The average acceptance rate at Caltech over the past 10 years is 5.67%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 2.57%. Caltech maintains an extremely selective admissions process, making it very difficult for applicants to be admitted.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 48.30%, and the 2025 yield is 61.24%. Overall, the yield has increased by 45.59% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Caltech applicants increased by 5.71% (749 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 112.97% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 2.57%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Caltech has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 61.24%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Caltech is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Caltech and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Caltech received approximately 13,856 applications, admitted 356 students, and enrolled 218 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Caltech is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Caltech 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Caltech over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 5.67%, while the most recent rate stands at 2.57%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 2.57%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 3.95% and for women is 10.10%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Caltech have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 8.81% | 6.09% | 16.35% |
| 2016-17 | 8.07% -0.74% |
5.45% -0.64% |
15.46% -0.89% |
| 2017-18 | 7.74% -0.33% |
4.87% -0.58% |
15.63% 0.17% |
| 2018-19 | 6.62% -1.12% |
4.42% -0.45% |
12.13% -3.50% |
| 2019-20 | 6.42% -0.20% |
4.53% 0.11% |
11.25% -0.88% |
| 2020-21 | 6.69% 0.28% |
4.94% 0.42% |
11.04% -0.20% |
| 2021-22 | 4.00% -2.69% |
3.00% -1.94% |
6.00% -5.04% |
| 2022-23 | 2.69% -1.31% |
1.86% -1.14% |
4.49% -1.51% |
| 2023-24 | 3.14% 0.45% |
2.56% 0.70% |
4.40% -0.09% |
| 2024-25 | 2.57% -0.57% |
1.77% -0.80% |
4.27% -0.13% |
| Average | 5.67% | 3.95% | 10.10% |
Caltech has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 42.06% in 2015 to 61.24% in 2025, representing a 45.59% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 48.30%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Caltech from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 45.59% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 42.06% | 44.33% | 39.72% |
| 2016-17 | 42.50% 0.44% |
47.46% 3.13% |
37.55% -2.17% |
| 2017-18 | 41.37% -1.12% |
48.47% 1.01% |
35.29% -2.25% |
| 2018-19 | 42.54% 1.17% |
47.88% -0.60% |
37.68% 2.38% |
| 2019-20 | 43.76% 1.22% |
48.53% 0.65% |
38.87% 1.19% |
| 2020-21 | 41.98% -1.78% |
45.04% -3.49% |
38.58% -0.29% |
| 2021-22 | 52.98% 11.00% |
56.99% 11.95% |
47.90% 9.32% |
| 2022-23 | 50.00% -2.98% |
54.98% -2.01% |
45.57% -2.33% |
| 2023-24 | 64.56% 14.56% |
66.96% 11.98% |
61.54% 15.97% |
| 2024-25 | 61.24% -3.33% |
64.46% -2.50% |
58.42% -3.12% |
| Average | 48.30% | 52.51% | 44.11% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 10,190, the average number of admitted is 505, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 239.
The number of Caltech applicants increased by 5.71% (749 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 112.97% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at California Institute of Technology from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 6,506 | 573 | 241 |
| 2016-17 | 6,855 5.36% |
553 -3.49% |
235 -2.49% |
| 2017-18 | 7,339 7.06% |
568 2.71% |
235 |
| 2018-19 | 8,208 11.84% |
543 -4.40% |
231 -1.70% |
| 2019-20 | 8,367 1.94% |
537 -1.10% |
235 1.73% |
| 2020-21 | 8,007 -4.30% |
536 -0.19% |
225 -4.26% |
| 2021-22 | 13,026 62.68% |
521 -2.80% |
276 22.67% |
| 2022-23 | 16,626 27.64% |
448 -14.01% |
224 -18.84% |
| 2023-24 | 13,107 -21.17% |
412 -8.04% |
266 18.75% |
| 2024-25 | 13,856 5.71% |
356 -13.59% |
218 -18.05% |
| Average | 10,190 | 505 | 239 |
The following table compares California Institute of Technology' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | 3.14% | 2.57% | -18.15% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4.55% | 4.74% | -4.01% |
| University of Southern California | 9.81% | 10.02% | -2.10% |
| University of the People | - | - | - |
| National University | - | - | - |
| Stanford University | 3.61% | 3.91% | -7.67% |
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