College Profiles/ Harvey Mudd College
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Harvey Mudd College Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Claremont, CA · 913 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Harvey Mudd 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
Harvey Mudd College admitted 12.3% of 5,217 first-year applicants.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $104,512.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, Early Decision II Jan 5, Regular Decision Jan 5.[3]
12.3%
Overall admit rate[1]
34 to 36
Middle 50% ACT[4]
$104,512
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$500M
Endowment, FY2025[1]
94.0%
Six-year graduation rate[5]
Harvey Mudd College at a Glance
- Location
- Claremont, CA
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 8:1[1]
- Endowment
- $500 million (FY2025)[1]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional[3]
- Application
- Common App[3]
- First-year retention
- 94.0%[6]
The ConnectPrep Take on Harvey Mudd College
The ConnectPrep take
Harvey Mudd's stated aim is to educate engineers, scientists and mathematicians who become leaders in their fields, and every student completes a common technical Core. Its admission review is contextual: it reads each academic profile against what the high school offers and does not penalize students for unavailable courses, but it expects challenging classes. One requirement is firm: a year each of high school calculus, chemistry and physics before enrolling. The admit rate is 12.3% on 5,217 applicants. Binding ED I closes Nov 15, and ED II and Regular Decision close Jan 5. Testing is optional through 2027 with no disadvantage to nonsubmitters, but we still believe a higher score is always better, especially in math. The mistake we see is a late interview: ED II and RD interviews must happen by Dec 15.
What to do this fall
- Confirm your student will finish a year each of calculus, chemistry and physics before enrolling.
- Book the single optional interview by Nov 15 for ED I or Dec 15 for ED II and RD.
- Submit the preferred testing plan by Nov 20 for ED I, then self-reported scores by Nov 30.
- File the CSS Profile and FAFSA with the round, and apply for merit awards by Feb 1.
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Harvey Mudd College Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
5,217 |
643 |
12.3% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 36.7%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[4] |
730 to 770 |
| SAT Math[4] |
770 to 800 |
| ACT composite[4] |
34 to 36 |
Test score ranges on this page come from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, which reports an earlier entering class than the school’s newest Common Data Set.[4]
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 770 in Reading and Writing and 800 in Math, the 75th percentile for each section here, or 36 on the ACT. 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 Harvey Mudd College looks for
In its own words: Harvey Mudd reviews each academic profile in the context of the applicant's high school and what it offers, does not penalize students for unavailable courses, and encourages applicants to take challenging classes. Its stated aim is to educate engineers, scientists, and mathematicians who become leaders in their fields.[7][8]
Harvey Mudd College Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 15 |
Dec 15 (ED I); Feb 15 (ED II) |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 5 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 5 |
Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Harvey Mudd College’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Optional interview
Before RD |
Nov 15 (ED I); Dec 15 (ED II, RD) |
Interview deadline for ED II and RD is Dec 15, before the Jan 5 application deadline; slots run mid-September to early December. One interview only, online or alumni.[3] |
| CSS Profile, FAFSA, IDOC |
Nov 15 (ED I); Jan 5 (ED II); Feb 1 (RD) |
IDOC documents follow later: Dec 1 (ED I), Jan 20 (ED II), Feb 15 (RD).[3] |
| Merit scholarships (President's Scholars and others) |
Feb 1 |
Considered through the admission application; some awards may need additional forms, so check each award's description.[9] |
| Testing plan and self-reported scores |
Nov 20 / Nov 30 (ED I); Jan 10 / Jan 25 (ED II); Jan 10 / Feb 5 (RD) |
Preferred testing plan is due first, then self-reported or final scores.[3] |
See how Harvey Mudd College compares with other colleges in the West deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Harvey Mudd College Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$104,512 |
| Tuition[2] |
$76,879 |
On-campus budget: tuition 76,879, student body fee 401, housing 13,293, food 11,489 (19-meal plan), personal 1,400, books and supplies 800, new student orientation fee 250 (fall only); transportation varies by distance.[2]
- International students: Limited. Harvey Mudd offers need-based aid to a limited number of international students each year through the International Student Scholarship.[10]
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.[4]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$27,979 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$23,883 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$17,968 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$25,468 |
| Over $110,000 |
$50,665 |
| All aided students |
$35,924 |
Academics and Majors at Harvey Mudd College
Signature programs
Clinic Program
Students can complete their major with a real-world Clinic project as an alternative to a research thesis.[11]
Common technical Core
Harvey Mudd majors build on a common technical Core curriculum.[11]
Joint and Climate majors
Beyond six departmental majors, Harvey Mudd offers nine joint majors, including four that pair a STEM field with climate.[11]
Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts
Harvey Mudd has a dedicated Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts department alongside its STEM departments.[11]
The Claremont Colleges consortium
Harvey Mudd is a member of The Claremont Colleges, and some majors include courses offered in cooperation with the other Claremont Colleges.[11]
Choosing a major and getting in
Students apply to the college as a whole and choose among six majors (biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics) and nine joint majors after enrolling. All students must complete one year each of high school calculus, chemistry, and physics before enrolling, and admitted students missing one may be admitted conditionally.[7]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I (binding, deadline November 15).[7]
- Early Decision II (binding, deadline January 5).[7]
- President's Scholars Program and National Merit Scholarship (merit awards).[7]
Harvey Mudd College Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[6] |
94.0% |
| Graduated within four years[5] |
86.0% |
| Graduated within six years[5] |
94.0% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[4] |
$138,687 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[4] |
$25,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[4] |
15% |
Make Harvey Mudd 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.
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Harvey Mudd College FAQs
What is the Harvey Mudd College acceptance rate?
Harvey Mudd College admitted 12.3% of first-year applicants (643 of 5,217).
When are the Harvey Mudd College application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 15; Early Decision II Jan 5; Regular Decision Jan 5. 1 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Harvey Mudd College cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $104,512.
What high school courses does Harvey Mudd require?
All students must complete one year each of high school calculus, chemistry and physics before enrolling, and admitted students missing one may be admitted conditionally. Harvey Mudd reviews each profile in the context of what the high school offers and does not penalize students for unavailable courses, but it encourages applicants to take challenging classes.
Is Harvey Mudd test optional?
Yes. Harvey Mudd has extended its ACT and SAT optional pilot through 2027 and says students will not be at a disadvantage if they do not submit. Applicants still file a preferred testing plan, due Nov 20 for ED I, Jan 10 for ED II and RD, followed by self-reported or final scores.
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 Harvey Mudd 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.
