Claremont, CA
Claremont McKenna College was founded in 1946 and is a member of the seven-institution Claremont Colleges consortium -- modeled after Oxford University -- alongside Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps. The college describes itself as "renowned for expertise in economics and government," maintains an 8-to-1 student-faculty ratio, and reports that more than 90% of its students complete internships. Its Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum regularly hosts speakers as part of the college's undergraduate research and public-affairs focus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Claremont McKenna College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 34% submitted SAT scores, 14% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 10, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 10, 2027
Confirm on Claremont McKenna College's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Claremont McKenna College's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Claremont McKenna College weighs your application
From Claremont McKenna College's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Claremont McKenna College weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Claremont McKenna College look for in applicants?
Per Claremont McKenna College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Claremont McKenna College's acceptance rate?
Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA admits approximately 10% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Claremont McKenna College?
Per Claremont McKenna College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1480–1540 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Claremont McKenna College?
Per Claremont McKenna College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Claremont McKenna College cost?
Claremont McKenna College's total cost of attendance is reported at $86,500 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont McKenna College's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 10, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 10, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Claremont McKenna College require students to live on campus?
No -- Claremont McKenna College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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