Physical Sciences at California Institute of Technology
Physical Sciences is the third most common field at California Institute of Technology: 34 graduates in 2023, or 14.5% of everyone who completed a bachelor's degree there that year. Nationally, 1.29% of bachelor's degrees are in this field, so it is far more concentrated at California Institute of Technology (11.2x the national share). 35% of those graduates were women.
Is physical sciences 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 physical sciences at California Institute of Technology. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Physics / Chemistry" as more competitive than California Institute of Technology's overall rate (multiplier 0.98 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 physical sciences
What readers look for from applicants who declare this field, at any selectivity.
- Chemistry and physics at the highest level, with calculus
- A lab or research experience, even a small one, described specifically
- Math depth matters as much as science grades here
- Run your odds with the major set: your estimate at California Institute of Technology for physical sciences →
Where else to study physical sciences
Other colleges in California and at a similar selectivity that award bachelor's degrees in this field.
Every college ranked by physical sciences graduates: colleges that graduate the most physical sciences majors → · Physical Sciences 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 physical sciences at California Institute of Technology
How many students major in physical sciences at California Institute of Technology?
34 students earned a bachelor's degree in physical sciences at California Institute of Technology in 2023, 14.5% of that year's 235 graduates (IPEDS completions, first majors).
Is physical sciences 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 physical sciences at California Institute of Technology. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Physics / Chemistry" as more competitive than California Institute of Technology's overall rate (multiplier 0.98 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
What is the acceptance rate for physical sciences 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 physical sciences?
By output, physical sciences is the third most common field at California Institute of Technology and far more concentrated there than at the average U.S. college (14.5% of graduates versus 1.29% 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.