Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna publishes 9.4% (Fall 2025). Early Decision applicants got in at 22%; non-ed (derived) at 7.4%.
- Acceptance rate
- 9.6%
- College Scorecard, latest cycle
- SAT middle 50%
- 1470–1560
- Section 25th–75th, summed
- ACT middle 50%
- 33–35
- Avg. HS GPA
- Not published
- Test policy
- Test-Optional
- 2026-27
- Regular deadline
- Jan 10, 2027
More detail: SAT and ACT requirements · Majors and earnings · What they look for · Merit and financial aid · AP credit
Acceptance rate
What Claremont McKenna's 9.4% is made of
The published rate averages groups with very different odds. These are the splits Claremont McKenna reports itself.
Part of Real Acceptance Rates, our series decomposing published rates from each school's own Common Data Set.
Testing
Test-Optional for 2026-27
- Policy
CMC extended its test-optional policy through the Fall 2027 entry cycle (the current 2026-27 application cycle). CMC's own FAQ states it 'will return to a test-required policy for the Fall 2028 admission cycle.'
Announced change: required from Fall 2028 admission cycle (fall 2028 entry)
- SAT middle 50%
- 1470–1560sum of section 25th–75th percentiles
- ACT middle 50%
- 33–35
- Average HS GPA
- Not published by the school
Applying
Deadlines, essays and AI policy
- Early deadlines
- Nov 1, 2026 (ED I); Jan 10, 2027 (ED II)
- Regular decision
- Jan 10, 2027Source
- Supplemental essays
- 2 required
Two required supplemental essays (~250 words each) focused on CMC's mission and its commitment to open dialogue/viewpoint diversity. CMC also offers an optional 2-minute video response, which is not a required written essay.
- AI use in essays
Limited Use Allowed — applies to Application essays (first-year application)
“When it comes to application essays, we value the honest expression of your thoughts, perspectives, and experiences... However, it is not acceptable for anyone else to write, rewrite, or heavily edit your essay, or fundamentally change your ideas. What about non-human assistance, such as AI? If you choose to use AI, it should be limited to basic proofreading, such as correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Remember, we value your authentic voice most of all. ... In short, your essays should be written by you.”
Full cycle calendar: Application Deadlines.
At a glance
Size and cost
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 1,388
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $67,980
- Category
- Liberal Arts
- Admissions site
- www.cmc.edu
Sources
- Claremont McKenna test policy (2026-27)
- Claremont McKenna deadlines
- Claremont McKenna AI-use policy
- Claremont McKenna admissions pages
- Claremont McKenna admissions pages
- Acceptance rate, test-score percentiles, enrollment and tuition: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, pulled 2026-09-14.
Test policy and deadlines last verified 2026-08-17.
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