Can you get into Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont, CA · Private · 1,388 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
9.6%
SAT middle 50%
1470–1560
median 1475
ACT middle 50%
33–35
median 34
Top 10% of class
64%
of admitted students
Testing
optional
28% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
93%
within six years
Reported by the college
What Claremont McKenna College actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Character and personal qualities
Important
Weighed, though below the factors above.
- Talent or ability
- Interview
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Class rank
- Test scores
- First-generation status
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Demonstrated interest
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
From Claremont McKenna College’s Common Data Set, 2025, section C7, where colleges report how heavily they weigh each part of an application.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $86,500, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at Claremont McKenna College by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$15,308
- $30k–$48k$7,360
- $48k–$75k$16,389
- $75k–$110k$19,325
- Over $110k$52,295
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on Claremont McKenna College
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
Claremont McKenna College admissions, answered
What is Claremont McKenna College's acceptance rate?
Claremont McKenna College admits 9.6% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for Claremont McKenna College?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1470 and 1560. A score above 1560 clears the 75th percentile; below 1470, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
Is Claremont McKenna College test-optional?
Yes, Claremont McKenna College is currently test-optional. Submit a score if it falls inside or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does Claremont McKenna College look for in an application?
Claremont McKenna College reports that it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations, extracurriculars most heavily, in its Common Data Set. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does Claremont McKenna College actually cost?
Sticker price is $86,500, but the average family pays $28,849 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $15,308 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
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