Claremont McKenna College was established in 1946 as the Claremont Men’s College in Claremont, California. It became a coeducational institution in 1976 and obtained its current name in 1981 in honor of Donald C. McKenna, a founding trustee and highly-regarded visionary. The college holds the distinction of being the smallest and youngest college among the Top 20 in U.S. News & World Report. In the 2018 rankings, it is tied for 9th best among liberal arts colleges. The current enrollment is around 1,300 students. Claremont McKenna is also one of the five undergraduate liberal arts colleges that make up the Claremont College Consortium.
Mission/Vision
The mission of Claremont McKenna College is to provide a liberal arts education that focuses on economics and political science to educate and develop its students to be leaders in business, public service and various professions. The mission includes supporting the faculty and students in an environment that is conducive to achieving these goals.
Campus Setting
The campus is situated in the heart of Claremont, a charming town noted for its tree-lined streets and fine restaurants and shops in the town center. The campus is located 35 miles from Los Angeles and is within an hour’s drive to the sandy Pacific Ocean beaches, the mountains, Disneyland and other attractions in southern California.
Academics
Claremont McKenna College offers 32 majors in 12 academic departments and 10 research institutes. The college has a heavy focus on economics, psychology, government and business. Undergraduate degrees can be obtained in these areas and many others. The college also offers a Master’s Program in Finance. An additional designation for undergraduates in business and finance is the Robert Day Scholars Program that provides students with a strong emphasis in economics, finance and accounting. Claremont McKenna students can obtain an MBA from the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University through the school’s Robert A. Day 4+1 BA/MBA program.
Athletics
The athletics program at Claremont Mckenna College is one-third of the CMS Athletics program that includes Harvey Mudd College and Scripps College. All three schools are located in Claremont and are part of the Claremont Consortium. Claremont McKenna’s mascot is a Stag for men’s teams and Athena for women’s teams. Nineteen sports are offered including football, baseball, basketball, tennis, track and field, golf and volleyball. CMS Athletics are part of the NCAA Division III and they are members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Annual tuition at Claremont McKenna is very expensive. Financial aid in the form of academic and need-based scholarships, grants, loans, work-study and ROTC is available. Please see Claremont McKenna’s website for the most accurate and current tuition and financial aid information.
Accreditation
Claremont McKenna College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Admissions
Admission to Claremont Mckenna College for incoming students focuses on the whole person. This focus encompasses the student’s secondary school education, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, recommendations and essays. Minimum requirements include four years of English, three years of mathematics, one year of history, three years of a foreign language and two years of science.
Students must submit an online application and there is a $60 processing fee that must be included with the application. An official transcript must be submitted by the high school and two teacher evaluations must also be submitted. Official reports showing SAT or ACT scores are also required and the higher of either test will be considered. An optional interview can be scheduled on campus. Interviews are required for all home-schooled applicants.
Transfer students can transfer up to a maximum of 16 CMC units which are equivalent to 64 semester hours.
For additional information about admissions to Claremont McKenna College, contact the school directly at:
admission@cmc.edu
Admission Office
888 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: 909-621-8088
Fax: 909-621-8516
