Claremont McKenna Admission Requirements
Claremont, CaliforniaChances of getting into Claremont McKenna College
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
9.3%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Claremont McKenna and can I get accepted? The school has a 9% acceptance rate ranking it #4 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 584 out of 6,272 applicants were admitted making Claremont McKenna an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 6 percent. Claremont McKenna College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Of those applicants who were admitted, 56% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Claremont McKenna College is a prized outcome for many students. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at Claremont McKenna, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesClaremont McKenna SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1350-1500Applicants Submitting SAT
51%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 670 |
| SAT Math 25th | 680 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1350 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 730 |
| SAT Math 75th | 770 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1500 |
| Average SAT Score | 1430 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont McKenna College typically requires applicants to be in the top 8 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1350 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1270. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1430 out of 1600. The school ranks #7 in California for highest average SAT composite score. 51 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1500 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 1425 to 1500 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 1350 to 1425 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 1275 to 1350 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 1275 | Low | <3% |
Claremont McKenna ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
31-34Applicants Submitting ACT
56%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 32 |
| ACT Math 25th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 31 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 33 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 32 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Claremont McKenna?
Admission data indicates that Claremont McKenna regularly accepts students with ACT's of 31 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 5 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 30 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 32 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #6 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 56 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Claremont McKenna College.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >17% |
| 32 to 34 | Avg + | 9%-17% |
| 31 to 32 | Avg - | 6%-9% |
| 30 to 31 | Reach | 5%-6% |
| Less than 30 | Low | <5% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.89*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need exceptionally good grades to get into Claremont McKenna College. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Claremont McKenna College was 3.89 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #9 in California for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Claremont McKenna extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.89 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.89 GPA.
High School Class Rank
74% of Claremont McKenna College freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 74% |
| Top 25% of class | 96% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 3,392 | 2,880 | 6,272 |
| Accepted | 309 | 275 | 584 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9% | 10% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 165 | 160 | 325 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 53% | 58% | 56% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Claremont McKenna College and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=112260 IPEDS survey data for Claremont McKenna College.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Claremont McKenna College prefer SAT or ACT?
51% of students submit their SAT scores to Claremont McKenna. 56% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Claremont McKenna College?
9% of those who apply are granted admission to Claremont McKenna. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Claremont McKenna College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1350 and 1500. 51% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Claremont McKenna College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 31 and 34. 56% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
