Acceptance Rate
10%
Avg. SAT
1560
75th percentile
“CMC turns ambitious undergrads into suited-up leaders ready to conquer Wall Street or Washington, all from a sunny Southern California consortium campus.”
Claremont, CA
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
You arrive at Claremont McKenna College, founded in 1946 as a men's college for World War II veterans by oil heiress Clare Potter and her nephew Donald McKenna, who poured their fortunes into creating a leadership forge amid the citrus groves of Claremont, a leafy Los Angeles suburb 35 miles east of downtown. This place draws Type-A students who thrive on debate, networking, and pre-professional hustle—think future policymakers, consultants, and CEOs who wear blazers to class and quote Hayek over coffee. CMC's personality skews pragmatic and conservative compared to its artsier sister schools in the Claremont Colleges consortium, where you preregister for Pomona classes or Scripps labs without leaving your 1,400-student bubble. Tradeoffs hit hard: the relentless drive can feel cutthroat if you're not wired for constant achievement, and Claremont's safe, walkable village of bookstores and farm-to-table spots feels idyllic until the triple-digit summer heat and isolation from LA's buzz remind you it's no urban playground.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In CMC's intimate seminars, where your 8:1 student-faculty ratio means professors like government whiz Peter Beinart know your thesis before you pitch it, you'll dissect economics through the lens of the Roberts Institute for Research in Economic Policy or leadership via the Kravis Center's case studies on real-world power plays. The intellectual culture pulses with PPE majors (philosophy, politics, economics) challenging each other in mock Model UNs or intercollegiate debate tournaments, and undergrads snag research gigs analyzing congressional voting patterns that undergrads at bigger schools only dream of. You can expect rigorous, discussion-heavy classes that prioritize oral exams and policy memos over multiple-choice drudgery, but the heavy social sciences focus means science seekers cross-register at Harvey Mudd, and humanities lovers might crave more creative outlets than CMC's own lineup provides.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,390 undergrad • 3 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
37%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
15%
Asian
16%
Other / Multi-racial
27%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Claremont, CA
Varsity Athletics
A typical week kicks off with Monday's McKenna Commons breakfast debates, flows into consortium parties at Pomona's Village or Scripps' mixers, and peaks Friday with CMC's suit-and-tie Athenaeum dinners featuring guest speakers like Henry Kissinger alums. You'll live in all-freshman dorms your first year, then choose theme houses buzzing with finance clubs or Model UN prep, amid a social scene fueled by strong Greek life (half the campus) and traditions like the chaotic Atheneum Regatta pool party. The vibe mixes collaborative consortium access—you bike to 5,000+ peers across seven colleges—with CMC's own bro-ish edge, but challenges include the dry heat sapping outdoor energy and a hookup-heavy party culture that leaves introverts or party-averse students retreating to the mountains for hikes. Diversity lags peers at 45% students of color, fostering tight-knit networks but occasional echo-chamber politics.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
No
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$3,411
$30K – $48K
$12,322
$48K – $75K
$15,707
$75K – $110K
$44,602
$110K+
$50,284
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
98%
4 Years Graduation Rate
81%
6 Years Graduation Rate
93%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$104,736
98% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Claremont McKenna College and return in the fall. 81% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 93% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
81%
4-6 years
12%
Non-grad
7%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$60,480
Acceptance
10%
Undergrads
1,390
4-Year Grad Rate
81%
Endowment
$1.4B
Claremont, CA 91711-6400
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