CollegeCalcAI
Most selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

California Institute of Technology acceptance rate and admissions profile

California Institute of Technology is a private university in California with a 3% acceptance rate, which makes it most selective. Here is what it looks for, where it sits among California schools, and how to estimate your own odds with CollegeCalcAI.

Acceptance rate
3%
Most selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1580
of admitted students
Type
Private
California
Selectivity in state
#1
of 61 in CA
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What California Institute of Technology looks for

What California Institute of Technology weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at California Institute of Technology

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at California Institute of Technology
1600In the competitive admitted range
1500Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1400Well below the admitted range
1300Well below the admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range

How California Institute of Technology compares in California

California Institute of Technology ranks #1 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.

Stanford University
4%acceptance · CA
Pomona College
7%acceptance · CA
UCLA
9%acceptance · CA
Claremont McKenna College
9%acceptance · CA
University of California, Berkeley
11%acceptance · CA
University of Southern California
12%acceptance · CA
UC Irvine
21%acceptance · CA
UC San Diego
24%acceptance · CA
See all California schools →

Similar to California Institute of Technology

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Harvard University
3%acceptance · MA
Columbia University
4%acceptance · NY
Princeton University
4%acceptance · NJ
Stanford University
4%acceptance · CA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4%acceptance · MA
Brown University
5%acceptance · RI

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into California Institute of Technology?

California Institute of Technology has a 3% acceptance rate, which makes it most selective — it admits roughly one in ten applicants or fewer. Admission depends on how your full profile compares to its admitted students, not on scores alone.

What SAT score do you need for California Institute of Technology?

There is no hard cutoff, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1580. A score at or above the admitted range strengthens your application; CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds.

What does California Institute of Technology value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, California Institute of Technology weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic gpa, application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

What are my chances of getting into California Institute of Technology?

Your chances depend on your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities together. Use the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance estimate for California Institute of Technology in a few minutes, no account required.

Want the deeper guide? Read our full California Institute of Technology chances guide →

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.