Is MIT or Caltech harder to get into?
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1 Answer
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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
Similar Questions for you
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
While the course fees are subject to vary as per the specialisation and levels of study, according to the official Caltech website, the average California Institute of Technology Fees for Indian students is USD 65.622 (INR 56 L) per year.
Students must also take into account the costs associated with living in California, such as: housing, food, and books and supplies, miscellaneous personal expenses and more.
Indian students seeking admission to Caltech are required to follow the steps mentioned below to secure their seats:
- Register on the official Catltech application portal (Questbridge or Common App)
- Choose a course and apply
- Make sure to upload all the required documents and fill in all mandatory fields as honestly as possible
- Review the application carefully
- Pay the standard California Institute of Technology application fee worth USD 75 (INR 6.4 K)
- Wait for the university to share an official response
- Accept the admission offer and start looking for accommodation near Caltech
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