Can you get into Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont, CA · Private · 1,388 students Here’s the class that got in. See where your numbers land in it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
Here’s 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 does Claremont McKenna College actually read?
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It’s the most useful thing they say about admissions. Almost nobody reads it. Say the essay counts a lot here and class rank doesn’t count at all. That tells you where to put your work.
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 do families actually pay?
The sticker price is $86,500. Almost nobody pays it. Here’s what families pay at Claremont McKenna College by 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 a year for first-time students who got aid. Your own number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
Keep reading about Claremont McKenna College.
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
What do students ask about Claremont McKenna College?
What’s 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 your application has to do more of the work, or you can apply test-optional.
Is Claremont McKenna College test-optional?
Yes, Claremont McKenna College is currently test-optional. Send a score if it lands in or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does Claremont McKenna College look for in an application?
Claremont McKenna College says it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations, extracurriculars most heavily, in its Common Data Set. What it lists as not considered is worth knowing too. Work you put there doesn’t count here.
How much does Claremont McKenna College actually cost?
The sticker price is $86,500. The average family pays $28,849 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $15,308 a year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Claremont McKenna College read in your plan.
Spike ties your numbers to your courses, testing, essays, and activities. It does the same for the rest of your college list.
The full counselor launches in November.