Average IQ at Caltech

The estimated average IQ of students at Caltech is about 152. It comes from SAT and ACT score research, not from testing anyone on campus.

Caltech students average about 152. What's yours?

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Key facts

Estimated average IQ
152
Location
Pasadena, CA
Dominant archetype
The Logician
Notable alumni
Richard Feynman, Gordon Moore, Kip Thorne

The student profile

Small, intensely technical, and research-driven. High tolerance for abstraction and long hours of deep work.

Dominant archetype is The Logician, which often shows up as the campus default: what gets praised, what gets funded, and how status is earned.

Notable alumni include Richard Feynman, Gordon Moore, and Kip Thorne.

Signature majors

Majors strongly associated with Caltech in our dataset, with the typical student profile for each.

Caltech: common questions

What is the average IQ of Caltech students?

Estimated average IQ is about 152. This number is an approximation, not an admissions cutoff and not a guarantee of performance.

What kind of student thrives at Caltech?

Students who thrive here usually match the campus archetype (The Logician) and can sustain high cognitive load while maintaining recovery systems.

How should I prepare for Caltech?

Build two things: (1) deep-work stamina, and (2) social systems. High-achievement environments reward focus, but long-term success requires relationships and recovery.

Is Caltech a good fit for me?

Fit comes down to study style and culture. If you enjoy competition, high standards, and a fast learning curve, it can feel energizing. If you prefer slower pace and lower pressure, it may feel draining.

Caltech students average about 152. What's yours?

A campus average hides a wide spread of students. Your own score from 25 visual reasoning questions says far more about you.

Take the IQ test

25 questions · about 12 minutes

Sources

  1. Wai, J., Cacchio, M., Putallaz, M., & Makel, M. C. (2010). Sex differences in the right tail of cognitive abilities: A 30-year examination. Intelligence, 38(4), 412-423.
  2. Frey, M. C., & Detterman, D. K. (2004). Scholastic Assessment or g? The relationship between the Scholastic Assessment Test and general cognitive ability. Psychological Science, 15(6), 373-378.

Last reviewed February 2026.