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Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College admits 10 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to Claremont McKenna College, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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Claremont McKenna College occupies suburban Claremont, CA — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. International students are a visible presence here — 14.8% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Economics, where graduates median $146,524 four years out. Faculty pay averages $200,412 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,388 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1450 and 1560 — above the CA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Claremont McKenna College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Claremont McKenna College is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1450–1560 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Claremont McKenna College's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 710 | 740 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 740 | 770 | 790 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Claremont McKenna College received 5,799 applications and admitted 645 (11.1%), with 321 enrolling.
How Claremont McKenna College compares
| Claremont McKenna College | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 9.6% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $67,980 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $104,736 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Claremont McKenna College student earns $104,736 — 62% above the California median of $64,778 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Claremont McKenna College lists tuition at $67,980 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Claremont McKenna College's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $67,980 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,388 undergraduates, Claremont McKenna College is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
91.4% of Claremont McKenna College students finish a bachelor's within six years — 36.5 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $67,980 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Claremont McKenna College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Economics | $146,524 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $96,520 |
| Political Science and Government | $73,826 |
Median earnings for these 3 Claremont McKenna College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $104,736 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 42 additional Claremont McKenna College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Claremont McKenna College?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1450–1560 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 9.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Claremont McKenna College's acceptance rate?
11.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 645 admitted from 5,799 applicants.
How much does Claremont McKenna College cost?
At Claremont McKenna College, published tuition is $67,980 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Claremont McKenna College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Claremont McKenna College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $104,736 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- University of California-Los Angeles — 9% admitted
- University of California-Berkeley — 11% admitted
- Alliant International University-San Diego — 0% admitted
- California Institute of Technology — 2.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.