College Profiles/ Claremont McKenna College
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Claremont McKenna College Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Claremont, CA · 1,371 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Claremont McKenna College for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Claremont McKenna College admitted 9.4% of 6,939 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1480 to 1540.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $101,990.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $66,407.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Early Decision II Jan 10, Regular Decision Jan 10.[3]
9.4%
Overall admit rate[1]
1480 to 1540
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$101,990
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$66,407
Average need-based grant[1]
$1.4B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
89.9%
Six-year graduation rate[1]
Claremont McKenna College at a Glance
- Location
- Claremont, CA
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 8:1[1]
- Endowment
- $1.4 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional[3]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition, QuestBridge[3]
- First-year retention
- 97.9%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on Claremont McKenna College
The ConnectPrep take
Claremont McKenna weighs academic and leadership achievement, commitment to its values, and each applicant's potential to contribute to its mission, and it says authenticity matters more than polish. That is a useful warning against over-edited essays. The admit rate is 9.4% on 6,939 applicants, and 64% of enrolled students ranked in the top 10% of their class. Binding ED I closes Nov 1 and ED II closes Jan 10, the same day as Regular Decision. Testing is optional for fall 2027 entry, and CMC plans to return to required testing for the fall 2028 cycle, a sign that scores matter. With a middle 50% SAT of 1480 to 1540, we advise submitting at 1510 or higher and aiming for 1540. The costliest mistake is applying on Jan 10 and missing merit priority, which requires submission by Dec 1.
What to do this fall
- Submit by Dec 1, even in Regular Decision, for priority merit scholarship consideration.
- Interview by mid-November for ED I or by mid-December for other rounds.
- Send an SAT of 1510 or higher; your student has seven days after submitting to change the test preference.
- File the CSS Profile and FAFSA by Nov 8 for ED I or Jan 17 for ED II and RD.
Applying to Claremont McKenna College? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Claremont McKenna College Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
6,939 |
655 |
9.4% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 51.1%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
730 to 760 |
| SAT Math[1] |
740 to 790 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1480 to 1540 |
| ACT composite[1] |
33 to 35 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
34% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
14% |
| Ranked in top 10% of high school class[1] |
64% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1540 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 35 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1510, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Claremont McKenna College looks for
In its own words: CMC uses a holistic review that weighs academic and leadership achievements, commitment to the college's values, and each applicant's potential to benefit from and contribute to its mission. There is no minimum GPA, review is contextual, and the college says authenticity matters more than polish.[3]
Claremont McKenna College Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
Dec 15 (ED I); Feb 15 (ED II) |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 10 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 10 |
Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Claremont McKenna College’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Merit scholarship priority
Before RD |
Dec 1 |
Application must be submitted by Dec 1 for priority merit consideration, with supporting credentials by Jan 10; no separate scholarship application. RD deadline is Jan 10.[3] |
First-year interview
Before RD |
mid-Dec (ED I by mid-Nov) |
Interviews are offered May through mid-December; ED I applicants should interview by mid-November.[3] |
| CSS Profile and FAFSA |
Nov 8 (ED I); Jan 17 (ED II, RD) |
ED I aid forms are due Nov 8, one week after the Nov 1 application.[3] |
| Test-optional preference change |
7 days after submission |
Applicants have seven days after submitting to change their test-optional preference.[3] |
See how Claremont McKenna College compares with other colleges in the West deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Claremont McKenna College Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$101,990 |
| Tuition[2] |
$75,300 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
38.6% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$66,407 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$72,875 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
24 students, average $13,011 |
On-campus budget: tuition 75,300, student activity fees 420, housing 12,490, food 10,780 (19 meals per week plus flex), estimated books, transportation and miscellaneous 3,000.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $101,990 cost of attendance down to roughly $35,583 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Claremont McKenna College states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[6]
- International students: Need-aware. CMC is need-aware in admission for all international students and is committed to meeting demonstrated need as determined at the time of admission; international packages typically combine grants, scholarships, work, and loans.[7]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[8]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$15,308 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$7,360 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$16,389 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$19,325 |
| Over $110,000 |
$52,295 |
| All aided students |
$28,849 |
Academics and Majors at Claremont McKenna College
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences42%
- Interdisciplinary studies12%
- Psychology6%
- Biological/life sciences5%
- Business/marketing5%
Signature programs
Research institutes and centers
CMC supports eleven research institutes and centers for student-faculty research.[4]
Washington Program
Listed among CMC's global education and off-campus opportunities.[5]
Kravis Leadership Institute
One of CMC's eleven research institutes and centers.[5]
Robert Day School of Economics and Finance
CMC's school of economics and finance; social sciences account for about 42% of CMC bachelor's degrees.[5]
Soll Center for Student Opportunity
Provides advising, mentoring, and networking support tailored to each student's professional goals.[5]
The Claremont Colleges consortium
CMC is part of a seven-college consortium whose shared resources serve about 8,300 students.[4]
Choosing a major and getting in
Students apply to the college as a whole and declare a major after enrolling. CMC reports 33 majors across recent classes and a streamlined list of 23 majors for the class of 2028 and beyond.[4]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I (binding, applications due November 1).[3]
- Early Decision II (binding, applications due January 10).[3]
- QuestBridge National College Match partner (U.S. citizens and permanent residents).[3]
- Merit scholarships awarded through the regular application review, with priority for applications submitted by December 1.[3]
Claremont McKenna College Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
97.9% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
70.3% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
89.9% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[8] |
$104,736 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[8] |
$13,500 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[8] |
18% |
Make Claremont McKenna College a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Claremont McKenna College FAQs
What is the Claremont McKenna College acceptance rate?
Claremont McKenna College admitted 9.4% of first-year applicants (655 of 6,939), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
When are the Claremont McKenna College application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 10; Regular Decision Jan 10. 2 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Claremont McKenna College cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $101,990. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $66,407. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Claremont McKenna College?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1480 to 1540 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1540, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional.
Is Claremont McKenna test optional?
Yes, for fall 2027 entry. CMC extended its test optional policy through that term and plans to return to required testing for the fall 2028 cycle. Applicants who do not submit are not penalized in admission or merit decisions. The middle 50% SAT is 1480 to 1540, so we advise submitting at or above the 1510 midpoint.
How do merit scholarships work at Claremont McKenna?
There is no separate scholarship application. Merit scholarships are awarded through the regular application review, with priority for applications submitted by Dec 1 and supporting credentials in by Jan 10. Dec 1 comes well before the Jan 10 Regular Decision deadline, so we encourage merit-minded students to finish early.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Claremont McKenna College. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
