Claremont McKenna College

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89.1
College Consensus
AVERAGE: 69
92
Publisher Consensus
AVERAGE: 58.7
86.1
Student Consensus
AVERAGE: 76.9
Publisher Ratings
96.9
Wall Street Journal
96.1
U.S. News - National Liberal Arts Colleges
95.7
Washington Monthly Liberal Arts
87.1
Wallethub
84.4
Forbes
Student Reviews
100
U.S. News - Reviews
85.7
My Plan
80
Unigo
78.8
Niche
Scores last updated on January 6, 2024
10%
Percent Admitted
81%
4-year Graduation Rate
1,389
Enrollment
8.0:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
$50,689
Average Undergraduate Students Aid
$60,715
In-State Tuition and Fees
$60,715
Out-of-State Tuition and Fees
= Average
Sector
Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
Carnegie Classification
Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable

Claremont McKenna College (abbreviated CMC) is a private liberal arts college located in Claremont, California. A member of the Claremont Colleges, CMC was established in 1946 as a men’s college originally but became coeducational in 1976. Situated on a 69-acre campus just 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, CMC has been rated #2 in the nation by The Princeton Review as having the “happiest students”. One of the nation’s leading private liberal arts colleges, CMC places curricular emphasis on economics, government and public affairs with the mission of raising leaders in all fields. CMC focuses primarily on undergraduate education, but now offers a single master’s program through the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance which was established in 2007.

Academic Programs

CMC requires its students to complete at least one major before being given the option to complete a “sequence”, which consists of a series of courses related to a subject, selected from a variety of different disciplines and offered at CMC or other Claremont Colleges. CMC offers a wide range of undergraduate majors through its 10+ departments, which include Government, History, Literature, Mathematical Sciences, Military Science and Leadership, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Physical Education and Intercollegiate Athletics, Psychology, Religious Studies, The Robert Day School of Economics and Finance, and the W.M. Keck Science Department.

Accelerated and Joint or Duel Degree programs are also offered including 3/2 Engineering Programs, Robert Day School BA/MA Combined Degree Program, Master of Arts in Finance, Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education (AILE), and Accelerated Degree Programs With Claremont Graduate University (CGU). The Center for Global Education offers hundreds of opportunities (many designed specifically for CMC students) including a semester abroad; immersive internship in politics or entrepreneurship; international research projects; and international academic travel programs.

Student Life

Over 1,300 students are enrolled at Claremont McKenna College, the vast majority of which are undergraduate students. Approximately 94% of students live on-campus in one of the college’s 12+ residence halls or its student apartment complex. Resident Assistants are trained by the Dean of Students Office and are assigned to each residency hall and apartment complex. There are no “freshman dorms;” rather each hall is composed of students from all class years, though new students are assigned roommates. All of CMC’s halls are within easy walking distance of each other and each house laundry facilities.

CMC’s campus community offers a friendly, supportive, and close-knit environment; over forty different clubs and student-led organizations exist, catering to a variety of different interests, cultures, and activities. Many popular Southern California destinations are within an easy distance from CMC’s campus including beaches, deserts, mountains, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and more. CMC has over twenty intercollegiate men’s and women’s teams, nearly ten club teams and is a member of the NCAA Division III.

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.