Can an average Indian student join California Institute of Technology (Caltech)?
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2 Answers
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Indian students average performance makes it very difficult to secure admission into California Institute of Technology (Caltech) because of its demanding admission standards. A small 8.7% of applicants manage to join Caltech each year based on their SAT score of 1545 and average GPA level of 4.21. Indian students who want to study at Caltech must obtain outstanding SAT scores surpassing 1550 and demonstrate outstanding academic merit through their 3.5 GPA or higher. Caltech students face a heavy financial challenge because annual tuition amounts to approximately INR 50 lakhs.
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While an Indian student can apply to Caltech, its extremely high selectivity (acceptance rate around 3%) means that an "average" student, even a very good one, has a very low chance of getting in; Caltech seeks exceptionally talented and well-rounded individuals.
Similar Questions for you
To get admission to any of these institutions is not at all easy. This is because the acceptance rate at MIT and Caltech remains very low. For the class of 2028, MIT acceptance rate is 4.55% and on the other hand, for Caltech, it is 2.57%. So Caltech is harder to get into than MIT.
If you are an Indian student wishing to apply for both of them, please know that the application needs to be -
- Unique
- Bright
- Full of extracurriculars,
- Have a great academic background
- Really strong reason to pursue courses
To get admission at Caltech, international students are required to submit the SAT or ACT scores for the fall 2026 entry. It was optional earlier for most years. However, if the finances are an issue, this can be communicated to the Caltech Office of Admissions for a waiver. Look at the minimum scores required in these entrance exams -
- SAT: 1510+
- ACT: 35+
It is definitely not an easy task to get into Caltech as an Indian student as the acceptance rate is only 2.57% for the recent year. To get in, the applicant has to be extraordinary with great academic grades, English language proficiency and more. Look at the Caltech admission requirements given below -
- 90%+ in subject (Math and Science)
- TOEFL with 100+ and IELTS with 7.0+
- Great LORs
- Achievements in STEM and Olympiads
- Extracurricular activity participation
- SAT cracked with 1510+ and ACT with 35+ marks
The university does not conduct an entrance exam of its own; however, it does consider valid scores in the SAT or ACT for admission to undergraduate courses.
Students seeking admission to STEM courses are required to have completed their secondary school studies in the relevant fields.
Source: California Institute of Technology Official Website
Yes, the Caltech acceptance rate stands at 3%. while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 4.52% giving students a marginally better chance of admission.
Interested applicants must stand out among their peers both academically and non-academically, across every level of studies and submit a standout application to have the best possible chance of admission.
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