Admit rate has ranged 10%–13% over the last 5 years, though the latest figure above (10%) falls outside that window. 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 small, fiercely selective liberal arts college in Southern California with a laser focus on leadership, economics, and government. It’s the pragmatic, ambitious, and socially confident member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, where students are groomed for high-impact careers in finance, consulting, and public policy. The vibe is collaborative but driven, with a work-hard, play-hard ethos that balances rigorous academics with a reputation for throwing the best parties across the five colleges.
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.
Key deadlines (2026-2027)
Early Decision — Early Decision I
November 15, 2026
ED2 — Early Decision II
January 5, 2027
Regular Decision — Regular Decision
January 5, 2027
Financial Aid — FAFSA Priority Deadline
February 1, 2027
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,388
In-state tuition
$67,980
Out-of-state tuition
$67,980
No-Loan Policy
Yes, for all students
Graduation Rate
91%
Meets Full Need
Yes
On-Campus Housing
97%
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Median Earnings (10yr)
$104,736
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
18%
Endowment / student
$948,952
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.
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
Getting into Claremont McKenna is a high-stakes game, with the college admitting only about one in ten applicants. The admissions process is extremely selective, with sources citing ranging from 9.43% to 11% in recent cycles. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1470–1560, and the ACT range is 33–35. For those certain CMC is their first choice, applying Early Decision can be a strategic advantage; the ED acceptance rate is significantly higher than the regular rate, with sources noting rates of 23% and 35% in recent years. The rate—the proportion of admitted students who enroll—is notably high, reported at 51.6% for the Fall 2025 admits, indicating strong appeal among those who are accepted. The college maintains a waiting list for qualified applicants. Demonstrated interest is not a reported factor in admissions decisions, according to analyses.
CMC’s academic identity is defined by its mission to educate students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership. Every undergraduate must complete at least one major, which can be pursued at CMC, through an intercollegiate major with the other Claremont Colleges, or off-campus. The curriculum is unapologetically oriented toward the social sciences, economics, and government. The most common majors of recent graduates are Economics, Government, International Relations, Psychology, and the interdisciplinary Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program. Other notable majors include Systems Science and Theory, Biology, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and History. The academic environment is described as rigorous, pushing students to develop strong judgment, analytical thinking, and the confidence to challenge ideas. This focus creates a student body intensely interested in real-world application, with many eyeing careers in business, law, and public service.
Life at CMC is a distinctive blend of intense focus and vibrant socializing within the broader ecosystem of the five Claremont Colleges (5Cs). The Dean of Students Office fosters a community described as inclusive and open to differing experiences and viewpoints. Students are actively guided to get involved with on-campus clubs, activities, and student government. The residential experience is central, with 97% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. The social scene is a major part of CMC's identity; students themselves note they "throw all the big and best parties at the 5Cs" and are known for having a much better work-life balance than stereotypes might suggest. The overall culture is characterized as close-knit, welcoming, and collaborative rather than cutthroat. This creates an environment where ambitious future leaders also know how to unwind together.
CMC delivers on its promise of launching graduates into successful next steps with remarkable consistency. Six months after graduation, 97% of alumni have defined plans. The vast majority (82%) are employed full-time, part-time, in a service program, or serving in the military, while 15% are enrolled in graduate or professional school. The college's six-year graduation rate is a robust 91%, and the average time to degree is 4.2 years. The median earnings for recent graduates are strong, and the long-term financial payoff is significant, with high median earnings a decade after entry. This track record of placing graduates into high-earning fields like finance, consulting, and tech is a cornerstone of CMC's reputation and a key draw for applicants.
CMC is a high-cost, high-aid institution deeply committed to accessibility. The college pledges to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted domestic students. Crucially, CMC has a no-loan policy, eliminating student loans from financial aid packages for all current and entering students. Instead, need is met with grants, scholarships, and work-study. The college states that students are packaged with no more than $6,000 in federal or institutional student loans annually to meet demonstrated need. The —the average cost after grants and scholarships—reflects this substantial commitment to aid. Prospective students can use the college's online cost estimator tools to get an early sense of their financial picture. It's important to note that this comprehensive, no-loan is not available to international students.
Claremont McKenna stands out for its unique and potent combination of a classic liberal arts education with a pre-professional, leadership-oriented ethos. It’s not a business school, but it might be the closest thing to one in the world of top-tier liberal arts colleges. Its singular identity is built on three pillars: Intellectual Focus on economics, government, and leadership; Consortium Life that offers the resources of five colleges while maintaining a tight-knit, residential community; and Outcomes-Oriented Culture where ambitious, pragmatic students are supported by a powerful alumni network and a career services apparatus that delivers exceptional placement into finance, consulting, and public policy. The "CMC type" is often a confident, articulate, socially adept student who is as comfortable debating policy in class as they are hosting a party for the 5Cs. It’s a place for those who want the critical thinking skills of a liberal arts degree but are unequivocally focused on wielding those skills in the corridors of power and influence after graduation.
