Admit rate has ranged 10%–13% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Claremont McKenna College is a fiercely selective liberal arts powerhouse with a laser focus on economics, government, and public affairs. Known for its pragmatic, pre-professional bent and tight-knit residential community, CMC combines rigorous academics with unparalleled access to internships and alumni networks—producing graduates who land top-tier jobs at rates rivaling Ivy League schools.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,388
In-state tuition
$67,980
Out-of-state tuition
$67,980
Acceptance Rate
9.6%
Graduation Rate
95%
First-Gen Students
14%
Student-Faculty Ratio
8:1
Post-Grad Employment Rate
82%
Average Financial Aid Package
$67,764
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$104,736
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.6×
Median debt at graduation
$13,500
Graduation rate
91%
First-year retention
98%
Pell (lower-income) share
46%
Endowment / student
$951,003
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Financial health
2.5 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$87,754
Political Science and Government$41,025
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
2.88
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
176
Summer high
90°F
Winter low
46°F
Annual rain
33.3"
Annual snow
3.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
163
Scholarly works
4,743
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.0%
Bottom → top quintile
68%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont McKenna College's acceptance rate is approximately 10% (Claremont, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Claremont McKenna College?
Admitted students at Claremont McKenna College typically score 1470–1560 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Claremont McKenna College cost?
At Claremont McKenna College, the average net price (after aid) is about $28,849 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont McKenna College enrolls approximately 1,388 undergraduate students.
Where is Claremont McKenna College located?
Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, CA.
Admissions
Gaining admission to Claremont McKenna is a feat reserved for the academic elite. With an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 9.6% (626 admits from 6,529 applicants for the Class of 2028), CMC is more selective than many Ivies. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1490–1550 (720–770 ERW, 750–790 Math), while ACT composites fall between 33–35. Notably, 14% of the incoming class are First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. college students. CMC superscores both SAT and ACT results, and while Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policies exist, these numbers reflect the fiercely competitive pool.
CMC’s academic identity orbits around its flagship economics and government programs, which funnel graduates into consulting, finance, and public policy. The economics-accounting major is legendary for its analytical rigor and Wall Street pipeline, while interdisciplinary majors like Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) attract policy wonks. Systems Science and Theory claims 5% of majors—a quirky standout. Faculty are known for accessibility, with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and the curriculum emphasizes real-world application through required internships. The vibe is collaborative but intense: students describe 'challenging academics' balanced by 'faculty who care.'
Life at CMC unfolds on a compact, walkable campus where nearly all students live in dorms (the Hub student center is the social nucleus). The culture leans pre-professional but not cutthroat—think 'collaborative learning over competition.' Politically, CMC has a reputation as the most conservative Claremont College, though students note it’s 'fairly liberal, just not blazingly left.' Residential life emphasizes community, with themed halls and traditions like Monte Carlo Night. The 5-College Consortium means access to Pomona’s libraries and Harvey Mudd’s parties, but CMC’s own identity is distinct: ambitious, sociable, and unapologetically career-focused.
CMC’s outcomes are staggering: 97% of graduates have defined plans within six months, with 82% employed full-time (often at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, or Google) and 15% in grad school. The 95% graduation rate places it in the top 5% nationally. Alumni median earnings one year out hit $36,427, though this climbs sharply with experience. The secret sauce? A relentless focus on internships, alumni mentorship, and the Washington Semester program. For a small liberal arts college, CMC punches wildly above its weight in job placement.
Attending CMC costs $76,000+ annually (tuition, room, board), but the school meets 100% of demonstrated need with an average aid package of $67,764. Nearly 41% of students receive aid, and first-year awards average $68,936. The financial aid formula is straightforward: Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid. minus Expected Family Contribution (calculated via FAFSA/CSS). MyinTuition’s quick calculator helps families estimate net costs—critical given CMC’s sticker shock. For those who qualify, the investment pays off: CMC ranks among Money Magazine’s top colleges for ROI.
CMC is the unapologetic capitalist of the Claremont Colleges—a place where future CEOs, senators, and Fed chairs cut their teeth. Its singular blend of liberal arts depth and pre-professional ferocity (think: PPE majors interning at the State Department) sets it apart. The 5-College Consortium offers breadth, but CMC’s identity is razor-sharp: small classes, relentless networking, and a culture that celebrates ambition. If Williams is for poets and MIT for engineers, CMC is for the wonks and dealmakers who’ll run the world—and its outcomes prove it.
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