用数学 Applied Mathematics | ≈ overall 3% | 1.0× | 量化/ML 方向跳板，Caltech 特色专业 |
US-domestic application points
Domestic perspective
- Overall admit rate3%. The actual number for the domestic pool (which holds most seats) is roughly aligned with the official figure.
- Financial aid / FAFSANeed-blind for domestic; FAFSA aid applications don't affect admission (need-aware applies only to international).
- Privates have no in-state preferenceDomestic applications don't differentiate by state, but schools care about state representation (over-concentrated areas face competitive squeeze).
- Test policyMost schools are test-optional. Domestic high scorers should submit to strengthen the profile; low scorers may opt out.
- Application timingED/EA deadlines early November, RD January. Domestic families typically begin college visits at the end of 11th grade.
International / F1 application points
F1 perspective
- International friendliness：2/3 — Normal international pool (most schools), admit rate 30-60% lower than domestic
- Need-blind for international：✗ No — F1 applicants applying for aid see significantly lower admit rates (need-aware)
Caltech · US College Application Deep Read · Chinese-American Lens
In the Chinese-American US college application pool, Caltech sits in the Top-tier private (US Top 15) layer. Overall admit rate is 2.6%, with traditional strength in Computer Science / Engineering / Research, and Physics as the entry that Chinese-American families track most.
Caltech is need-aware for international applicants — requesting financial aid reduces admit probability, intl-friendliness 2/3. Hardware bar: GPA 25th 3.90/4.0, SAT mid-range 1530-1580, AP expectation 10 courses. Only half of admission is on the numbers — the other half is EC depth, essays, and recommendations. Test scores are a ticket, not a verdict.
If you or a parent is evaluating whether Caltech is a reach, match, or safety in this US college application cycle, the "I have 4.0 / 1500, can I get in?" question is not answerable from public forums alone — real judgment requires layering this season's admissions policy, your high-school competitive density, within-major selectivity, and ED/EA timing into one model. Top 15 privates lean heavily on ED — if this school is on your long list, ED-candidate confirmation should start by end of 11th grade. The Kaiso engine assigns Caltech to a tier based on your real profile, and every judgment is auditable.