Caltech is ranked the most competitive in the country – accepting just 2.7 percent of applicants

The California Institute of Technology is considered the most competitive private doctoral-level university in the United States, with an acceptance rate of only 2.7 percent.

This title was awarded to Caltech in the annual edition of the Almanac of Higher Education, a 128-page report that delved into various statistics on colleges and universities across the country.

The Pasadena university, known for its contributions to science and engineering, is now officially harder to get into than Harvard University, which accepts only 3.2 percent of applicants. SF port reported.

Ivy League universities on the East Coast have long been known as special institutions. That remains true: Columbia University and Yale University accept less than 5 percent of applicants.

Successful high school seniors looking for the very best school to attend for the next four years will almost certainly find Caltech on many online lists of the most exclusive schools.

Elite colleges and Ivy League institutions have had record low acceptance rates over the past four years, thanks to many more students applying under more relaxed guidelines

Caltech isn’t alone in becoming much more selective over the past four years.

Most elite universities are experiencing record low acceptance rates, and much of that can be attributed to the dramatic increase in the number of students applying to them. Forbes was reported last November.

This phenomenon is partly due to the accessibility they have become since COVID-19, with many offering virtual campus tours, webinars, and other fully online resources for prospective students.

But a large part of that is likely due to institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton making standardized tests optional, allowing many more students to apply.

This started as a policy during the pandemic, but after years of admitting students without SAT or ACT scores, some colleges are considering making it permanent.

Exterior view of the Millikan Library on the Caltech campus in Los Angeles

While Caltech still requires standardized testing, it does offer virtual tours, online information sessions, and other opportunities to connect with admissions staff without having to visit campus.

From autumn 2020 to autumn 2024, the number of applications increased by 62 percent.

Caltech’s annual tuition is $58,479. That may seem like a lot, but it pales in comparison to the salaries graduates earn when they enter the job market.

The average starting salary for a Caltech graduate is between $110,000 and $119,000 per year. This does not include salary increases and promotions in subsequent years.

That’s why Caltech, like many other universities in California, offers the most bang for your buck when it comes to earning potential.

According to a recent analysis by Niche, Caltech is the fourth-best university in the country for value for money.

Harvey Mudd College, also in the Los Angeles area, Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology occupied the top three spots.