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Application Requirements

Fall 2023 prospective applicants:

We will update our website with detailed information regarding our fall 2023 application requirements, deadlines, and admissions process in July 2022.

The following is a list of materials required for a complete application for first-year admission in fall 2022. If an application was missing any one of these components, it was considered incomplete.

Required for all fall 2022 first-year applicants:

  • Common Application or Coalition Application with the Supplemental Application Essays
    • Caltech does not have a preference between the Common Application or the Coalition Application. We advise that you use the best platform for your application process.
    • Caltech is also a QuestBridge Partner. Students may apply for Caltech through the QuestBridge National College Match.
    • NOTE: The application asks if you have any relatives who have attended and/or worked for Caltech. We do not use this information for evaluative purposes, and we do not give preferential treatment to applicants based on this information. Caltech does not consider or track a student's legacy with the Institute, nor do we track or consider a student's connection to prospective or current donors.
  • $75 application fee or fee waiver (by request)
  • Standardized test scores
  • Teacher evaluations
  • Secondary School Report: This is a document that is sent to Caltech by your high school college counselor. It provides context about your school that helps the Admissions Committee evaluate your application holistically.
  • Academic transcripts

Additional requirements for international citizen applicants:

  • TOEFL scores: Required of all international citizens unless 1) your native language is English or 2) you have studied for two or more years in a school where English is the language of instruction. The latter must be completed prior to the application deadline. We do not accept the IELTS or any other substitute for the TOEFL requirement.
  • International Financial Aid Statement of Intent: When an international citizen applies for freshman admission, the application prompts questions to confirm their understanding of our financial aid policy and thus confirm their financial aid intent towards Caltech. Caltech is need-sensitive for international citizens because the total amount of financial aid funds is limited for these students, and we remain committed to meeting the demonstrated need of all admitted students. See our International Citizens' page to read the full extent of our financial aid policy for international citizens.

Ukrainian Refugees

As of April 2022, Caltech is accepting first-year applications from students whose post-secondary education has been interrupted by the war in Ukraine. If you have been admitted to a Ukrainian university for entry in fall 2022, or, if your first year of university was interrupted, you may apply for first-year admission. The deadline to submit an application is June 30, 2022. If you are a Ukrainian refugee who was enrolled beyond their first year of university and has already taken Calculus of One and Several Variables, Linear Algebra, and Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism, you may apply for transfer admission.

Caltech requires the following high school classes for first-year admission:

  • Four years of mathematics, including one year of calculus
  • One year of physics
  • One year of chemistry

We understand that transcripts are difficult to secure if your current school is closed so you may self-report your classes and grades on the Coalition Application. If you have a copy of your transcript, we will provide a means for you to upload it. Caltech also requires two letters of evaluation from your teachers but we will waive this requirement for Ukrainian refugees.

Application Requirements

  • Coalition Application with Caltech Supplemental Application Essays
    • Include course names and grades: Translate course names into English, and leave numeric grades as they appear.
  • Caltech requires either the Duolingo English Test (DET) or TOEFL of all international citizens unless 1) your native language is English, or 2) you have studied for two or more years in a school where English is the language of instruction.

Financial Aid

Caltech offers need-based financial aid, and we meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. The first step to apply for aid is to check the box on the application to indicate that you are or will be applying for aid. If admitted, we will assist you on completing your financial aid application.

If you are a Ukrainian refugee and have additional questions about applying to Caltech, please email us at ugadmissions@caltech.edu.