Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit · Large suburb · Website

Admission rate: 9.6%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $26,039; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 90%
Median earnings: $127,532; 10 years after enrolling

Claremont McKenna College is a private nonprofit college in Claremont, CA with 1,388 undergraduates. It admits 9.6% of applicants, and admitted students average 1527 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $26,039 per year ($5,423 for families earning under $30,000). 90% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $127,532 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 9.6%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 5,799; Fall 2023
Admitted: 645; Fall 2023
Yield: 50%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing720–770

200800

SAT Math750–790

200800

ACT Composite33–35

136

What Claremont McKenna College looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $91,510; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $72,120

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$5,423
$30–48k$4,205
$48–75k$19,127
$75–110k$31,487
$110k+$52,425

Get a personal estimate with Claremont McKenna College's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 90%
Freshman retention: 98%
Median earnings: $127,532; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $13,450; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 1,388
Student–faculty ratio: 8:1
Receive Pell grants: 18%

White36%
Hispanic15%
Black4%
Asian17%

Claremont McKenna College FAQ

What is Claremont McKenna College's acceptance rate?+

Claremont McKenna College admits 9.6% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Claremont McKenna College?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 720–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 750–790 on SAT Math; the average total is 1527.

What ACT score do you need for Claremont McKenna College?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.

Is Claremont McKenna College test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Claremont McKenna College?+

In Fall 2023, 5,799 students applied to Claremont McKenna College and 645 were admitted; 321 enrolled.

Does Claremont McKenna College consider legacy status?+

Yes. Claremont McKenna College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Claremont McKenna College require an essay?+

Claremont McKenna College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Claremont McKenna College cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $91,510 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $26,039.

What is Claremont McKenna College's graduation rate?+

90% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 112260 · How we use this data