Go to Caltech GPA Calculator

What GPA Do You Need
To Get Into Caltech?

Understanding the true academic expectations for admission to Caltech, including average admitted GPAs and competitive benchmarks.

Average Admitted GPA

At Caltech, the middle 50% of admitted freshmen typically hold a high school GPA around . To maximize your chances of acceptance, you should aim to exceed this benchmark with a rigorous course load.

Minimum Transfer GPA

Varies

Transfer requirements for Caltech vary heavily by your intended major and previous institution.

Academic Context

Caltech is famous for its extreme academic rigor. It uses a 4.0 scale but operates heavily on a Pass/Fail system for freshmen. Caltech does not award traditional Latin honors or a Dean's List.

Grading Scale Notes

Caltech uses a 4.0 grading scale. They DO use plus/minus grades (+/-) when calculating your college GPA.

Calculate Your Odds

Use our Target GPA Calculator to figure out exactly what grades you need in high school to reach Caltech's average.

Calculate Target GPACaltech GPA Calc

Frequently Asked Questions

The average admitted GPA for Caltech is undefined. You should aim for this GPA or higher to be a competitive applicant.
Yes, the minimum transfer GPA for Caltech is generally not strictly defined, but you should aim as high as possible.
Yes, Caltech uses plus/minus (+/-) grades when calculating your GPA.