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Summary
Claremont McKenna College is a private institution that was founded in 1946. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,301, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 69 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Claremont McKenna College's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 10. Its tuition and fees are $44,085 (2012-13).
Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, Calif., at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The school is part of the seven-college consortium known as The Claremont Colleges, which includes Scripps College, Pomona, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, Claremont Graduate University, and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. Students can take classes at any of the member institutions as well as enjoy the social activities, athletics, and dining services at the five undergraduate and two graduate colleges. The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athletics program combines student-athletes from Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps to compete in the NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Students can find clubs that fit a wide variety of interests, from Without the Box improv group to Shades a cappella group, among many others. All freshmen are required to live on campus, and about 97 percent of students remain in college housing for four years.
Although it is primarily an undergraduate college, Claremont McKenna offers a graduate master’s program in finance through the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance. Claremont McKenna was originally founded as Claremont Men’s College but became coeducational in 1976. While at Claremont McKenna, slightly over half of all students study abroad in locations all over the world. The school is home to 10 distinguished research institutes offering students the ability to conduct graduate-level research with faculty. Notable alumni include actor and comedian Robin Williams and Paul Brickman, who wrote and directed the 1983 film Risky Business.
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Established in 1946, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is an independent, coeducational, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college with a curricular emphasis on economics, government, and public affairs. Unlike so many other colleges, which champion either a traditional liberal arts education or the acquisition of professional and technical skills, CMC builds bridges between the two. By combining the intellectual breadth of the liberal arts with the more pragmatic concerns of public affairs, based on principles established by founding President George C. S. Benson, CMC helps students acquire the vision, skills, and values they will need to lead society. As expressed in the College's mission statement CMC seeks to "educate its students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions, and to support faculty and student scholarship that contribute to intellectual vitality and the understanding of public policy issues." Originally founded as Claremont Men's College, CMC became coeducational in 1976 and changed its name to Claremont McKenna College in 1981 in honor of its most visionary and founding trustee, Donald C. McKenna. With an on-campus enrollment of approximately 1,200 students, CMC is among the top U.S. colleges. Our over 9,000 alumni have bolstered that recognition through their success. In 2011, 87% of graduating seniors pursuing graduate or professional school were accepted into their first- or second-choice program. In doing so, they also do honor to the Claremont McKenna College motto: "Crescit cum commercio civitas," (Civilization prospers with commerce). CMC houses cutting-edge Research Institutes, offering students and faculty the unique opportunity to merge research, teaching and learning. CMC is also a member of The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions. Based on the Oxford/Cambridge model, The Claremont Colleges represent the only planned consortium in the United States offering CMC students diverse opportunities and resources typically only found at much larger universities. In September 2007, Robert A. Day, the Founder and Chairman of The TCW Group, Inc., pledged a $200 million personal gift to establish the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance and its unique programs. This was the largest recorded gift to a liberal arts institution, the largest gift in the field of finance and economics, and among the top 20 largest gifts ever given to a college or university. Through his generosity, the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance now offers multiple programs, including a Master of Arts in Finance degree. In 2011, CMC opened the The Kravis Center, named in honor of Henry Kravis '67 and Marie-Jose Kravis. The Kravis Center is composed of intimate indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, flexible classrooms, and academic research areas. The building's design creates exciting synergies among students, faculty, departments, and research institutes. Designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Vinoly, the Kravis Center creates a defining architectural identity for CMC. Sunny terraces and breathtaking views of The Claremont Colleges and the San Bernardino Mountains set the stage for the growth of the College's collaborative culture in a visionary new facility. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1946 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $543,236,000 |
Applying
When applying to Claremont McKenna College, it's important to note the application deadline is January 2, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Claremont McKenna College is $60. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 14.1 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 14.1% |
| Application deadline | January 2 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Claremont McKenna College is 9:1, and the school has 86.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Claremont McKenna College include: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; Psychology, General; International Relations and Affairs; and Economics, Other. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 95.8 percent.
Student Life
Claremont McKenna College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,301, with a gender distribution of 52.6 percent male students and 47.4 percent female students. At this school, 94.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 6.0 percent of students live off campus. Claremont McKenna College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Claremont McKenna College.
| Total enrollment | 1,321 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Claremont McKenna College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Claremont McKenna College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Claremont McKenna College.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Claremont McKenna College, 41.8 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $36,889.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $44,085 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $13,980 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
