Caltech Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) admitted 427 students out of 11,285 applicants for the Class of 2029, yielding an overall 3.78% acceptance rate.

For the Class of 2030, Caltech released its Restrictive Early Action (REA) decisions in December 2025. The institute does not publish detailed statistics for the REA and Regular Decision (RD) rounds, so the full admissions data for the Class of 2030 will likely come out later in 2026.

In this blog, we’ll walk through Caltech’s latest overall, transfer, and waitlist acceptance rates and see how they’ve changed over time.

• Caltech Acceptance Rates
• Caltech Early Action and Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Caltech Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Caltech Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Caltech Acceptance Rates

Caltech’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 rose to 3.78%, up from 2.75% for the Class of 2028. The increase was driven largely by a decline in applications, from 13,847 to 11,285, while the number of admitted students remained relatively steady at roughly 400.

Despite this recent uptick, Caltech’s admissions have become far more selective over the past decade. The acceptance rate has fallen from above 7% to under 3% in recent years. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Caltech’s Common Data Set.

Caltech has seen significant growth in applications over the past decade, increasing from 7,339 applicants for the Class of 2021 to as high as 16,626 for the Class of 2026, before stabilizing around 11,000–13,800 in recent cycles.

Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has declined overall, falling from 568 admits in 2021 to 356–427 in the most recent classes. With applications rising while available spots have tightened, Caltech’s acceptance rate has dropped sharply. The highest acceptance rate in this period was 7.74% for the Class of 2021, while the lowest was 2.57% for the Class of 2028.

Caltech Early Action and Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Caltech does not publicly report separate acceptance rates for its early and regular rounds. However, it maintains that its admission rate is under 5% across both REA and RD, with negligible differences between the two.

Caltech emphasizes that it reserves most admission offers for the RD cycle and cautions students not to apply early simply to improve their odds. As a result, while REA provides an early notification for well‑prepared applicants, it does not offer a significant statistical advantage over RD. Both paths remain extremely competitive.

Caltech Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Caltech transfer data comes from Fall 2024, with an acceptance rate of 6.18%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from Caltech’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Caltech’s transfer process is slightly less selective than its highly competitive first-year admissions, but it remains extremely selective overall. The 6.18% transfer acceptance rate is notably higher than the 2.57% overall first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, yet both figures reflect how limited admission opportunities remain at the institution.

Caltech Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data comes from the Class of 2028, when Caltech admitted 41 students from the waitlist. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is from Caltech’s latest Common Data Set.

For the Class of 2028, Caltech had a waitlist acceptance rate of 23.98%. While that percentage looks higher than the overall acceptance rate (2.57%), the underlying numbers remain small.

Moreover, a rate that high does not appear every year. In some cycles, the waitlist has not moved at all. For example, the waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 and the Class of 2025 was zero. If you’re on Caltech’s waitlist and want expert insights, check out our comprehensive guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Caltech’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate at Caltech is 3.78% for the Class of 2029. In that cycle, the university received 11,285 applications and extended offers of admission to 427 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Caltech through Early Action or Regular Decision?

No. Caltech states that the admission rate is under 5% for both REA and RD, with only a negligible difference between the two. The institute also notes that it reserves most admission offers for the RD round, meaning applying early does not significantly increase your chances of acceptance.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Caltech?

Transferring to Caltech is highly competitive. In Fall 2024, the school received 178 transfer applications and admitted only 11 students, resulting in a 6.18% transfer acceptance rate.

4. What are my chances of getting off Caltech’s waitlist?

Your chances depend on the year and Caltech’s enrollment needs. For the Class of 2028, Caltech admitted 23.98% of waitlisted applicants, though in some years—such as the Classes of 2027 and 2025—the waitlist acceptance rate was zero.

5. Why is Caltech’s acceptance rate so low?

The acceptance rate at Caltech is extremely low due to its small class size and high demand. Caltech admits only about 500 students each year but receives over 11,000 applications annually. As a global leader in science, engineering, and mathematics, it attracts many highly qualified STEM applicants, making admissions highly competitive.

Takeaways

• Caltech’s acceptance rate has declined significantly over the past decade, falling from 7.74% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 2.57% for the Class of 2028, before rising slightly to 3.78% for the Class of 2029.
• Caltech reports that its admission rate is below 5% for both REA and RD. The institute also emphasizes that it allocates the majority of admission offers during the RD cycle, so applying early generally does not provide a significant advantage in the admissions process.
• Transfer and waitlist admissions at Caltech remain highly unpredictable. In Fall 2024, Caltech had a 6.18% transfer acceptance rate. The waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 reached 23.98%, though in some years the waitlist does not move at all.
• Given Caltech’s extreme selectivity and small class size, working with a college admissions expert can help you build a stronger academic profile, highlight your STEM achievements, and present a compelling application.