Engineering at California Institute of Technology
In 2023, 73 of the 235 students who finished a bachelor's degree at California Institute of Technology did so in engineering: 31.1% of the class and the second most common major on campus. Across all 2,440 reporting institutions the field accounts for 5.94% of bachelor's degrees; at California Institute of Technology it is 5.2x that, far more concentrated. 41% of those graduates were women.
Is engineering competitive at California Institute of Technology?
Colleges report one admission rate for the whole school; here is the bar you are actually measured against, and how the model treats this major.
California Institute of Technology admitted 412 of 13,107 applicants for fall 2023 (3%). Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at California Institute of Technology. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than California Institute of Technology's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
How to apply to California Institute of Technology for engineering
What readers look for from applicants who declare this field, at any selectivity.
- Physics and calculus, ideally both at the highest level offered
- Evidence of making things: robotics, engineering clubs, a build you can describe
- A clear reason for engineering in the essay, not just strong STEM grades
- Run your odds with the major set: your estimate at California Institute of Technology for engineering →
Field guide: how admissions works for this major across schools.
Where else to study engineering
Other colleges in California and at a similar selectivity that award bachelor's degrees in this field.
Every college ranked by engineering graduates: colleges that graduate the most engineering majors → · Engineering colleges in California →
More majors at California Institute of Technology
The other fields California Institute of Technology graduates the most students in, 2023.
Questions about engineering at California Institute of Technology
How many students major in engineering at California Institute of Technology?
73 students earned a bachelor's degree in engineering at California Institute of Technology in 2023, 31.1% of that year's 235 graduates (IPEDS completions, first majors).
Is engineering competitive at California Institute of Technology?
California Institute of Technology admitted 412 of 13,107 applicants for fall 2023 (3%). Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at California Institute of Technology. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than California Institute of Technology's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
What is the acceptance rate for engineering at California Institute of Technology?
There is no official major-level acceptance rate; California Institute of Technology reports one school-wide figure, 3%. Some programs (direct-admit nursing, engineering and business schools) select separately and can be more selective than the school overall. CollegeCalcAI's calculator applies its published per-major adjustment and shows your estimate for this school with the major set.
Is California Institute of Technology known for engineering?
By output, engineering is the second most common field at California Institute of Technology and far more concentrated there than at the average U.S. college (31.1% of graduates versus 5.94% nationally).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 Completions (bachelor's degrees, first majors, CIP 2-digit series). Admissions counts: IPEDS 2023. Built 2026-09-19. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are not predictions or guarantees.