Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Large suburb
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 9.6%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 5,799
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 645
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 321
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 50%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 12%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 10%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 720–770
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 750–790
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 33–35
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 29% / 16%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- considered
- High school class rank
- considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- required
- Recommendations
- required
- Demonstration of competencies
- not considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- required
- Other test
- not considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- required
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $86,500
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $67,980
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $67,980
- Median debt at graduation
- $13,500
- Students with federal loans
- 21%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 91%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 98%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $68,541
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $104,736
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,388
- Graduate students
- 3
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 8 : 1
- Women
- 50%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 18%
- Full-time faculty
- 90%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- President
- Hiram E. Chodosh
- Main phone
- (909) 621-8000
- Address
- 500 E 9th St, Claremont, CA 91711-6400
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 1 | December 15 |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 10 | February 15 |
| Regular Decision | January 10 | April 1 |
- Apply with
- Common App, Coalition/Scoir, QuestBridge
- Application fee
- $70 (waivers available)
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- 2 required supplemental prompts; optional video response
- Recommendations
- 1 counselor + 1 teacher
- Interview
- evaluative optional
Testing: Test-optional through fall 2027 entry; test-required for the fall 2028 cycle
Financial aid policies
- Need-blind for U.S. applicants
- Meets 100% of demonstrated need
- CSS Profile required (plus FAFSA)
- Merit scholarships: Merit scholarships offered; merit application deadline December 1
- Need-aware for international, transfer and waitlisted applicants
Early rounds & waitlist (2025-2026)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 22.1% (216 of 978)
- Waitlist: offered / accepted / admitted
- 711 / 469 / 61
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2025-2026: cmc.edu, cmc.edu, cmc.edu, cmc.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.