California Institute of Technology
manual: JS-rendered page, which states "Caltech Testing Deadlines for Fall 2027 Entry" — the correct cycle. Caltech places scores into bands ("Bucket A/B") rather than always showing the exact score to the committee; the ACT writing and science subscores are not required.
Data sourced from IPEDS, Institutional Website · Last verified 2026-09-15. This provenance applies to the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page.
Preparation
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- SAT or ACT scores are required. manual: JS-rendered page, which states "Caltech Testing Deadlines for Fall 2027 Entry" — the correct cycle. Caltech places scores into bands ("Bucket A/B") rather than always showing the exact score to the committee; the ACT writing and science subscores are not required. Caltech Undergraduate Admissions
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $85. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Restrictive Early Action November 1 (Restrictive: an REA applicant may not apply EA or ED elsewhere, with stated exceptions including any public institution with a non-binding fall deadline), Regular Decision January 4. Caltech Undergraduate Admissions
Overall is College Scorecard's verified figure and won't necessarily sit between the separately-reported In-State/Out-of-State rates shown here, which are what My Fit uses to classify your chances.
Applying
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $85
- Common App fee waiver
- Accepted
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsAcademics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- -$2,133
- $30,001 – $48,000
- -$2,886
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $431
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $18,753
- Over $110,000
- $54,157
A negative figure means the average aid package was larger than the school's full cost of attendance — those families were paid the difference rather than billed.
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Caltech's aid is need-based only within a very small, intensely STEM-focused class, so admitted students should lean on the net price calculator rather than expect merit money.
Campus
Campus Fit
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Caltech Undergraduate Admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 23, 2026
‡Caltech Undergraduate Admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 22, 2026